Recently, there have been more news reports about children being left alone at home, in poor hygienic condition and without food.
Write a letter to the Hong Kong Post expressing your concern about this issue. In the letter, state the causes and suggest how similar incidents can be avoided. Sign your name “Chris Wong”.
Dear Editor,
I am writing to express my concern about children being left alone at home. This phenomenon is becoming increasingly common in Hong Kong due to the change in family and social structure. Though the factors contributing to the problem are complex, the tragedies can be avoided by the concerted effort of parents and the government. I hope this message could be spread to all your readers.
The problem of leaving kids alone is often attributed to the long working hours of parents, the immaturity of young parents and the difficulties for single parents to feed their wallets as well as their children. Mistreated children usually come from low-income families. Their parents have to fight tooth and nail in order to sustain their daily lives. The dilemma is that both parents have to work all day long but they could not afford to employ a maid to take care of the children. Since the parents might not even have time to cook, they would not keep much food at home. Kids are kept in a poor environment where they start starving.
The case is made even worse if the parents are young. Many young parents were not poised for a baby when they (accidentally) gave birth to one. They were not prepared to be parents so the infants might probably be treated improperly. Moreover, many generation-Y parents are infamous for their irresponsibility. From time to time we hear news about young parents going to discos or casinos, leaving their children unattended at home. Honestly, some junior parents may not even be able to take care of themselves. It is indeed worrying that quite a number of infants are being taken care of by these parents.
While more and more young adults become parents, more and more couples get divorced every year in Hong Kong. Single parents are no longer considered as atypical. They face the very same difficulties as the ordinary parents from low income groups. They must work to earn a living and inevitably they have to leave their kids home alone.
It is true that leaving kids alone at home could pose high risks to their vulnerable yet valuable lives. In spite of the seriousness of the problem, I would like to emphasize that tragedies can actually be prevented. One direct and potent measure is to build more child care centres in the city. This method does not only help working parents to look after their children, but also creates a number of job opportunities in society. Volunteers could also be recruited as part-time babysitters. Social harmony can be further fostered if more volunteers get involved in this project.
Besides, the government should provide more courses on ‘taking care of children properly’, particularly for young parents. Some of the elementary courses should be made compulsory for all new parents so that they have no more excuses for mistreating their children. What’s more, during the workshops, participants can meet other new parents who can exchange ideas and skills on child care with them. This gives young parents more confidence in taking care of their children. Courses can be tailor-made to suit different types of parents’ needs. Ultimately, parents will be inculcated with correct attitudes and skills about nurturing a child.
Some people would like the government to consider legislation as a solution but I am strongly against this idea. Further legislation and heavier punishment are not always the best remedies. What parents need is a carrot but not a stick. What they need are support and encouragement, not deterrence and discouragement.
In a nutshell, incidents involving ‘home-alone’ children can be prevented. The government should take the initiative to cohere communities together to combat the problem. It is in fact everyone’s responsibility to protect our next generation and provide them with a healthy growing environment.
Yours faithfully,
Chris Wong
Chris Wong