June 5, 2006
By Thuli Ntuli
BESIDES teaching them to how and when to say no, Googly the puppet gave a group of pre-schoolers attending a Crime Alert Day in Turffontein plenty of lessons in basic child safety.
The event, held in the Rotunda Park in Turffontein on 30 May, was run by the City's Department of Social Services, with presentations from puppeteer Ann Parker as well as from the Metro Police and the City's emergency services.
Focusing on an issue which terrifies all parents, Googly the bird gave the 150 pre-schoolers from crèches and nursery schools in the area three important principles to follow when threatened: say no; go; and tell an adult.
A group of Joburg youngsters get to meet a City firefighter, Cyril Mann of the Fairview Fire Station
"If someone you know, or a stranger, touches you in an uncomfortable way - you get a funny feeling in your tummy - you have the right to say 'no, don't do that'," Googly said, adding that the children should then go and find an adult to tell. He then pointed out that "the parts that are covered by a swimming costume" are just that - private - and should not be touched by anyone else.
"You can tell the police, parents, teachers, friend and grandparents," the little bird said, before giving the children a chance to ask questions and talk about their feelings.
Then it was time to stand up and dance, as they were taught a new song, "Lean on me".
Fire safety
After the puppet show, the children moved across the park to a gleaming red fire truck, where firefighter Tefo Maboee of the Fairview Fire Station was ready to give a presentation on fire safety.
Maboee, the liaison officer for public information and education, taught the children that in the case of a fire it was important to stop what they were doing, get down low, and cover their faces. "If there is a fire at home, you crawl [to get below the smoke], and get out of the house so you can breath better," he said.
As an added precaution, the youngsters were also told to memorise 10177, the emergency number.
Road safety
The day ended with a presentation on road safety from Charles Ngema of the City's Metro Police department.
Besides naming the three play areas - the park, the playground, and the yard - Ngema also pointed out the six safest places to cross a road:
- At a pedestrian crossing, also known as zebra crossing because of its black and white stripes;
- At the traffic lights, when the light shows green for pedestrians;
- At a stop sign, when there are no cars coming;
- At the scholar patrol;
- Using a bridge; or
- At a place where a Metro police officer helps pedestrians cross the road.
"I think, by the response we got from the children, we achieved our goal of creating awareness," said Region 9's operations manager for child care, Ruth Govender.
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