SOME parents are still not careful about their small children.
Children as young as 5 years are left alone at home and allowed to go to the playground or neighbourhood shops on their own.
Have we forgotten the Nurin Jazlin Jazimin tragedy? The 8-year-old was walking to the night market a few metres from her home when she was waylaid, brutally raped and strangled.
Several children are still listed as missing by the police.
A 5-year-old girl, Nurul Nadirah Abdullah, went missing after a trip to the grocery shop near her flats ("3 held over missing 5-year-old girl" -- NST, March 6).
The lackadaisical attitude and the belief that nothing will go wrong has many people throwing caution to the wind. A child of that age should not be left to wander on her own outside the home.
With the one-week school holidays around the corner, children will have lots of time on their hands to explore and venture into unknown territory in their neighbourhood.
Parents have to exercise greater caution and be alert to their children's whereabouts. Those who live near rivers, lakes and disused mining pools have to remind their children of the dangers of these places.
Parents who take their children to the seaside for picnics should take extra precaution when their children go out to sea to swim. They should not allow their young ones to swim in choppy seas.
Most importantly, children should not be allowed in water without adult supervision.
During floods, it is common to see children playing in makeshift boats or swimming in floodwaters near their homes.
If only we could pay a bit more attention to our children, it would go a long way in saving lives and the agony of crying foul after a tragedy.
It is always better to be safe than to be sorry. Parents should be extra alert if they have small children.
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