Keeping children safe during the December holidays: essential tips for parents
PRECAUTION: Identikidz wrist tags allow children to be reunited with their families if they get lost. Identikidz wrist tags allow children to be reunited with their families if they get lost.
Image: Supplied
As the December school holidays approach, child safety ambassadors are reminding parents and caregivers to stay alert while children enjoy their well-earned break.
With more free time comes increased risks, from crowded public spaces to the potential of children getting lost or separated from their families.
Veranique “Benji” Williams, founder of Faith and Hope Missing Persons Unit, shared practical advice for keeping children safe over the holidays.
Stay alert in public spaces.
“Always keep an eye on your kids. Even when you go shopping which happens a lot. Try and get someone to watch your children at home. Public places are where human traffickers are targeting people.”
Trust your instincts, not just ‘stranger danger’: “Be careful of who you trust around your kids. ‘Stranger danger’ is a thing of the past. Teach them that it’s okay to speak out, to ask questions, and learn to listen.”
Be emotionally present: “Sometimes our kids yearn for that attention. Sometimes they are quietly telling us things, but we are not present by listening. That is why we get a lot of runaway teenagers.”
Talk and engage: “Ask your children questions. Be interested in their lives, who they hang out with. Ask them for contact numbers in case of emergencies. This way, when they do go out, you will know. I believe prevention is better than cure.”
Use old-school tools: “It might seem old-school, but I believe it can also play a crucial role in writing the child’s name inside his or her clothes.”
Benji also stressed the importance of checking in regularly with family, friends, and neighbours, and not dismissing red flags or gut feelings. “Please, parents make contact with friends, family members. Call. Go and make a turn. Hold your children’s hands. Be present,” she said.
With children heading to beaches and other crowded areas over the festive season, the City’s Identikidz Programme offers an extra layer of protection, especially on beaches across the Cape.
How the Identikidz Programme Works
The programme provides safety for children and peace of mind for parents by registering children and issuing identification armbands at popular beaches. During the 2024/25 festive season, 120,000 children were tagged, helping families reunite quickly when children were lost or separated.
Registration is simple
City-branded booths are stationed at participating beaches.
Parents provide the child’s name, age, gender, description, and their own contact details.
Children receive a waterproof identification armband with a unique number linked to their registration.
The programme will be available from 09:00 to 18:30 at the following beaches on these dates:
Beaches: Big Bay, Camps Bay, Fish Hoek, Gordon’s Bay, Harmony Park, Lagoon Beach, Melkbosstrand, Milnerton Beach, Mnandi, Monwabisi, Muizenberg, Sea Point and surrounding areas, Silwerstroom, Strand, Strandfontein on December: 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30 January: 1, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 17, 18
Maiden’s Cove: 26 December 2025, 1 January 2026
“During the holidays, our job is never to hesitate when a child is reported missing and neither should parents,” Benji said.