5 ways parents and policy makers can protect children from harmful influences

Axel Rudakubana; quite a reticence, a shy and reserved boy from a Godly home, appearing to be chivalrous on the surface – admitted to stabbing and murdering three (3) young girls at a Taylor Swift themed holiday club in Southport, a town in Britain on July 29, 2024.

According to Britain’s news portal “The Guardian”, the boy’s parent moved from Rwanda to Britain in 2002 to start a new life. They had an interest in researching graphic videos of genocide. His father Alphonse, is reported to have been with the Rwandan Patriotic Army, an armed force that battled during the Rwandan genocide between the Hutus and Tutus in 1994. Axel was known to be a loner – he never had any friends around him – a recluse who was never seen in outdoor activities like playing football with his peers.

Police combing through his devices found a PDF document titled “Military Studies in the Jihad Against the Tyrants: The al-Qaeda Training Manual”. The 17-year-old teenager had autism specifically autistic spectrum disorders and struggled with mental health issues.

Two years before the Southport incident, he was caught with a blade in a bus which prompted the police to caution his mother to keep knives out of his reach. During the court proceedings to examine the murder, his defense barrister, Stanley Reiz KC told the court that the young boy had struggled with difficulties with social communication.

Based on investigations and his plea of guilty to the crime, he was handed 52 years in prison sentence.

The story of Axel Rudakubana—a young boy whose exposure to violent content coupled with gaps in social communication at a tender age which led him down a dark path—sends a chilling warning to us.

Children are known to imitate what they are exposed to from infancy – if a child grows up in a family where a certain dialect is used to communicate – the child will automatically communicate in like manner.

This analogy highlights the long-term effect of children’s exposure to certain content that is not morally sound. This revelation places a demanding action from parents, guardians, and policymakers to pay keen attention to their children’s behavior and internet activity so they can detect early signs of demeaning traits or actions that could distort their values and lead them astray.

Let’s look at 5 ways parents, guardians, and policymakers can protect Children from Harmful Influences.

5 Ways Parents and Policy Makers Can Protect Children from Harmful Influences

1. Foster Open Communication in Families

American Psychological Association Research emphasizes that parent-child communication significantly impacts mental health, reducing risks of anxiety and depression. Parents are a child’s first teachers.

When children are exposed to traumatic or sensitive content, they may struggle to process it without guidance. Open communication ensures children feel safe to discuss their fears, questions, or confusion. Parents should make time to talk to their children about their experiences, be they at school, online, or within the community. By creating a judgment-free space, families can mitigate misunderstandings or harmful interpretations of what children encounter.

2. Prioritize Emotional and Psychological Education

Our schools need to include emotional intelligence (EQ) and mental health education in the curriculum. Children must learn how to manage emotions, recognize unhealthy influences, and develop empathy. Understanding the long-term effects of trauma can prevent children from normalizing violence or other destructive behaviors. Policymakers can collaborate with mental health experts to design programs that address these issues early in a child’s life.

3. Strengthen Content Regulation Policies

The digital age has brought the world to our fingertips, but it has also exposed children to violent, inappropriate, or harmful content. Policymakers must enact and enforce stricter media regulations to protect children from exposure to graphic or unsuitable material. Parents must monitor what their children watch and engage in active digital parenting—using child-safe filters, and discussing what is appropriate for their age.

4. Lead by Example in Homes and Communities

Children are observant and impressionable, often mimicking what they see in adults. Parents must model the behavior they want their children to adopt, such as conflict resolution through dialogue rather than aggression. Communities also play a key role. Local leaders, religious institutions, and community groups must advocate for positive role models and discourage the glorification of violence or criminal activities.

5. Seeking Help from Clinical Psychologists and Supportive Unions

Mr. Nortey Dua – a clinical psychologist discussed on Joy FM’s show, “Home Affairs” on how parent train upright children. “Children who get good, reliable information and guidance make the right decision” he said.  He advised parents to seek help from other parents or counselors when it becomes difficult to bring up children. Supportive groups like the church and other morally upright groups can also be engaged to define strategies that can assist in child training.

All hands need to be on deck to give society good adults for societal growth – this action therefore demands our attention.