Police urge parents to strengthen communication with children before school holidays
With school holidays approaching, Misryoum reports police closed two missing-person cases after safe returns and is urging parents to stay in contact and know their children’s friends.
Police have urged parents and guardians to tighten communication with their children as the school holidays draw closer, after two missing-person reports were later resolved when the people were found safe.
The reminder comes after reports lodged on 18 April involving a 14-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man were closed once both returned safely to their families. Police say additional enquiries were carried out by officers from Nasinu and Valelevu Police Stations to establish where they had been.
With students preparing for a break from class, police are focusing on prevention rather than reaction.. The message is simple but practical: keep staying in touch with children, make sure communication channels remain open, and ensure that family members can quickly confirm a child’s whereabouts if they do not come home when expected.
A key part of the guidance is that parents should take time to know their children’s friends, and also to be able to reach the friends’ parents when needed.. Police say this kind of network helps families cross-check information with each other, reducing uncertainty and speeding up responses during stressful situations.
There is a real-world difference between “we thought someone would mention it” and “we can verify it.” For families, holidays can change routines—different places, different companions, and longer gaps between messages.. When communication is planned and relationships are known in advance, the daily scramble that sometimes follows a missed plan is less likely to escalate into something more serious.
Why communication matters as routines change
It also means parents should build a clear line of contact within the community around the child. Police recommend establishing contact with friends’ parents and maintaining those connections, because they can help confirm details quickly—particularly if a child’s usual communication stops.
Turning safe returns into better preparation
That sequence—reporting, enquiries, and eventual safe return—shows the importance of having responsive systems in place.. Yet the best outcome is one that does not require a report at all.. By strengthening communication ahead of the school break, police believe families can reduce the chance of uncertainty and help ensure that if something does go wrong, information can be verified fast.
Looking ahead, police encouragement aligns with a wider need many families feel during holiday periods: staying connected without overreacting, and maintaining enough structure to keep children safe.. With the right communication habits and known contacts, parents can approach the school holidays with more confidence—knowing there is a plan for both everyday check-ins and unexpected situations.