The republican information campaign "Children are not adults! Do not leave them alone!" has started in Belarus.

Every year, cases of child fatalities and injuries occur in Belarus. Most often, they stem from the same cause: adults lose control. "Just for a minute" – and children are left alone.

It may seem that nothing terrible will happen, but it is precisely these minutes that sometimes decide everything. Many parents believe their child is already independent enough to be left alone. However, children, especially preschoolers, are only learning to understand where danger lies. At the same time, parents pay very little attention to teaching children basic safety rules. Worse still, they sometimes set an example of unsafe behaviour themselves.

To draw parents' attention to the issue of fatalities and injuries among preschool and primary school-aged children in fires and near water bodies, a new information campaign "Children are not adults! Do not leave them alone!" was launched in the Republic of Belarus on January 1, 2026.

The campaign aims to influence parents' careless attitude towards child safety, motivate them not to leave children unattended, to organise useful leisure activities, and to encourage the creation of a safe environment.

Parents are often proud when their child behaves "like an adult": helping out, showing independence, reasoning sensibly. They want to see their child as a little adult – intelligent and responsible, capable of handling many household tasks themselves. But this is self-deception, as children are not adults. Even if they can turn on the stove, charge a phone, or make themselves tea. They are still children, lacking the experience, knowledge, and self-preservation instinct of an adult.

A child might "play at being an adult," imitating their parents' actions, without even suspecting that some of these actions are dangerous. Fire, electricity, water – for a child, these are not sources of danger but elements of curiosity. They do not know how quickly a flame ignites. They are unable to determine if an electrical appliance is faulty. They do not understand that water can be deadly, even if the shore is nearby.

To ensure the widest possible dissemination of the information campaign, the Ministry of Emergency Situations will utilize all communication channels. Brightly designed billboards will appear in the vicinity of settlements and on streets. The airtime of republican and regional television channels will feature a new social video clip, and radio stations will include thematic audio advertising in their rotation. Leaflets and brochures with useful information will fill the internet space and update stands in all public places across the country.

Thus, the social advertising of the Ministry of Emergency Situations does not intimidate, but rather prompts reflection even from those who believe that "this will never happen to my children." No phone call, shop visit, or business is worth risking what is most precious. And wherever you are rushing to, take your child with you. It is better for them to wait nearby, as they are safe with you. Protect your children!