Can you imagine leaving a child to fend for themselves?
Can you ever imagine leaving a child without any food, no sense of safety and no clean clothes to put on each morning? I didn't think so.
Child neglect is a worrying problem, yet, new research shows that more than a quarter of parents with a child under the age of 18 think that children are more likely to be neglected in the summer holidays than term time.
The YouGov poll of over 2,000 parents, for charity Action for Children, found that manyparents are going as far as feeding other people's children or having them stay in the holidays, fearing that they aren't being fed or looked after properly.
The charity fears that the long summer holidays can lead to an increase in problems faced by neglected children, as they lose the routine, structure and regulare meals provided by schools in term time.
A sign that you could indicate something like this, is a particular child always hanging around, especially if they come early morning and are still there late at night - chances are they could be lonely and scared of being home alone.
It is estimated that up to 10 per cent of all children in Britain are neglected - failing to receice the right care and attention, inlcuding food, clean clothes, safety and security, warmth and love.
Dame Clare Tickell, Chief Executive of Action for Children, says: "No child should ever feel lonely, hungry or worthless, but once the school gates have been closed for the summer holidays that is exactly how many of the 1.5 million neglected children in Britain are left feeling.
"The government must help to tackle neglect within families, and give councils a clear signal not to cut play schemes and activities for children in the summer holidays - they may look like easy cuts to make but they are vital for our most vulneralble children, and their families."
Fifteen per cent of mums surveyed have cared for a child, other than their own, because they thought they were being neglected at home.
Cathy, 43, and mum of two, says: "My daughter goes to our local primary school and it's impossible not to be aware of the children who aren't being cared for. One child comes home with us on a regular basis. I used to be able to track her mum down to tell her, but it has become obvious she doesn't care where she is.
"Her clothes are usually dirty and worn out, she doesn't have a toothbrush and is always in trouble for not doing her homeworl. Worst of all for her she is always infested with nits which means the other children avoid her. We do as much as we can to help; clothes, meals and a bed occasionally but I still worry for her when she's not with us."
Action for Children is campaigning to improve the way child neglect is tackles, highlighting the importance of intervening early and calling for summer play schemes and activities to be protected by local authorities. The charity is visiting various parts of the UK this week, encouraging people to sign up to a petition calling on the government to tackle child neglect.
Femalefirst Taryn Davies
Tagged in Parenting