Linda Hall: Who tells kids it's not OK?

Two more babies have died - and its time we act, says Linda Hall.

Two more babies have died violent and painful deaths.

One man has been charged with murdering his 2-year-old stepdaughter, Leilani Mary Jane Lotonu'u-Lorigan.

Heading the investigation into the second death is Detective Inspector Greg Murton.

He said he had never seen such serious injuries inflicted on a child as those on Ihaka Paora Braxton Stokes. As yet, no arrests have been made in this case.

Just days after these little ones lost their lives the Government ordered "all rental properties must be insulated by July 2019, though exemptions apply to properties where it is physically impractical to retrofit insulation".

This quick action follows the death of Otara toddler Emma-Lita Bourne, who died last August after being hospitalised with pneumonia.

The coroner's report into her death, said the poor condition of the state house in the South Auckland suburb of Otara may have contributed to her death.

While I applaud any law that helps children lead healthier lives, I think if the Government can move this quickly over the death of one child then what the heck is stopping them doing more about the babies who continue to be killed at the hands of adults?

The anti-smacking laws, in my mind, have done nothing to curb the tragic deaths of innocent children.

People who hurt children don't give a toss about the law.

What can we do?

Whatever we are doing now is obviously not working.

While I'm loathe to put any more pressure on the education system, I think perhaps it needs to start in the classroom.

You couldn't pay me enough to be a teacher these days. Personally, I think they do a fantastic job.

The reason I suggested school was that I read Brett McGregor, New Zealand's first MasterChef winner, is visiting low-decile schools, teaching the students how to cook.

He has partnered with Counties Manukau Health, the Diabetes Projects Trust and Countdown to help students make the most sensible food choices.

That's great.

As I said, any skill that helps kids lead healthy, happier lives the better.

So how about some early education about leading safe lives?

After all, we have tried to help adults.

There are any number of anger-management courses and people ready, willing and able to help adults when they cry out for help.

But nobody hears the little people.

They need to know it's not normal to be covered in bruises.

They need to know that mummy's new friend or daddy's new friend is not allowed to hurt them or their little brother and sister.

It's okay to tell your teacher you are too scared to go home, or that your little sister got a hiding.

I know teachers have more than enough on their plate at the moment and it's not up to them to save everyone but if we can send people into our schools to teach cooking and any other number of extra curricular activities I think the Government needs to look at paying someone to teach our little people that we really do care what happens to them when they go home after school.

This alone is not going to solve the problem, which seems to be getting worse and worse, but perhaps it might just help.

-Linda Hall is assistant editor at Hawke's Bay Today.