Through a parenting seminar hosted at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in May Pen on August 25, approximately 90 parents and guardians from churches and communities within the Central Jamaica Conference (CJC) received support for raising children with special needs, play therapy and child nutrition among other areas.
CJC Family Life Department director, Pastor Horace Wilson, remarked that the effort to provide information and resources under the theme ‘Positioned with a Purpose, Effectively Parenting’ sprang from the knowledge that character formation begins in the home.
“The state of society is just a reflection of what is happening in the homes…our work is to arm you parents with proper information so you can go out to intercept the negative influences and help to create proper character in our children,” he said.
There were six presentations on various topics.
Psychologist and professor at Northern Caribbean University (NCU), Dr Orlean Brown Earle, presented on ‘Instilling Resilience in Our Teens - Trauma Proofing Our Children’. She noted that nurturing the emotional intelligence of adolescents will make them resilient, positive and happy.
Dr Orlean Brown-Earle, Professor of Psychology, leads parents in a demonstration of parent and child communication and relations :: Photo credit:
She also acknowledged the challenges of caring for youth with special needs and recommended seeking support from paediatricians, special education officers in regional offices of the Ministry of Education and Youth, the HEART Trust training programmes for adolescents and youth with special needs and the NCU Counselling Centre to name a few.
The power of play was highlighted by a licensed associate psychologist from the Counselling and Therapeutic Play Centre, Camille Campbell, through her presentation and an interactive play area. She explained that play therapy allows children to express pent-up emotions with minimal limitations in a safe environment.
Mrs Camille Campbell shares with effectiveness of Play Therapy with attending parents :: Photo credit:
To improve emotional management in children, she encouraged parents to help them name specific emotions they are experiencing, to give simple instructions to reduce frustration and to give pleasant alternatives when removing things the child enjoys.
Parents' emotional needs with a focus on single parents was also addressed. Clinical Psychologist in the Southern Regional Health Authority, Dr Raphael Wellington, provided resources such as mindfulness exercises and stress management tips to assist parents with managing their own feelings while providing a stable environment for their children.
Consultant paediatrician at the May Pen Hospital and Gilead Paediatrics, Dr Curtis Pryce, tackled the issue of technology use and its impact. He recommended a planned approach to the use of devices. He advised that screen time protocols used by parents should be communicated to other caregivers of the child so there can be consistency.
Consultant paediatrician, Dr Curtis Pryce, shares his knowledge and findings on the topic of "The Art of Managing Screen Time: Bridging the Gap Between Social Media and Reality for Children." :: Photo credit:
Legal officer for the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), Nicole Chambers, addressed ‘Parenting and the Law’. Chambers cleared up a misconception that the CPFSA is focused on removing children from their households.
“We don’t want to take children from their families…we prefer if you and your child can stay together and we offer support where needed,” she said
Mrs Nicole Chambers engages the parents in the discussion of "Parenting and the Law" :: Photo credit:
She invited parents to contact CPFSA officers for assistance before taking drastic actions that could make challenges worse or create legal problems.
Registered dietitian and parish nutritionist for Clarendon, Debbie Ottey Golding, gave parents eight tips for healthy nutrition habits including modelling a healthy diet and lifestyle, educating children about nutrition, providing balanced meals, making meals appealing and creative, limiting sugary and processed foods, involving children in meal planning, controlling food availability, creating a positive eating environment and establishing regular meal times.
Mrs Debbie Ottey Golding, Parish Nutritionist for Clarendon, engages the attendees in some light stretches before her presentation on "Impacting Children through their Diet" :: Photo credit:
In addition to the presentations, attendees received handouts, family-related books and pamphlets and contact information for local support services.