JAMAICA: State Minister calls on parents to look for signs of abuse

#Kingston, November 9, 2018 – Jamaica – State Minister for Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Alando Terrelonge, is calling on parents, teachers and caregivers to not only encourage play amongst children, but to look out for the telltale signs of abuse during this activity.

Mr. Terrelonge was speaking at a forum focusing on the importance of play for children, at the Maxfield Park Children’s Home in Kingston, on Tuesday (November 6).

“Sometimes (out of) fear, they (children) won’t talk, they won’t tell you what’s happening, they won’t tell you what they are going through, but if you give them things to play with, or if you watch how they play with other kids, they will actually act out what is happening to them, they will act out that abuse, and they will let you know about that trauma just by playing,” the State Minister said.

He argued that play is also a form of therapy that psychiatrists and psychologists use when they suspect a child is being abused, noting, for instance, that this activity can reveal that “something is wrong” if children are too aggressive or withdrawn.

“(Mothers)… if your children live with you half the time and half the time with Daddy, and when they are playing you notice something [isn’t right], it’s a signal that maybe something is happening at Daddy’s house; or Daddy, maybe something is happening at Mommy’s house. At school, children can use play to tell teachers what is happening at home, so teachers look out for those signals as well,” he advised.

In the meantime, the State Minister pointed out that play, which has been deemed the right of every child by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights, is an important tool for children’s cognitive, physical, social and emotional development.

“Parents, allow the children to play, allow them to express themselves, and allow them to interact with other children as well. Allow them to develop their own emotional well-being, to develop their own social skills (and) leadership skills,” he urged.

In her remarks, Education Specialist, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Jamaica, Dr. Rebecca Tortello, noted that play is “the single most important thing we can be doing to help build critical and creative thinkers”, adding that the psychosocial component to play should not be discounted, as this activity sometimes reveals things that may be of concern to parents, caregivers and teachers.

Dr. Tortello further stressed that play needs to be facilitated more in school as well as outside of school.

“I hope the Government will work with UNICEF and other partners to help create more play spaces, so that we will have safe play spaces, and that when new houses are built, play spaces and green spaces are included,” she said.

Release: JIS

Contact: Alecia Smith

Photo Caption: 

Header: State Minister for Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Alando Terrelonge (left), engages children and other participants in an activity during a forum focusing on the importance of play for children, at the Maxfield Park Children’s Home on Tuesday (November 6). From second left are Educator and Commissioner, Early Childhood Commission, Rachel McDonald; Education Specialist, United Nations Children’s  Fund (UNICEF) Jamaica, Dr. Rebecca Tortello; and Chairman, Seprod Foundation, Melanie Subratie.

First insert: State Minister for Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Alando Terrelonge (second right), highlights the benefits of play through games, such as ‘Chinese skip’, during a forum focusing on the importance of play for children, at the Maxfield Park Children’s Home on Tuesday (November 6). Engaging in the game of ‘Chinese skip’ are students from the Seaward Primary and Junior High School. They are (in the foreground, from left)  Shadae Salmon, and Latanya Graham.   At right is media personality and host of the forum, Emprezz Golding.

Second insert: State Minister for Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Alando Terrelonge (left), shares  a light moment with Educator and Commissioner, Early Childhood Commission, Rachel McDonald, prior to the start of a forum focusing on the importance of play for children, at the Maxfield Park Children’s Home on Tuesday (November 6).

Photographer: Adrian Walker