"Parents must be guided by strong moral principles to support their children as they grow into the Jamaican citizens that the society needs at this time," says Golding, wife of Prime Minister Bruce Golding. She says she is constantly reminded of the lessons that her parents taught her when she was growing up in the parish of St Ann. "They concentrated on the Bible and used the stories of the Bible to assist them in raising all of us as children in their household."
With May being observed as Child Month under the theme 'Preserve the Environment: Protect our Children', Golding, who is the chairperson of the Jamaica Early Childhood Development Foundation (JECDF), says the promotion of environmental awareness must become central to the early stimulation of children. That must be realised through positive parenting.
She feels that children should be taught about the environment and how to protect it as they learn how to read and write. She feels that the society should teach children to interact, respect and protect their environment. "Don't wait until they are in high school to teach them about the environment and the need to preserve it".
integrated approach
The JECDF is a non-profit organisation designed to assist in the Government's transformation of the education programme. The project takes an integrated approach to health, education and the provision of early stimulation for parents and children. The focus will be on nurseries and basic schools. It is also intended to foster the growth and development of young children, especially those in the zero-to-three age group.
This initiative comes against the background of statistics that show that parenting practices in Jamaica are often detrimental to children's early development. A 2005 study by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) revealed that only one third of parents told stories, played games or sang songs to their children.
The major Child Month activity of the JECDF is 'An Evening of Classics', scheduled for May 23 and 24, under the patronage of Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Mrs Lorna Golding.
The headliners will be world-renowned pianist Mihae Lee, who has been captivating audiences throughout North America, Europe and Asia; violinist William Purvis, a multifaceted musician who pursues a global career as a French horn soloist, chamber musician, conductor and educator; Cathy Meng-Robinson, violinist, a founding member of the Miami String Quartet; and Keith Robinson, cellist, a founding member of the Miami String Quartet and has been active as a chamber musician, recitalist, and soloist.
This star-studded group will be supported by a line-up of distinguished local musicians.
Lorna Golding, wife of Prime Minister Bruce Golding, interacts with these attentative children at the Mountain of Books for Children Reading Fair, held at the National Heroes Park playground last Friday. The Rotary Club of Kingston, in association with the Early Childhood Commission, handed over 10,000 books to 200 early childhood institutions from across the country just before the fair.
- Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer