Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development, Steve Blackett, is urging the nation’s parents and guardians to be “more intentional” with their language, and use uplifting words whenever possible when speaking to children.

Mr. Blackett was addressing the National Children’s Service to launch Child Month 2017, at the Abundant Life Assembly, Bank Hall, St. Michael, when he shared this view.

“People from every walk of life have something to say about children.  Sometimes it is positive, sometimes it is not.  However, this month, as an act of love to our children, let us make a conscious effort to be mindful of the words that we speak into the lives of our children.  Words have the power to build up or to destroy our children, and words can have a lasting impact on the lives in which they are spoken,” he maintained.

The Minister also stressed the importance of saying ‘I love you’ often, because while children often acted as though they didn’t care, they needed the reassurance that adults loved them in times of success and in times of discomfort.

“If children see and experience these behaviours within their families, they would be better able to establish and maintain positive relationships within and outside of the family unit,” he reasoned.

Minister of Social Care Constituency Empowerment and Community Development, Steve Blackett. (FP)

Mr. Blackett explained that the theme selected for Child Month 2017: Love Our Children: Today’s Generation, Tomorrow’s World, represented a continuation of the Child Care Board’s work in highlighting the importance of parents, guardians and adults generally, in moulding the lives of children.

The theme also addressed the fact, he said, that while we tended to concentrate on what our children would become later in life, we should ensure that our involvement in their present lives was “meaningful”.

The Social Care Minister also encouraged the primary and secondary school students gathered to be positive in their interactions with parents, guardians, adults and peers.

deirdre.gittens@barbados.gov.bb

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