THERE are no national accolades for those who have dedicated their lives to caring for children. From teachers to nursery and day care workers to those in the public service who have worked diligently with families and children for decades.

For these people the work is not a job but a ‘calling’ it is the most natural thing for them to do in life. They bring joy, hope, love, care, encouragement and inspiration to children and their families who otherwise would probably fall by the wayside or have a very difficult time ‘getting by’ for one reason or another.

When you speak to these people, one of the things you realise is their natural insight into the mind of a child and the needs of children. Through their eyes a child is not ‘bad’ or ‘disgusting’ or someone who deserves a good beating; no, these people see a child who may be troubled by his/her experiences in life so far or a child who is a product of the circumstances that he/she has been presented with in life.

These people realise that when they interact with a child they are actually interacting with everything that has happened to that child since birth. All the child has seen, has heard and had been through and how he/she has been treated: The good and the not so good. All these and the other elements such as the child’s intellectual, emotional and social growth are part of the developing child. They know about child development and therefore understand children.

If adults want to help children they must (try to) understand them. For instance children do not need to be moulded into any particular shape or beaten into submission when they do something wrong. They simply need to be guided and allowed to bloom naturally.

Adults must be steadfast in their approach with children. They should know when to ‘make joke’ and when to be serious. So that a child will not overstep his/her mark: a mutual respect between adults and children must exist from the start (or be built along the way) for a healthy relationship to flourish and be maintained.

Children need trustworthy adults in their lives. The best adults are those who can relate to children on the child’s level and who go out of their way to find different ways and strategies to deal with ‘problem’ children because they know that children can never really be a ‘problem’, though in some cases their transitional lives seem filled with its fair share.

It has been written: If a child cannot learn the way you teach then teach them the way they learn. ‘Teach them’ not beat them or preach to them or maltreat them: adults need to be adaptable, dependable and approachable to meet the needs of the growing child. It is a fact that adults have a phenomenal influence over children and any form of abuse, neglect or abandonment by parents could leave an indelible mark on children for life.

On the heels of child protection week, we at the Childcare and Protection Agency implore, adults, caregivers and parents to take their time with children, have patience: be attentive, inquisitive and alert around them. Make them feel special, compliment the positive things they do and do not consistently highlight the negative. Most parents want their child to succeed and grow into a well-adjusted rounded adult but this will only happen if the time and care is given now.

There are those whose vocation in life is to nurture and care for children, they have the knack, the tact and the inclination to help children meet their potential, but for all those who fall short in this area, this message is to let you know that there is time and room for improvement. Don’t give up on children, they need your support, love and care for their growth and development. (If you are concerned about the welfare of a child you can ring the CPA hotline 227 0979 or email chilcaregy@gmail.com A Message from the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ministry of Social Protection)