All-Star Parents!

Parenting has been a hot topic in Jamaica for quite some time.  Various economic and social forces have conspired to produce a generation (or two or three...) of persons who have grown up without exposure to positive parenting skills.  Of course, this directly impacts their own parenting abilities - and the cycle continues.

We see the impact of this cycle all the time in our youth sport leagues.  Parents rarely attend their children’s matches and when they do, you’d almost rather NOT have them attend due to less than positive behavior (ahem...).   Because parents play such a crucial role in determining what benefits (if any) children receive from sporting activities, the overall impact of our leagues is seriously hampered.  The All-Star Parent project attempts to address this issue by helping parents play a healthy, constructive role in their children’s sporting lives.  

Things began this week with a 5 day “training of trainers” course.  17 persons from 8 primary schools in our area were trained in how to deliver interactive parenting workshops.  In the next phase (running from mid April to early July) these trainers will return to their schools and facilitate 8 workshops specifically targeting parents of children who play on the sports teams.  Topics covered will include:

• How We Learn to be Parents
• Managing our Stress
• Understanding Child Development
• Positive Parent-Child Communication
• Promoting Self-Esteem in Children
• When Children Act Out
• Working With Your Child’s School
• How Children Learn Decision Making and Responsibility

Next season, the Oracabessa Foundation will incorporate a “Sport Parent of the Year” Award into our various sports leagues to further highlight the important role parents play in their children’s sporting lives.

The project is a collaboration between a number of partners.  The Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (which also has a remit targeting children) provided funding.  Parenting Partners - an award winning NGO based in Kingston, Jamaica - provided the curriculum and local Peace Corps volunteers Deb and Jeff Schultz are coordinating the effort.

Look out world!  Jamaica has already unleashed Usain Bolt;  and it is scary to think how many more may rise to the top with strong, positive and supportive parents to carry them along!