Background to the booklet -

Raising Children to Resist Violence

Violence is a complex public health problem with many risk factors. Parents and family based strategies have been shown to be one of the most effective means of preventing violence. Parent support is therefore critical to combating our fight against violence.

Recent studies have highlighted the importance of factors in the home, the school and the wider society that contribute or can protect against a variety of psychological factors that can lead to violence. The early identification of these factors is crucial for sustaining the fabric of the society as numerous studies have linked behaviour problems in early childhood to deviance in adolescence and adulthood.

Children living in a stable family, where children participated in supervised leisure activities and church, where parents spent time with them and where TV watching/video games was less than 20 hours per week had positive behaviours and good performance. Of particular importance is the high level of violent and sexual content in the media and video games and these were significantly associated with aggressive behaviour.

In light of this, the Ministry of Health in collaboration PAHO/WHO, UNICEF, Ministry of Education Youth and Culture has developed educational materials targeting violence prevention. The booklet entitled 'Raising Children to Resist Violence' is one such material and it has been adapted from the American Psychological Association and the Academy of Paediatrics and has been edited to suit our Jamaican audiences. The book speaks to how we can teach our children to resist violence and is useful for teachers, children, parents and caregivers.

For copies contact:

Ministry of Health,
2-4 King Street , Kingston
Tele.876-967-1100 Or
Bookstore & Pharmacies islandwide.