Sloane-Seale: Deviant behaviour more prevalent among the young

While many think that children are changing, Gregory Sloane-Seale, programme co-ordinator of the Ministry of National Security’s Citizen Security Programme, believes it is society. “We are living in a time where there are more distractions out there. I honestly feel that we all have to be aware of our children by developing communication lines.”

 Sloane-Seale said deviant behaviour, in particular, bullying, aggression and sexual deviance, among younger children is increasing. Though the problem has been existing for years, Sloane-Seale said, “We are definitely getting a lot more reports of younger children being involved in all sorts of deviant behaviour.”

Children as young as seven and eight are exhibiting deviant behaviour, Sloane-Seale said. Sloane-Seale said data was being compiled by the ministry. While deviant behaviour has always existed at surprisingly young ages, “we are now starting to pick it up better. When you say deviant, most times it is a response to what is going on in the child’s life. It is a signal that something is happening”.

Sloane-Seale said the problem of fathers not spending time with their children was one factor that has contributed to children going astray. “The absence of a father figure in the home has escalated. You have to remember that we learn what we live.”