The Editor, Sir:

Regarding 13-year-old fashion model Shermonique Ivey, this young adolescent has the attributes necessary to entice, fascinate, motivate and titillate the designers who will eventually cover the global markets as society's symbol of elegance. Hence, she was the selected choice of Pulse modelling agency.

If her parents have been over-whelmed by their 'special child', by all means, seek to identify her talents or attributes. Don't highlight her physical assets as, by so doing, you are creating negative aspects. At 13, most adolescents are quite vulnerable. It is a very uncertain and indecisive stage of develop-ment, with them needing encouragement from parents and siblings, not necessarily peers and the public. Even in a situation of precocious puberty, no youngster wants to be the object of scrutiny, at best. Even the good doctor has to be very cautious and wary with the physical examination and assessment of an underage patient/minor.

Give them a chance

Dear parents, your teenagers' development should be their private concern or business until or unless it becomes a problem. Give them a chance to discover; give them a chance to grow; share confidence and character. Do not overwhelm them by sharing their lives.

I will not hesitate to assure you that if the Office of the Children's Advocate were operating within its mandate, a child's early career, may eventually become a major issue in the court of law and you may realise that you are overlooking the rights of the child, which is not just yours, but belongs to the child of every Jamaican citizen. Will you be able to explain yourself? Could this blunder be a desperate effort to show off your 'child prodigy' or is the real issue (may the Lord pardon us) financial constraints?

Personality development

At 13, my adolescent should focus on individuality, self-discipline, a sense of direction and personal identity, personal privacy and personality develop-ment and deportment. I may sound old-fashioned because I was brought up and socialised through the culturally old-fashioned Jamaican discipline.

Modern etiquette dictates that it is quite healthy for youngsters to emulate influential role models, for example, the current beauty queen in her party dress or the cultural festival queen in the traditional bandana, tartan or the national flag and colour scheme. However, the skimpy illustration of partial nakedness is universally unacceptable for such a young lady.

I am, etc.,

E. LEWIS

www.marlieacres@ja.com.