These dance moves are certainly not the sexually explicit daggerin' that young children have been performing while adults look on or dance with them. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

On Friday, The Weekend Star reported that children as young as age eight were gyrating provocatively to popular songs, some which were laced with sexually explicit words.

In that story, it was also noted that at the party, held within a Kingston community, underaged youngsters danced with adults to the lewd lyrics.

Margarette Macaulay, children's-rights advocate, said, to some adults, it may seem as fun or entertainment for children to 'boogie' to sexually suggestive tunes. However, she said, there is a psychological effect.

"That is teaching the child to become sensual and to use their sexuality before they understand what it is about. Generations to come will suffer the effect of this," she said.

Popular dancehall male duo, RDX, shared a similar view.

They stated that children should not be patrons at dancehall sessions. The duo also noted that selectors must exhibit professionalism and responsibility when playing songs for children.

One member, Andre Bedward, said children should be educated about abstinence and sexually transmitted diseases, instead of being allowed to partcipate in these events.

"(We) have to establish boundaries and dancehall not geared towards kids," said Bedward.

Lisa Hanna, opposition spokesperson on information, youth and culture, said if adults danced suggestively with children, it is a clear breach of the right of a child.

According to the Child Care and Protection Act, persons under age 18 are to be protected from abuse, neglect or harm. An object of the act, is also to promote the best interests, safety and well-being children.

Hanna said while it was a cultural phenomenon for children to party to sexually overt tunes, this trend needs examination as it may be a form of abuse.

Highlighting the recent attack against children, in which an 11-year-old boy was sodomised, schoolgirls were abducted and more than 60 were killed last year, Hanna said now, more than before, parents should be protective of their charges and teach them about their sexuality.

Macaulay and Hanna suggest that, for the country to develop positively, the laws regarding children need to be enforced.