Social/Kiddies
Children As An Elixir For Future Development
Children are young human beings below the age of puberty or below the legal age of maturity. They are also referred to as minors.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), children refer to human beings below the age of 18 years unless under the law applicable to the child.
In the United Kingdom, in the context of child support, children are referred to as persons under 16 years of age or young persons aged between 16 and 20, who are receiving full-time education (which is not advanced education).
Development is the growth or formation of something or the processing of developing or being developed. Proper development of children in any society is the solution to a brighter future. The children of today are the future leaders of tomorrow. They are the society’s future and tomorrow’s citizens. This means that the future of every country depends on the children who will be adults in the future.
Development consists of progressive, coherent and orderly changes. These changes have a definite direction. Development occurs through two main processes, learning and maturation, Development also helps in reduction in poverty, illiteracy, crime rate and other societal vices.
For proper development of children round the world, the United Nations General Assembly in 1959 adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child which defines Children’s rights to protection, education and healthcare.
These rights are important agreement by countries who have promised to protect Children’s rights. Nigeria is one of them.
According to research, children learn at birth and they develop and learn at a rapid pace in their early years. This provides a critical foundation for life long progress and the adults who provide for the care and the education of young children bear a great responsibility for their health, development and learning.
Education, as part of development is a powerful agent of change. It improves health, livelihoods and contributes to social stability and drives long- time growth. It also provides a foundation for development by helping children become better citizens and shows the difference between good and bad. This helps to shape a better society to live in by knowing and respecting rights, laws and regulations. It also helps children and young people to achieve their learning goals and maximise their human potential.
Education can lead to more accurate health beliefs and knowledge, thereby having better lifestyle choices, better skills, literacy effective habits and may improve cognitive ability habits, that are brain based skills.
Career development is one of the long developments in the life span experienced by individuals to self actualisation. It is an important key in the lives of children in helping them through the process of thinking and planning for their career as future leaders.
Children should be provided with pratical support in order to help them identify and explore opportunities in career and subject option they are likely to enjoy. These are vital ways to apply, that can help children gain confidence in their ability to succeed in life .
However,starting early gives children the chance to understand their strength, likes and the corresponding career options that are available before they narrow down their choices. According to Paul Hartung, “factors central to life’s design such as career exploration, career awareness , occupational aspirations and expectation, vocational interests and career adaptability begin during the childhood years.”
Another aspect of future development is through the acquisition of leadership skills by children. These skills allow children to have control of their lives and the ability to make things happen. Leadership instills confidence and helps children solve problems creatively, work in a team and work collaboratively with others. Leadership also gives children many opportunities to develop responsibility. It is key to supporting and sustaining quality in early childhood.
Meanwhile, researchers have suggested that children who receive consistent support and care are more likely to develop a secure attachment style which may continue to influence their social relationship throughout life, while those who recieve less reliable care or nothing at all, may develop an anti-valent, avoidant or disorganised lifestyle leading to drug abuse, alcoholism, cultism and others.
To position children globally for better life, the United Nations Sustainable Development Group in 2022 during the World International Day of Education celebration renewed their engagement to transform education and build a better future for children in line with the promises of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
They establish the fact that the key to a better future for children in any country lies in quality education. Schools must look beyond the confines of the classroom and adopt a blended approach that supports children and adolescents to face-to- face settings in community centres, to turn the tide and enable a better future for children.
The group suggested other pratical recommendations which include the boosting of digital skills which are crucial in the 21st century for learners to be able to navigate an increase in digital world. They also noted that school meal programmes must be provided to access a healthy nutrition for children.
In 2015 ,UNICEF noted that countries all over the world agreed on SDGs , on the future of children, yet years later, only few countries have recorded much progress towards achieving them. The commision presents the case for placing children aged 0-18 years at the centre of SDGs.
They maintained that governments must harness coalitions across sectors to overcome ecological and commercial pressures to ensure children received their rights and entitlements now and liveable planet in years to come.
They stated that many children go hungry or are in conditions of absolute poverty. Also, millions of children grow up scared of war, kidnapping or insecurity, and are excluded from receiving the most basic health, educational and developmental services.
Here in Nigeria, the federal government, in order to boost children development, signed into law the Child Rights Act. The Child Rights Act was enacted to domesticate the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The children’s Rights Act of 2003 expands the human rights bestowed to citizens in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution to children. So far, since it’s enactment, some states had replicated the Act. Rivers State is one of the states that has enacted the Act.
On January 3, 2010, the Rivers State Child Rights Act 2009 was signed into law in recongnition of children, restore their confidence and self esteem as well as improve their status. Basically, the law provides for care and protection.
The Nigerian government has also set aside a day, May 27 every year to celebrate Nigerian children aimed at drawing attention to their needs,to uphold with particular attention the rights of special protection and care afforded to minors,including their rights as human identity as well as the basic needs for food, state-paid education and health care.
However, inspite of efforts of Nigerian government, children are asking government for good security and health care system, among others.
Speaking with The Tide in different interviews with pupils namely-Elenwa Diamond Victor-Army Children School, PH; Olojede Ferami-Graceville Christian School, Jos, Plateau State and Ezue Precious-Graceville Christian School, Jos, Plateau State.
Other students, namely, Balafama Precious Tamunobebie-Ibiyeomie-Community Secondary School, Kalio-Ama,R/S;Oberenibia Lolia-Community Secondary School, Kalio -Ama,R/S.; Wisdom God’swork-Community Secondary School, Kalio-Ama,R/S and Beulah Amagala-Potters Touch High School, Bayelsa State.
As leaders of tomorrow, they intend to lead by presenting themselves as worthy examples and models, obey instructions and laws of the land. Maintain well trained military personnel for security of lives and properties. Ensure free and basic educational system for all children and the masses. Improve the value of the naira. Eradicate corruption especially during elections. Unite the different tribes and religions in the country for peaceful co-existence. Ensure that Nigerians patronise made-in-Nigeria goods. Ensure fixing electricity problems. Employ youth and ensure that childrens rights were not violated. Build better schools that are affordable to the poor. Be a voice for the less-privileged and fight for their justice.
As children presently, they want to be in a peaceful country where everyone is treated fairly. Citizens are given opportunities to explore talents. A country that can rank with other developed countries. Good roads and schools for all children. Everyone should be treated equally whether rich or poor. Good and eligible leaders who can care about the feelings of the people and can also pilot the affairs of the country.
Finally, in the spirit of the celebration, they advised other children to always obey their elders, concentrate on their studies because they are the future leaders of the country and not to be distracted by negative lifestyles. Be contented, hold on to their dreams and fulfil their passion in life.
By: Ibinabo Ogolo
It is the idea of God that family should exit. Children form part of the family. God loves family so much that Jesus was born into the family of Joseph.
Everyone’s family is good and important. Children should not look down on their family whether they are rich or poor.
Children should respect and honour their family and foster love among their siblings. They should work together and make peace in the family. They should always stand in the gap. It is good for family members to carry all along since everyone may not be doing well.
The Christianity that children learn is practised in family. Faith-based organisations do a great job in moulding children’s character. Those are the behaviours that children exhibit towards siblings in family.
Every child born in a family is there for a purpose. A baby born into a family is supplying something. It may be joy, wealth and so on. Everyone is important in a family.
Adolescents who have graduated from school but may not be contributing financially can do one or two things at home. You can engage in preparing meals at home while parents are away for a job or business. Contributing in house chores will go a long way to relieve parents of stress after a day’s job.
What do you contribute to your family, especially during holidays both in nuclear and extended family?
The family you were born is constant but friends are temporary. You can decide not to continue in friendship but you cannot cut off your family. No matter how bad you think your family is and you decide to leave home, you must surely return. Your friends can harbour you for a while.
The child’s first identity comes from the family. What the child learns first comes from the family.
Family is the centre of love and care. People have started playing down on marriage because of neglect on basics of family. Marriage starts today and and the next few months, it is threatened. Respect for family plays a crucial role in marriage.
No child grows without parental control and influence. If a child refuses to grow without taking instructions from parents, he may grow up being wild. There are consequences when children do not obey their parents. There are those who want to be rebellious against their parents. They should know that their length of days are tied to their parents.
Your bioligical parents know you more than every other person. There is the wisdom and knowledge your parents have that you do not so it is proper to listen to them before choosing carriers both in academics and job. A young man or woman can choose who to get married to, but a greater role in the choice of who to marry and the marriage proper comes from the parents.
They know what is best for you. No matter how modern trends will influence you and prove it wrong, parent is the key. No one can love you more than your parents because they are your blood.
A lot of parents have been traumatised due to the fact that children they nurtured and trained turned their back on them at older age. Children should not abandon their parents for any reason.
As you grow up, situations may arise in marriage when you decide it is over with your spouse, but no matter the level of provocation with your parents, they will not despise you. Parents will also play a role in that regard. Problem arises in every family but how it is handled matters a lot.
Some children honour their mentors more than their parents. Although there are parents who shy away from their responsibilities. It is important that parents take full responsibility of their children. You cannot bring a child to the planet earth and refuse to perform roles as a parent. But parents may not quantify what they spent from childhood to adolescence. That is a blessing children cannot get from another person.
There are people who have attributed their failure in life to the fact that their parents, especially mothers are witchcraft. It is wrong to feel that your mother is instrumental to your failure in life. The only way to success is hardwork.
Let money not determine the level of love for your parents. Wherever a child goes, family is constant.
Eunice Choko-Kayode
Naturally, when a child is born, it is the role of the father and mother to decide a suitable name for the child. The husband and wife normally discuss and suggest the English or vernacular name of the baby.
But sometimes, when a baby comes into a family, grandparents hearts are usually filled with joy to the extent that they want to answer present, by giving their own names not minding the fact that the biological parents have given theirs.
This happens mostly when the marriage is an inter-tribal one. It also happens even in intra-tribal marriage. Grandparents want equal representation as far as naming a child is concerned. They also have special names as a result of circumstances surrounding the birth of the child.
This is still happening till date.
A lot of people have viewed this in different ways but there is nothing wrong about it. The most important thing is that the child bears as many names as he or she can. But one thing is certain, the child must bear one name in school.
Should circumstance determine a child’s name?
Women who are more emotional are always eager to name their children considering the circumstances surrounding the child’s conception and arrival.
The issue of grandparents naming a child comes up mostly when it is the first of the family.
In naming children by some parents in the olden days, they named their children according to the days in the week in which they were born, like Sunday, Monday, Friday and so on.
You may be shocked to hear that whether a child is given 10 names by parents or grandparents, when he or she grows up, will decide to change. There are several cases where some persons decided to change especially when they feel that the names given by their parents and grandparents do not give them joy. If they are not doing well in life, they may claim that their misfortune is caused by the name their parents.
Competition among children in schools be it primary, (kindergarten) and secondary come in different forms. It can be Mathematics , debate, quiz, spelling bee,competition, from organisations like Cowbell, multi-national companies, faith-based organisations among others.
They are organised mostly for selected intelligent ones, the best among their peers to represent a class, school or group. Prizes are normally set aside for the best as well as consolation prizes for runners-up at the end of each session.
The question is, are children willing to accept defeat when they fail? As parents, guardians, can you encourage your children or wards to accept defeat instead of shouting and comparing them with others who may be performing better either in schools or outside.
Some parents may be blaming their children for not doing well in competitions. They will like to tell their children if others who may perform better have ten heads. Those group of parents blame their children for every failure.
For your children to do better in competition, the parents too must have emotional intelligence. When you continue to blame your children for failure, how intelligent are you?
Some parents always want their children to be in the 1st position and unhappy whenever they secure 2nd position. There were instances where children smashed their trophies because they never got the position they wanted to get and their parents supported them.
Children should be able to accept it whether they win or not. They should be encouraged for every performance. Discourage the issue of “shame, shame, shame, shame”.
A parent says she always tells her children to win even if they will fail. Always give them the mentality that they can win. Children should be given the impression that they can win prizes and laurels in every competition.
Parents should not isolate their children from others in the neighbourhood. Allow them to play with others. Don’t threaten your children that you may not pay their schools fees if they fail. Comparing them with others may encourage or discourage them.
Coming first or getting award as a first class student from the university sometimes does not mean that the person is the best. And if the child does not merit any award in the lower classes, does not mean that he can not merit first class also.
It should be noted that coming first in academic competition may not really mean that the competitor will be the best at work place or business.
Accepting defeat is a way to move higher. Even if a child who competed with others did not come first, there are consolation prizes for runners-up. When you advise the child to accept defeat, you are encouraging her to win in next competition.
Remember all children cannot be on the same knowledge level Their learning abilities defer.
Eunice Choko-Kayode