Social/Kiddies
Children’s Day: Issues And Solutions
May 27 is celebrated every year across Nigeria as Children’s Day. It is a day set aside as holiday for children in Nigeria since 1964 to commemorate the healthy growth and happiness of children.
The day draws attention and brings to the fore awareness on problems faced by children in Nigeria. It also marks a celebration of children helping us appreciate their roles as future leaders.
The theme for this year’s celebration is, “More Money for Primary Education “
To mark the day, The Tide went to town to get the views of some children on issues affecting children in the society.
Here are excerpts of their views-
The Relevance Of Children To Society
– Benjamin Charles
Children are gifts from God. We are a royal heritage of good fortune. Nature and its body cannot exist without us because we make it complete. We bring joy to homes and comfort to many.
The relevance of children to the society is numerous because without us there would not have been potential business tycoons of any sort. Without us there would not have been scientists and technologists who make life easier by their inventions, there would not have been doctors and nurses who look after the sick, lawyers who defend the helpless, teachers who impact knowledge on students, comedians and thespians who help relieve stress from people by making them laugh, counsellors who give advice to people and hope to the depressed.
Obviously without children the world would have been a boring place. Who would have grown to become leaders of tomorrow if not children. Who is it that helps their parents run errands if not children. There is a saying which states that “charity begins at home”. Adherence to good home training is the key to success which makes an individual a good ambassador but by negligence we become terrorists, fraudsters, hackers and so on.
Children need to be given more care and attention where ever they are, be it at home, school, religious places, market places and so on. By so doing parents and societal leaders would have ensured that they curb anything that would hinder the child from becoming a leader because children are the leaders of today, tomorrow and the years to come.
National Development And Child Training
– Abiante Justina Friday
Child education is the instruction, interference, consequences modelling or correction given to a child to guide and secure them from the dangers lurking ahead. National development is the capacity of the country to raise the standard of living of it’s residents. It is also said to be the development of the country for its citizens to live their lives at the fullest. It can be achieved by providing individuals with basic livelihood requirement and supplying citizens with employment.
National development has helped the society and has diversely impacted greatly on the nation. It brings solution to problems such as eradicating poverty, promoting economic status of the state. It generates revenue by making companies and industries diverse in the country.
However, education is important and relevant to national development in many ways as it helps children become their best in their mind and spirit. It gives children a lot of knowledge in all fields of endeavours. Child education reduces crime rate as every child is impacted with more knowledge that makes them determined to succeed and become useful in the nearest future. Educaiton of children makes them responsible in the society.
Parents are to be held responsible for inadequate support given to their children or wards, because as guidians they are expected to be strict to their wards as they are the first social group in the society. Parents should train their children to be respectful. They should be treated equally as any form of discrimination may also lead to children being isolated and become violent, thereby keeping painful moments to themselves, enduring hard time, feeling neglected, taking wrong choices and engaging themselves in things that may endanger their lives and the society.
This may lead to frustration and some may even get introduced to drugs by friends and peer groups which is bad to the society.
Teachers on the other hand also play vital role in the upbringing of future leaders. Training them inadequately may lead to the children becoming terrorists and deviants not only to their famillies but the country at large. Teachers should desist from taking money from students as bribes to enable them pass their exams thereby making them half-baked students.
Also, the government should monitor teachers, especially those in the public sector thereby ensuring that they carry out their duties, also salaries should not be paid for work not properly done. Government should release more revenues which will aid training of children on scholarship. They should also reach out to undergraduates who do not have sponsors through school, rather than letting them get involved in criminal activities, cultism, prostitution etc, just to fend for themselves in and out of school.
In conclusion, child education is very important to national development, as child education determines the future of any nation. When children are educated they give back the goodness they have learnt to the society, but when they are not educated properly,they become liability to the nation and may equally bring very bad name to their parents and country.
The Impact Of Children In The Society
– Isaiah Nahum
Going by world’s population census figures, children constitute the largest population in the world. The society can not be built solely from the top but requires the activeness of our parents to invest in us when we are still young to ensure a good society and the betterment of our lives.
The impact of children in the society needs to be emphasised, this is because children give back to the society what have been impacted to them and they are the future of any society. The society should not play down or do lip service on the educational standard of the children because “knowledge is key”.
Since the amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria in 1914, the society has faced numerous challenges which emanated from the neglect of the children. They have been told that they are the leaders of tomorrow and builders of the society, yet there are no evidence of arrangements to equip them for leadership responsibility.
The society will feel the positive impact of children when they are mentally, politically, socially, technologically and scientifically equipped to compete with the recent developments in “Developed Nations”. Our nation, Nigeria is to invest bountifully in the formal education of the children and also give them the opportunity to develop their capacity through skill acquisition, entrepreneurship and exposure to skills.
Since an idle mind is the devil’s workshop, investments on children if not taken seriously, will only leave negative impact such as terrorism, prostitution and drug addiction on the society.
The society should always remember that “you reap what you sow”.
Crucial Roles Of Child Education
-Perpetual David
Child education is a crucial aspect of society as it plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of our destiny. It strengthens children with wisdom,acquired skills and morals and important for personal and societal development.
Education not only provide children with the tools to succeed academically but also equips them with important or essential life skills,cultivate their creativity, fosters critical thought, and nurtures their overall well-being. This essay implores the values of child education,emphasises its significance in building a prosperous and sustainable future for individuals and communities.
Child education empowers individuals to realise their full potential and pursue their aspirations. It equips them with foundational knowledge in various disciplines such as mathematics, science, literature, and history, which forms or produce the basis for further academic pursuits. Education enhances cognitive abilities and improves problems-solving skills and encourages intellectual curiosity.
It opens or clears doors to opportunities, enabling children to explore their interests and passions,and help them make informed decisions or choices about their future careers.
Education extends beyond academic achievements and instills essential life skills in children. It teaches them effective communication,team work, time management, and critical thinking skills that are vital for success in personal and professional life.These skills enable children to navigate challenges,adapt to changing circumstances and develop resilience.
Moreover,education provides them with financial literacy, digital literacy,and practical knowledge, empowering them to make responsible choices and become independent individuals capable of contributing to society.
Also,child education nurtures creativity and innovation,encouraging children to think outside the box and explore new ideas. It fosters imagination, artistic expression,and original thinking,helping children develop their unique talents and abilities.
Child education promotes social and emotional well-being, thereby fostering empathy, respect, and inclusivity. Schools and educational institutions provide environments that encourage social interaction,cooperation, and understanding among children from diverse entities.
Child education is vital for building sustainable communities. Education impact knowledge about environmental conservation, sustainable practices,and global challenges such as climate change. It fosters a sense of responsibility towards the environment and encourages children to become active contributors to creating a greener and more sustainable future. Education promotes live arrangement, democratic values,and social justice,empowering children to actively participate in community development and advocate for positive change.
In all,child education is of utmost relevance in today’s world. It is a transformative force that equips children with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected world. By investing in child education,societies can empower individuals, cultivate creativity and innovation, promote social and emotional well being,and build sustainable communities.
As we nurture the minds of today’s children, we lay the foundation for a brighter,more prosperous future for generations to come. Therefore, it is imperative for governments, communities, and individuals to recognise the importance of child education and prioritise its provision for the holistic development of our societies and reduce the rise of crimes and vices in our society.
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