SOCIETY
By Dadson A. Musa
Children, when brought to this world come across their parents first. It is the first world of contact. Parents make lasting impression on their children as they are the first point of contact. And they give foundational building blocks for the survival and growth of the children. It is a stage in life that is crucial and should not be missed by children, or abused by adults. That’s why the home, as an agent of change is primarily the bedrock upon which the other agents build. Once that foundation is strong then the other agents like school, church/ mosque, community take it up from there.
As a country, our laws are not strong enough to punish those parents who neglect child care. Some parents, especially fathers neglect child support or parental responsibilities which is not good for the very survival of the country we live in. Parents should be able to sense bad influence, especially from the peers of their children. Peer pressure is a very powerful force on the lives of children. So, children must be closely monitored to stave off any bad influence of their peers on children. Most of those bad or negative peer influences if not nipped in the bud will have devastating consequences on our children for life.
Children must be given the basic building blocks of food, shelter, clothing, medical and other relevant support. Apart from this physical support, they should also be guaranteed emotional support like love, protection and sense of belonging. All of these combined, will ensure the child grows into a rounded and normal adult. His or her self-esteem will be intact and that will go to make sure the child stands to succeed in almost most of the ventures he undertakes in life. With all of the above provided, parenting has to be spiced up with discipline. Discipline ensures the child sees his way through life without much difficulty or hindrance.
As the bible says “spare the rod and spoil the child. ” And discipline also makes sure that the child is readily accepted in varying social settings. Parents should not compromise on this, no matter how much they love they love their children. Over- protection of children which so many parents do most of the time disturbs the growth of children. It makes them grow up thinking that they are above the law and believe they can do things and get away with them. It also makes the child not to be able to stand up for himself or herself in life which might affect personal growth later in life.
Parenting is one thing that couples or individuals must be ready for first before bearing children. The readiness must include financial and emotional to ensure children are brought up very well. And both father and mother must be mature enough to be able to direct the affairs of the child or children. In Sierra Leone, there has been a disturbing trend of children been born to underage girls or couples which doesn’t augur well for the survival of the state. The “Hands Off Our Girls'” Campaign by the wife of the president, Fatima Maada Bio has sought to correct this. Girls for the most part could not complete schooling let alone have time to learn a trade that can equip them to take care of the children. So, poverty persists because of this trend. And poverty in itself has been a factor for girls to fall easily to early pregnancy. So, economic empowerment can help a lot with good child upbringing or parenting. Children, brought to this world who are not well catered for or made to go through required discipline show a lot of tendency to become menace to society. Deviancy among youths is as a result of ill-prepared or bad parenting in Sierra Leone.
Like in advanced countries, where child support is in their law books which cannot be circumvented or compromised, legislature in Sierra Leone should be such that children born are assured of safe and good upbringing. And those who faulter are brought to book. Issues of rampant lawlessness are as a result of children not been cared for or left on their own. The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs come in especially when children are orphaned or their mothers are widowed to fill a void as mandated by government. That is why they ensure orphanages are built and properly run to ensure children, the future leaders of tomorrow have a future.
The prosperity of the country itself hinges on good grooming of our children who will be taking over from us in the future. Parenting as important as it is, is the reason in an ever-busy world of today, working parents pay so much for nannies to take of the children while they are busy with work. It is phase in life that needs not be over-looked as that is where life’s foundation is laid. If it is strong and well-built then we are all assured of a bright future as a country. Credit to this government, the introduction of the Free Quality Education by president Bio is also helping to a large extent to ensure children are brought up the right way. It makes up for what the homes fail to achieve or do.
Copyright –Published in Expo Magazine, May-June 2025 Edition Vol.3, No.4, (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
