THE lyrics of Whitney Houston’s, “Greatest Love of All,” which reminds us of children’s value, the empty reservoir of their impressionable minds, and the importance of nourishing it that will put them in good stead to lead the way, begs for attention at all times. Some are wont to say that children did not ask us to be here, and with their presence comes responsibility to ensure their socialisation is such that they can lead productive lives, bringing reward to themselves, family, and society. There are others who argue that you make the children, but you don’t make their minds. This outlook is more steeped in resignation and oft used when children are engaged in anti-social behaviour, or may have disappointed their loved ones.
The mind is like a sponge, having the ability to absorb what’s happening around it. Our children are impressionable and the process of learning, according to science, starts within the womb, which is described as uteral moulding. Children today, as against the days of yore, are exposed to many more channels or avenues for information, knowledge, and acts that are informing their reality.
In this Information Age, children face and navigate their daily existence and interpretations of reality by the technology in their homes, hands, classrooms, and other environs. These technologies have their positives and negatives, where in the latter instance can see children engaging in acts considered age- inappropriate and not in their best interests.
The African proverb that says it takes a village to raise a child still remains appropriate. And though the proverbial village is no longer confined to a physical geographic space, the wisdom of it cannot be ignored. Technology has brought the world to the fingertips of man, and with it the benefits and pitfalls. In this environment, it becomes the responsibility of adults to carve out and create the needed space where it can be used for the children’s best interests.
The circulation in social media of sexual acts conducted by our children in their school uniforms brings to the fore the challenges of growing up and the use of technology in the process and begs for long overdue,focused attention of the environment to which they are being exposed and raised in. Some of the reasons uniforms are worn are for identity and pride.
By now it is known which school those children attend and it should have seen the activation of action on the part of the education authorities, the school, and parent/ teachers association. Action here does not mean public shaming and naming, but the development of strategies that would entail addressing sex education, including appropriate conduct, readiness, and consequences, such as sexually transmitted diseases.
At the same time, those circulating these videos, disappointed though they may be, the propagating of same fall in the category of distributing child pornography, which is illegal. Transmitting disappointment of the behaviour by spreading it around would not help. Adults should use this experience to have honest conversation with their children and those they share familial relationships with.
Gone are the days when the sources of information were confined to the families, neighbourhoods and schools, and the fairy tales that were told in the past about sex, childbirth and other related issues can no longer be told. With the multiplicity of information sources out there and relatively easy access to them, where the family fails to educate, misinformation and curiosity could lead to dire consequences.
The influence of peer pressure to explore, prove oneself, and confirm to behavioural lifestyles deemed counter-productive, escaping these rely on strong support mechanisms, most times in and around the home. When this is assured, children develop confidence of positive convictions, their abilities, and love for self, and become more open in sharing experiences on issues that occurred away from home with adults and peers within this environment, who can provide a shoulder to lean on.
It is much better in today’s society to make children au fait with the facts and truths. When they are properly informed, armed with knowledge, and understanding of what the issues are, they are more likely to make sober decisions. The responsibility for children enjoying every phase of their childhoods and having the benefit of the process of education is vested in active players in society, such as the home, school, village, and social organisations. These institutions can provide the needed mentorship.
Houston’s entreaty that the children are our future, we should teach them well and let them lead the way, by showing them all the beauty they possess inside, and giving them a sense of pride to make it easier, remains applicable, each, and every day, of their lives.