The general premise is to highlight the accuracy of
the Igbo and Yoruba (Nigerian) Proverb: “It takes a
whole village to raise a child.” In today’s society it
is rare to see adults nurturing and interacting with
someone else’s children. But it is commonplace
to hear them whisper about the child’s unruliness
and offer comments regarding what they would do
if they were the parent. Well, what of the disorderly child at your sister’s house? What about the
obnoxious one at your son’s home? Or even your
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WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE
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SEPTEMBER 2014
misbehaved neighbor’s child across the street?
These incidents may be a direct result of the
parent’s lack of discipline, but it may also be a
direct reflection of you. Could it be that most of
our children’s behavior is due to us ignoring the
guideline of this Nigerian proverb? The fact of
the matter is, this proverb emphasizes the importance of everyone’s participation in the development of a child’s life. What prevents us from
taking an active role? And at what point do we