A total child for tomorrow’s world

t omorroW, children all over the world deserve nothing but good wishes and hearty congratulations on the occasion of year 2017 Children’s Day. We thank the Almighty God for sparing the lives  of these children to witness this happy day. There is no doubt that children are precious seeds  and jewels bequeathed to us by God as divine investments. What we do with these precious  jewels now matters, especially to God, the Giver of the children. God is interested in these  children being well-nurtured physically, socially, morally, intellectually and spiritually. He  desires that they will be total and complete children endued with godly virtues, and grow to  become divine assets in their lifetime.

Adequate planning is essential to having a total or complete child. The planning should actually  commence from the conception of the child. It is observed that many parents consider children  upbringing as a societal responsibility and as such handle the task with levity. This set of parents,  in particular the illiterate ones, are reckless in producing more children than they can actually care for adequately. The burden of self-care is also pushed to some of these children at tender ages. All parents and the society at-large should work assiduously to train children that are physically stable; socially and morally incorruptible; intellectually and spiritually sound.  Proper feeding is vital to the overall physical development of any child. Balanced diets are  desirable to having adorable and healthy children. A child that is well-fed will not be prone to  kwashiorkor and other childhood diseases. Provision of free maternal and medical care for  children should be paramount to the government. It is the responsibility of parents to provide  within their financial capability adequate clothing for their children. Modesty in dressing and in  all things should be ensured by parents.

The social development of children starts from home. Parents should help them to imbibe  societal values right from their formative years. There must be close monitoring of the activities  and associations of these children for quick intervention. It is said that “all work and no play  makes Jack a dull boy”. In other words, children must be encouraged to interact with their mates  and even elders. Do not forget that a child left alone without access to some monitored social  interactions may bring shame to his parents and family later in life.  High moral values must be instilled in children at tender ages. Parents have crucial roles to play in this respect and must handle this task with all seriousness. The development of high moral  standards by children must not be pushed to the society. Proper home training is paramount to  developing a robust personality and acceptable social behaviours. Children have high expectation  concerning their parents to provide love, security and directions. They often imitate the  behaviours and attitudes of their parents, since home is the first place where they observe core  moral values in actions, in the earliest days of their life.

Parents have significant and important roles in making and moulding a total child. Good  parenting requires total commitment, dedication and selflessness. Parents should desire the best  for their children, nourish them to grow in body, mind and spirit. Wise parents with integrity  seek the best investment of time, talent and treasures for their wards. They make all efforts to get  the best out of their children.  Parents should give themselves unreservedly and completely to the good upbringing of their  children in order to make them grow up as total or complete persons in all ramifications. It is the  responsibility of parents to instil confidence in their children. Every parent should bring up his or  her child to a level in which such a child will no longer be afraid of life in future.  Parents should be role models to their children in word and in deed. Children are better taught by  example; they are always anxious and agile to see their parents practise what they teach them.  When you teach them to be of good moral behaviour, what about your own life?  The role of parents in the intellectual development of their children cannot be over-emphasized.  Parents should do their best not minding what it will cost to give their children basic educational  training. Good career and professional training is the ultimate treasure or legacy you can give a  child to be a complete person in life.  The combined efforts of parents and government are required in giving complete and sound  education to children. Government policies must guaranty free qualitative and quantitative  education. Compulsory basic education should be a fundamental human right of every child.

Parents should complement the effort of the government by providing basic needs to the  educational pursuits of their children. Children on their part should cultivate the right attitude to  learning. Education is an investment. Parents stand to benefit immensely when they devote time  and money to the educational pursuits of their children. A child that is limited in academic  pursuit should be encouraged to acquire skills that will be beneficial to him in future. A total  child must receive both formal and informal education to enable him or her contributes  meaningfully to the society.

“The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom”. Children must be nurtured in the word of God  early in life. A total child must open up to receive the truth of God’s word, corrections and  instructions in humility. The present world is totally corrupt with sexual immorality, occultism,  all sorts of mischiefs and these evil manifestations stand out to completely destroy our children  and youths. The only soluon is to introduce them to the saving grace of the Almighty God early  in life. Imparting the words of God early in our children’s lives is like the incisiveness of a  surgeon’s knife; it penetrates the core of our children’s spirituality and equips them to discern  between good and evil.

The family is the place where the legacy of faith can be shared and reproduced. It is the  responsibility of parents to train their children in the way they should go so that they will not  depart from it as they advance in age. The home-front must be well positioned and provided with  enabling environment where self-reliance and discipline can be learnt by children at the early  stage of their life. The family must assist in shaping. these tender ones to confront future  challenges fearlessly and with boldness. A properly trained child is an asset to his family and  nation. Such a child will eventually become a great asset to the Kingdom of the Almighty God. There is a great reward and endless joy awaiting every parent who brings up his child in the fear of God.  In conclusion, do not over pamper your children because you are affluent, and a man of  influence.

• Pastor Ogungbemi lives in Ibadan