Parents should share experiences with their children — Patience Osinaike

An early childhood educator, Patience Osinaike, speaks to NAOMI CHIMA about protecting children and ensuring their proper upbringing

Tell us about your family, and the impact your upbringing has had on your career.

Growing up for me was quite eventful, because of the challenges that affected my family at some point. My parents were in the military, and we were often changing locations. We struggled really hard to get by, and look for suitable housing. But most times, we only got uncompleted apartments, vacant spaces right in front of offices, or abandoned houses where we spent days.

In spite of all that, self-discipline and the desire to get formal and informal education have strongly influenced my career choices over the years. The values instilled in me by my family have also shaped the way I approach my work, and relationships.

What are your educational qualifications?

I had my elementary education in schools located in Ilesha, Osun State; and Alagbado, Lagos State. For my secondary education, I attended Talent Link Comprehensive College, Lagos.

Some years after completing my secondary education, I took a course called ‘Basic Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care Management’ at St. Augustine Institute, Lagos. After that, I bagged a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Lagos.

In civic engagements, child protectiion, special education, swimming and others areas.

What inspired you to venture into child education, and how would you sum up your experience so far?

While growing up, I observed the troubles young children faced in our communities. I had my fair share of those as well, because my family was always moving from one place to another, and that had a certain influence on my view of life in general. Along the line, I realised that it was important for parents to be more intentional about the social environment they expose their children to, regardless of social and economic backgrounds. That understanding shaped my work in education and community engagement, to educate everyone who had access to children, either as parents, teachers, guardians or carers to be more self-aware about the environment of the child. That is what I communicate with my work at every opportunity.

Tell us about the Early Years Learning initiative.

It is a global community that supports teachers, parents, and carers in raising children who will develop holistically in a safe, caring, and supportive environment through the adoption of age-appropriate curriculum development, inclusive education strategies and implementation. There will also be effective learning and teaching practices. Over the years, we have been able to reach out to participants, including teachers and parents in places like Zambia, Malawi, Liberia, United Kingdom, Ghana and Uganda. We did that through designated community programmes advocating for the rights and safety of every child in the home, school and public places. That has been done through active media engagement and continuous advocacy, online and offline expert training sessions, community outreaches, teacher mentoring sessions, and specialised training programmes for schools and parent groups.

What are some of the activities your foundation has carried out in the area of empowering women and children?

We have focused more on children, parents, and teachers through continuous training programmes, expert learning sessions, webinars, conferences, and educational support programmes aimed at improving best practices. We also get involved in community partnership activities that foster knowledge sharing, collaboration and community-based child protection initiatives. Through that, we have trained over 10,000 participants.

In the long term, we aim to do more to provide access to early childhood education programmes and empowerment programmes for women and children in underserved communities.

What are the most challenging issues children face in Nigeria that the government should address?

One of the most challenging issues that children face in Nigeria is access to quality early childhood education. Many children lack access to proper schooling from the foundation stage, resulting in low literacy rates and limited opportunities.

From birth to five years is a formative period that should not be taken lightly. Young children need all the care and opportunities they can get to develop holistically.

Child poverty is another significant concern, with a large number of children living in poverty. Child labour and exploitation are prevalent issues as well, because many children are forced into hazardous work conditions.

Furthermore, inadequate healthcare services and high child mortality rates pose a significant challenge. These issues are numerous, and with adverse exposure to these challenges, children are consistently faced with safeguarding and protection issues.

From your perspective, what are the common mistakes Nigerians make when it comes to parenting?

There are quite a number of them, but I will start with poor communication strategies in lots of homes. Many parents struggle with embracing open and effective communication with their children, which often leads to misunderstandings and strained relationships.

There is also a lack of emotional intelligence. Some parents don’t know the importance of nurturing the emotions of their children, and would rather discard how they feel. Oftentimes, in some homes, the children are made to understand that they don’t have a say about any subject matter, and won’t be given opportunities for self-expression.

Also, there is a need for more emphasis on positive discipline techniques that promote healthy behaviour management, and teach children valuable life skills.

The last one has to do with parental education. There is a lack of consistent, accessible, and comprehensive parental education programmes that provide guidance on various aspects of child development, including mental health, sexuality, and digital literacy.

What advice do you have for parents on how to safeguard their children in these times?

As a parent, the first step to safeguarding one’s children as a parent is to know them, appreciate them, and understand how best they love to communicate their thoughts, feelings, concerns, and experiences. When one has this figured out intentionally with consistent efforts, it will pave the way for effective safeguarding practices and knowledge sharing. One has to be deliberate about fostering open and honest communication with one’s children without fear of judgment.

Second, you have to be clear about setting boundaries regarding their safety, responsible Internet use, and interaction with others. Teach them about personal space, privacy, and the importance of saying ‘no’ when they feel uncomfortable. It is important that you educate your children about consent, and their rights over their own bodies. Teach them to recognise inappropriate behaviour and empower them to speak up if they encounter it. Start early, using age-appropriate strategies, and use the right words to describe their private parts. Make sure they understand what constitutes inappropriate behavior, and who they can turn to for help.

Balancing a successful career and personal life can be challenging. How do you prioritise self-care and maintain a work-life balance?

Finding a balance between being a full-time classroom teacher and being an active contributor in the education space, community volunteering, and personal life can indeed be challenging. However, I don’t joke with self-care by setting clear boundaries between my work and personal life. With work, I delegate tasks when possible, practise effective time management, and learn to say no when necessary. I deliberately allocate specific days and times for relaxation, hobbies, and spending quality time with loved ones. For instance, I go swimming for about two hours on weekdays after work, and swim for about eight hours over the weekend to relax and stretch my muscles. I watch movies, enjoy quality sleep and listen to good music that calm the soul as well.

Also, I don’t take my medical checkups for granted. I take my supplements, and practice self-reflection daily before bedtime.