Young Nigerians are advocating for a call-to-action to support parents and caregivers across the country, the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF has said.
In a statement, the Communications and Advocacy Specialist, Early Childhood Development, UNICEF headquarter, Oluwatosin Akingbulu said there is a need for families to feel like home, an experience of creating bonds and connections between its members that eventually shape their lives.
Sadly, for many families in Nigeria, and across the world, this is not the reality. There are families where laughter is seldom heard, where play is not a familiar concept even though it has a significant role in a child’s brain development.
Akingbulu said “due to economic pressures, many parents spend long hours at work and extra hours commuting, getting home exhausted. There’s little to zero energy to bond with their children. COVID-19 has also put the mental health and well-being of an entire generation at risk with potential for long-term poor mental health outcomes among children, young people and their parents and caregivers.”
She said through animation, and the beloved Lara and Ali characters, youth advocates supported by UNICEF Nigeria are calling on parents and caregivers to keep their families functioning, and have the time and resources to care for themselves and their children.
“Parents play an important role in the overall well-being and development of children,” said Busola Fadipe, UNICEF Nigeria Youth Advocate. “This project was an opportunity to contribute to raising awareness on the need to support parents, so they have the time to care for and play with their children.”
The earliest years of life – when the brain develops at an astounding speed of more than 1 million new neural connections every second – are critical for a child’s development. During this period, the development of cognitive skills, emotional well-being, social competence and sound physical and mental health builds the foundation for a child’s future long-term health, development, learning and earning potential. This is an opportunity that can be derailed by the absence of parental attachment, nurturing caregiving, and playful interactions when the brain is most vulnerable.
“The COVID-19 pandemic makes the need for support to families even more urgent, and this cannot be done unless governments and businesses take concrete action to support parents and caregivers. When parents receive help, children benefit, and families thrive,” said Yetunde Oluwatosin, Early Childhood Development Specialist, UNICEF Nigeria.
Akingbulu further said that parenting programmes and family-friendly policies are proven accelerators for preventing poor learning and poor mental health outcomes.
“Parenting programmes help build parents’ and caregivers’ knowledge and skills in child development, promote play and nurturing caregivers and support parents’ mental health and well-being. Family-friendly policies give parents and caregivers the time, resources and services parents need to care for their babies and their own mental health,” she said.
