Do you believe in the adage, "It takes a village to raise a child"?

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   ComfortBposted 13 years ago

   Do you believe in the adage, "It takes a village to raise a child"?
   
   This is an African proverb that has helped shaped societies in time past. But could it work in this time and age? Will you apply this ancient truth in raising your child today?

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   MichaelStonehillposted 13 years ago

   This proverb is true, though it depends on the village, and in modernity a city is not always a village.

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   ComfortBposted 13 years ago

   @MichaelStonehill - You're so right. The proverb is true. But a city is never a village. The term 'village' actually refers to a community of people. Even in a city we do have a community of people. This could be a nuclear or extended family contributing to raising a child.

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   Kate Spenserposted 13 years ago

   I love this saying and definitely believe it rings true even today. I used to nanny for infant twins with a toddler sister, and on particularly tough days when mom, dad, and/or I were frazzled and worn out their mom used to smile and say "It takes a village!" as a way of acknowledging how much harder any of our jobs would be without the other two.
   
   Studies have shown that the more loving adults a child has as a stable presence in their life, the more well-adjusted they tend to be throughout life. I think all children would be better off if their parents felt more supported by a community of other people who love and care for them and their children. When it comes to raising children, I think isolation is the enemy!

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   mrpooperposted 13 years ago

   Be careful what you wish for. There is also the saying, "village idiot". Keep that person away from the child!

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   ojosamaposted 13 years ago

   It would be wonderful if this kind of thinking worked in this society but in this time and age , 1 people are too selfish and 2.too many weirdo and child malestors, long ago it use to be that way and the saying and theory worked, not anymore.
   Time Change, people change.and so do villages lol.

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   Lisa HWposted 13 years ago

   Maybe it's helpful if a child doesn't have solid parents who are willing and able to do a good job of raising their own child; but when parents are what parents ought to be, one of the biggest challenges for them can be if/when "the village" tries to butt in with (as in the case of people who live in the US, have local-government and state-government people who think they know better  about raising children than capable parents do; but also even as in the case of having kids' peers parents who think know better and who may try to butt in, or at least who offer support to a kid who stupid ideas because those parents aren't any less than stupid than kids, themselves.  Buttinsky relatives are another bunch who ought to mind their business.

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   mepm2011posted 13 years ago

   Yes, I believe that it takes a village to raise a child.  When I was a child, the people in my hometown cared about me and it made all the difference in how I grew up.  Nowadays too many people seem to think that we can do it all alone, that we don't need anybody else.  It's wrong.  The more people to help us with our children, the better.  It's good to have children have different people in their lives to show them good examples.  In this world where traditional families are under attack, the more good people helping to show good traditional values is very important.

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      ComfortBposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I must say I was torn between your answer and that of Kate Spencer, But I love how you brought your childhood experience into this.

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   ComfortBposted 13 years ago

   What does it take to raise a child in today’s society? And, what happened to the 'village'? read more

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