Tina Amanda
The increase in teenage pregnancy, peer pressure, and social media influences STDs, abuse amongst other vices on children have been blamed on parent inability to teach their children sex education early enough.
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has emphasized the need for parents, caregivers, and guardians to equip their children with the right information and knowledge which will help them to protect themselves against all forms of abuse.
Chairperson FIDA Rivers State, Adata Bio-Briggs, who stated this while sensitizing students of Church of God Mission International Group of Schools Port Harcourt, said lots of children are not taught how to protect themselves and thereby get the wrong information or knowledge from the social media, peer groups and from people around them.
Bio-Briggs urged parents to always have time for their children, teach them the right things to know monitor what they watch, read, and engage in, adding that when parents are too busy for their kids there is a tendency for the world to teach them.
According to her, “Some of these children are not properly taught on how to protect themselves, proper teaching and guidelines are necessary at this age, so we thought as FIDA it is appropriate to educate them.
“If they are properly taught about abstinence, and safe sex, they will know what to prepare for. They should be aware of the consequences of having early sex such as becoming a teenage mother or father, dropping out of school, and lots more.
“Children need to know the danger of being influenced by peer pressure or social media. This knowledge should be drummed into their ears so they won’t be easily carried away.
“Right now we have so many parents that do not have time to teach their children, if you do not teach your children the world might teach your children.
“It is very appalling that some parents do not know that abuse is happening right under their noses. Some parents do not know what their children engage in, watch or read. Parents should not be too busy with their children.
“We urge parents to take out time, listen to their children, and believe their children because eighty (80) percent of children abused are abused by people who know them, such as families, friends, and neighbours. So if a child speaks up that he or she has been abused believe that child to help him or her overcome the trauma.
“Parents should create relationships with their children so the child can confide in them in that way, parents would be able to know what happens in that child’s life, and the tendency for the child to be abused and shut up will be reduced drastically.”
The FIDA Chairperson, however, expressed disappointment in some parents who encourage their children to engage in sexual activities and get involved in other vices at an early age.
“Some of these things are actually caused by poverty and some parent encourage their children to go into prostitution which they call (hook up) how can a child come home with a phone you did not buy for him or her and you welcome that child
“Some children give their parent bundles of money without any means of legitimate work and parents accept without questioning”.
Also, the Administrator of Church of God Mission International Group of Schools, Mrs. Lawson Esabilue, advised parents not to be too busy for their children, but try to read between the lines.
“Parents should listen and befriend their children. In the process of befriending them, they should not also forget they are their parent, parents need to talk about sex education with their children they should not be ashamed or afraid that people will laugh at them.
“As a school, we teach them what is friendship and what is not, the boundaries if it is getting to this level it’s no longer a friendship but something else. We teach them what to watch out for the red flags, as a school we can not do it all because there are other ways they get information.”
