It Takes A Village To Raise A Child – It’s Relevance In Modern Times

Bringing Up Kids Together: Why “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child” Still Matters

You’ve probably heard the saying “It takes a village to raise a child”? This old proverb originated in Africa and is based on the idea that raising a child isn’t just the job of the parents. Instead, the proverb conveys the message that it takes many people (the village) to raise a child and nurture them into the adults they will become.

Back in the day, in African villages, everyone had a place looking after the kids of the village. Aside from mum and dad, there were aunts, uncles, grandparents, and even neighbours. This natural communal process happens today, in many ways that we just take for granted. In fact, in today’s world our ‘village’ probably extends way beyond our physical neighbourhood to include all manner of people who play a part in the raising of our children. This could be friends and teachers, to sports coaches, or even your local GP.

But it’s not just about individual people, it’s also about whole communities coming together and supporting each other’s families. This could include things such as community centers running programs for kids, or local organisations providing free resources for parents. There’s even the parents that give up their Sunday mornings to coach the local kid’s soccer team? Or even that neighbour you can always rely on to watch your kids for 10 minutes.

One such example might be our own local baby/toddler group which sees local mums (and sometimes dads) meeting in the local community hall. During these sessions the kids get to play, whilst mums get to unwind a little, chat with friends, and maybe even share some parenting advice such as which baby bottles are the best, or discuss teething baby woes!

Bringing up children is certainly a collective effort, and fostering a supportive community environment is key to a child’s development. But this can extend beyond just people; it’s also about making responsible choices for the environment we share. In addition to creating a supportive village, parents can also embrace sustainability to nurture the future of our planet. Learn how small eco-friendly changes at home can make a big impact on your child’s future by checking out our Sustainable Parenting blog.

A strong community helps everyone thrive

It’s not just our kids that benefit from this communal type way of living, it’s good for everyone. When we work together to raise our kids, we build stronger, more connected communities. We learn to look out for each other, to help each other out, celebrate each other’s successes, and forge lifelong friendships.

So the next time you hear the phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child,” remember that it’s not just an old saying – it’s a reminder of the power of community. By coming together to support our kids, we can create a better, brighter future for everyone.