Sports useful for all- round development, says educationist

EDUCATIONIST and child advocate, Ajibike Bakare, has disclosed that sports is imperative for the total development of the child.

Bakare, who is the founder of Juniper Hill School, lamented that most parents place too much emphasis on academics.

She spoke at the school’s inter house sports competition held at Nigeria Ports Authority ( NPA) sports ground, Surulere.

Bakare said: “There is too much emphasis on academics and if you really want to bring up a total child, you need to have a balance. It’s essential to have some outdoor activities, mix with people and teach children about teamwork and unity.

Bakare, a lawyer, expressed concern over increased cases of child abuse and molestation, saying there is need for due diligence from all concerned.

“There is need for background investigation, we need to know the people we are leaving our children with; househelps, drivers, nannies, security men and schools as well, because it is happening everywhere. For example, what we did that has really helped when we started with crèche was the installation of CCTV cameras. It is not because we don’t trust our staff, and this has really helped us because on some occasions, parents have had to ask us “what happened to my child?” and it is so good to be able to say just hang on a second, let me rewind so that you can watch.

“I think what we need to do is to put adequate measure in place in our homes, put CCTV, do due diligence with people around, have regular talks with our children using age appropriate language, let them know parts of their body, when people are crossing boundaries even with relatives, let children know there are some boundaries that are healthy and unhealthy right from when they are little, so that they will not be violated, “Bakare said.