23/03/2025
It Takes a Village to Raise a Child: A Reflection on Parenting in Today's World
The saying, “It takes a village to raise a child,” has been passed down for generations, highlighting the collective effort required to nurture, educate, and guide a young one through life. In times past, communities were tightly knit, and the responsibilities of raising children were shared among extended families, neighbors, and close friends. The burden of parenting wasn't placed solely on the parents, and it was understood that a child’s growth and well-being were the results of the combined efforts of those around them.
However, in today's world, it seems as though parenting has become a much heavier responsibility. The world is not as safe as it once was, and as parents, we are understandably cautious about who we trust with the care and guidance of our children. Sadly, we live in a time where stories of corruption, malice, and harm are all too common, making it difficult to rely on others the way past generations did. The village that once existed around every child has become fragmented and distant, and that shared sense of responsibility seems to have dissolved into isolation.
In the past, your neighbor’s watchful eye, your aunt's advice, or your best friend's help with school runs felt like natural extensions of the parenting role. Parents could lean on others to share the joys and challenges of raising a child. The simple act of trusting that people around you, those you saw daily, had your best interest at heart, allowed for a more collective approach to the growth and development of children.
But today, the climate of fear and uncertainty has made this level of trust harder to foster. Parents are reluctant to rely on the community for fear of unknown dangers, and the once strong bonds of a village-like system have weakened.
So, what can we do? While it's true that the world has changed and trust doesn't come as easily as it once did, the need for a village remains more important than ever. We may not be able to rely on a large extended community as easily, but we can still create smaller, safer circles—like-minded circles—of support and care.
As parents, we should take the initiative to build and nurture these circles: friends, neighbors, and other parents who share similar values and a desire to see our children thrive. These circles could meet regularly to provide mutual support, advice, and collaboration. Whether it’s arranging playdates, helping with homework, or simply offering a listening ear, these smaller, trusted communities can help lighten the load of parenting.
It’s crucial that we, as parents, do not shoulder this responsibility alone. We need to create a web of support that encourages the growth of our children in safe and meaningful ways. It might look different from the village of old, but it can still be a place where we find strength, security, and shared responsibility in raising our next generation. By building our own circles, we reclaim the idea that it’s not just one person, but many who play a role in shaping the future of our children.
Let’s bring back the village—just in a modern, intentional way. Our children are worth the effort.
Dennar Deborah.
