A Nigerian lady based in the UK, Raks Eseku, has called on Nigerians living in the UK to take time to listen to their children when they return from school.
She gave the advice after she learnt that her daughter was taught in her school how to use Childline emergency number’
Eseku said she was going through her usual routine of asking her daughter what they were taught when she disclosed that they were taught to call the childline number should their parents neglect or abuse them.
The lady, who is a mental health specialist in the UK, asked her daughter what she understood by abuse.
The daughter said, “When anyone hits them (children)”.
The child also went further to demonstrate the gestures they taught them for them to memorise the numbers.
The mother laments that her daughter does not even know her number, but has memorised the Childline.
Eseku said she had no problems with the children being taught to report their parents, but authorities also need to educate the parents.
According to her, many parents come to the UK from Africa, where they smacked their children for being unruly.
Eseku said such parents would be in trouble the moment their children are taught in school that no one should smack them.
It’s one-sided, and it is really unfair to the parents. Right now, they are telling the children to use the Childline. That’s fine. But it would be nice to also educate the parents that these are the do’s and don’ts in the UK. That will then be a fair balance”, she said.
Hear her here
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