By Olaitan Oye-Adeitan
Not too long ago, issues surrounding the well-being of the boy child attracted global attention. It was ‘The International Day of the Boy Child’.
The day may not have resonated with many people in some climes as the Girl Child’s Day because the girl child seems to receive more attention and sympathy on issues affecting her well-being.
This is perhaps due to her vulnerability, tender nature, and numerous challenges she encounters, especially from her teens.
But does that mean the boy child does not deserve similar attention?
The boy child is often perceived as stronger, courageous, and resilient right from his childhood, and this can lead to neglect of his emotional well-being and development.
The dedication of May 16 as the International Day of the Boy Child, also known as International Boys’ Day, therefore affords the opportunity to pay attention to the unique challenges faced by boys across the globe, their well-being, development and empowerment to ensure that they grow into capable and responsible individuals.
Interestingly, this day was first celebrated in 2018, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh from Trinidad and Tobago.
Since then, it has served as a reminder to prioritise the needs of the boy child and support their growth.
While featuring on a Television show, a child rights advocate, Adewumi Alade, emphasised that while every man was once a boy, becoming a good man required intentional guidance and training. “The boy is not just going to become a man, he has to be trained to become a man”.Alade said.
The boy child, as observed by a Psychologist, Maymunah Kadiri, is perceived as a gender meant to shoulder many responsibilities but not equipped for such right from childhood. ” We put too much weight and responsibilities, but are we equipping that gender enough”?Kadiri asked.
Consequently, whenever he is confronted with challenges as an adult, he bottles them up and tries to summon courage all in the name of ” be a man”.
A worrisome dimension is that the boy child also suffers abuse like the girl child. There had been cases of boys who were sexually molested by teachers, house helpers, neighbours or family members. There were reported cases of bullying among schoolmates, all of which pose a threat to the boy child.
That is why it is crucial to stay vigilant and address any threat to their growth and development head-on, as even a moment of carelessness can have lasting consequences on their future.
To be able to achieve this, we must understand that there is a wide range of individual differences between the girl and boy child. Cultural norms and social expectations can also influence how young children behave and develop, as aptly pinpointed by a childhood education specialist in Oregon, Dr Aoife Rose Magee.
Since charity, they say, begins at home, the care of the boy child must start by educating parents that boys require as much care as girls.
We must challenge traditional gender stereotypes that define boys as solely tough and resilient, and instead, foster a more holistic approach that encourages boys to develop empathy, love, responsibility, and emotional intelligence.
Also, empowering the boy child academically, vocationally, and financially, early in life, is key to helping him become self-sufficient and successful as a male adult.
However, we cannot close our eyes or stand akimbo to the alarming rate at which teenage boys are given to drugs in the present society.
There is therefore a need for community-based programs that teach boys how to be meaningfully engaged and the importance of expressing their emotions in healthy ways. This can help reduce rates of depression and substance edd xe abuse among boys.
We should also note that every child needs affection, love and care. A boy who is nurtured in this garden would equally be able to give the same to others. They’ll grow into better partners, fathers, community members and leaders in their various capacities.
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