CHILDREN LITERATURE: A POTENT TOOL IN THE HANDS OF ABSENTEE PARENT(S)

IYABODE OMOLARA AKEWO DANIEL, PHDakewoauthe@gmail.com, idaniel@noun.edu.ng +234-8052786823 ENGLISH UNIT, SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA,LAGOS, NIGERIA.

INTRODUCTION

• Children literature was a recent phenomenon in the literary Nigeria.• Children literature was able to make an inroad into the

Nigerian literati.• Children literature as a potential tool of socialisation of

Nigerian children.• Children literature as a tool to be used by parents to develop

their children.• The Nigerian president already encouraging this as a possible

tool of youth salvation through the back to books initiative.

WHAT THEN IS CHILDREN LITERATURE?

• Children literature is possibly literature written for children.• Literature written about children.• Literature written by children.• But for us, it is literature that has children as heroes and

heroines and read and consumed mostly by children.

WHO IS AN ABSENTEE PARENT?

• Parenting is seen in the sense of caring for children. • Absentee parenting could then suggest absence from being

able to do this duty of caring for children.

• Children literature started as oral tradition in Nigeria.• The literary form of children literature in Nigeria started with the consumption

of English children literature such as Oliver Twist by Thomas Hardy and the fairy tale about Cinderella.• It grew with such early attempts like Azudu by William Balkie, Peter Nwana

(Omenuko), Rowan Bogaja and Abubakar Imam (Kwamin Sani Lukun), D. O. Fagunwa (Ogboju Ode ninu Igbo Olodumare), and Mabel Segun (My Father’s Daughter).• All added to the growth of children literature.

HISTORY OF CHILDREN LITERATURE IN NIGERIA

PURPOSE OF CHILDREN LITERATURE

• Children literature mostly focused on the teaching of morals• To teach children social ethics• To guide them into proper conduct

• Essentially, it is an instrument of children socialisation• Children literature thus thrives on didactic focus in terms of

its expected result of developing responsible citizenry.

SOME EXAMPLES OF LITERARY WORKS THAT TEACH CHILDREN MORALS (1)• The Incorruptible Judge – good always overcome evil; evil of corruption and its

attendant disgrace.• The Iroko-Man and the Wood-Carver – patriotism is rewarding; greed is evil and

hard work pays.• Sugar Girl – obedience is a virtue; being helpful to the weak; being responsible

and dutiful is good. • Without a Silver Spoon – poverty is not an excuse to become a thief; honesty

always bears one out; faithfulness even to the ungrateful; avoid hasty judgement of others; humility to accept it when wrong and apologise

SOME EXAMPLES OF LITERARY WORKS THAT TEACH CHILDREN MORALS (2)• Hero Number One – never assume that only you know; good

neighbourliness as an asset. The question though is: is there a good kind of disobedience?• Stories my Mother Told me – good behaviour is better and

more acceptable than evil acts.• Children’s Rhymes – you need to be persistent; you must be

clean always; you must listen to advice from elders; you need to learn to be spiritual.

CHILDREN AND AESTHETICS

• Children should enjoy the books they read.• The implication is that children books should be full of

aesthetics. • Drudgery should be avoided in the books that children read.• Teaching them to be good citizens can be achieved even

when we use colourful books and still make the important and impactful point.

TECHNIQUES COMMONLY USED IN CHILDREN LITERATURE• Journey motif – some actually engaged in physical journey while for

others it is essentially psychological• The law of karma always holding sway (good always triumph over evil).• Characterisation – examples of good personal traits are made visible to

the children to follow while those with bad traits are shown to be eventually disgraced or punished.• The abused child motif is another prominent issue raised. Children suffer

but eventually triumph as they remain good children despite the abuses.

CHILDREN LITERATURE AND THE WAY FORWARD• Literary texts should be bought for children to read by the

parents.• Poems and drama pieces should also form part of the books

children are exposed to.• Creative writing should also be encouraged in the children.• Children should be encouraged to write their own stories,

create their drama and sing their own poems.

TEACHING CHILDREN LITERATURE AT HOME AND IN THE SCHOOL• Children should be encouraged to read• Colourful and interesting books should be made available to them.• The children should be encouraged to ask questions, that is, they should be

encouraged to develop questioning attitudes and not take the interpretation of the story or the literary piece hook, line and sinker.• Library culture should be developed in the children.• The children age is important in determining the piece they are exposed to and

the way they are taught.• Children should be the centre of the literature discussion, in the class or at home.

DOES THIS INCLUDE UNCENSORED TECH EXPOSURE?NO!The text on the right side tells us that that could be bad for family life?But we could give good literature to help keep them busy while we are at work.

(Source: New Sunday

Times, September 14,

2014, page 17)

CONCLUSION

• Children literature is a useful instrument in children socialisation and development. • Applying the tips given above will help the absentee parent properly socialise

their children through the instrumentality of children literature.• The children’s social development can be greatly enhanced by the use of

children literature.• The parents’ careers don’t have to suffer setbacks as children literature can

be an effective ally in teaching the children the important lessons and the parents desire to impart in the growing up years.

LAST WORD

• Our children must be allowed to be children by letting them enjoy their childhood so that they don’t grow to become dysfunctional adults.• Children literature can greatly help in achieving this.

APPRECIATION

• Thank YOU for listening!