Does it truly take a village to raise a child?

Question

Or is this just a way for a parent to avoid taking responsibility for some of their parental duties?

Answer 1

We don't live in villages anymore.  But I think there is some wisdom to the saying.  A child can't grow and learn being cut off from the community.  For most of history, the raising of children was largely a community activity.  Not to say, of course, that parents shouldn't assume their responsibilities.

When I was a kid, kids had the run of the neighborhood.  We could ride our bikes as far as we wanted, we could go anywhere and just -explore-, so long as we were home by sundown.  If we happened to be at some other kid's house at lunch time or dinner time, we would eat there, just as if it was an extension of our own house.  If we hurt ourselves, our kids' moms would put a bandaid on it.  It isn't like that these days.  Kids grow up in a cloistered environment, and I think this has a lot to do with how young people see the world these days.

Kids used to be seen as a resource to the whole community.  Today we don't value them as we should.  People don't want to pay taxes to educate other peoples' kids, for instance.  My own feeling is that this is an attitude of capitalism, that kids don't contribute to the economy so we see their very existence as gratuitous.

Answer 2

Good question.  And I would agree with it, it worked for my parents. It is a safer environment for children.  In village I was brought up in everyone looked out for the others kids, so it was safe to let them out to play.  If you were up to mischief adults were not afraid to tell you off! You grow up to respect adults and authority, well I did. And if you did anything really bad you know your parents would be told!

Answer 3

No, it is a way for the government to regulate how you will raise your child.

It takes parents to raise a child and a village to support the parents

Answer 4

yep. the people around you influence your decisions.

not just your parents, but everyone.