Guidance for

A Child’s
Development

Handbook

Clementina A. Okolo
 Guidance for
A Child’s Development

Clementina A. Okolo
 Copyright © 2014, Clementina A. Okolo 2014

All rights reserved under International and Nigerian

Copyright conventions.

Published in Nigeria

ISBN: 978-927-496-3
 DEDICATION

Dedicated to all children in the world.

INTRODUCTION

E
ducation both formal and informal is the process by
which knowledge is transferred from one person to
another for human development.

The knowledge from education brings exposure of different

kinds to human beings; It brings development, unity, peace,
love, justice, equity, security, employment, promotes good
health, communication, culture, Ethics and values of the
society, wealth creation, networking & empowerment.

This Education can be acquired through the formal process:

1) The school: This is a special institution provided by the
society for impacting knowledge to our children.
Every human being irrespective of sex has formal or informal
education.

The informal Education can be defined as a set of instruction

one acquires directly from the family where the mother, the
father, aunts, uncles and guardians join hands together to
educate and groom their children.

The peer group, the church, mosque, the mass media especially
the internet plays its own role in educating our children.

As an educationist, a chartered mediator and child

development expert, I feel concerned about the good
development and upbringing of the children in our society.
Hence the birth of GUIDANCE FOR A CHILD
DEVELOPMENT
 Guidance for A Child’s Development
The under listed Educative guidelines are the ideal guides for
the development of the children in our society. Parents,
Principals of Schools, teachers, guardians and mentors; Please
teach the children the under listed 21 guides for proper
development and peaceful co-existence.

“CHILDREN”, also LEARN and know that:

God is the Creator, Almighty and Father:

Irrespective of your religion, keep to the creed and live
peacefully with your families, friends or neighbours for
peaceful co-existence. b). Always say your prayers and
dedicate some hours to the service of God in your place of
worship. Present everything you want to do to God first for
proper direction.
 Make effective use of your time:
Time management is very important, make out a time table
for your daily activities and follow it strictly for good
development and effective productivity. Go to bed early,
wake up on time and face your daily challenges.
Also make out time for your daily siesta.
Early to bed, early to rise, makes a child healthy, wise and
smart.

2
 3

Clean and sweep your environment daily:

Make sure that your room, your house, the kitchen and the
compound are always neat. Sweep and mop these areas
regularly, remove all cobwebs and empty the dust bins at all
times.

If you keep your environment clean, diseases like malaria

and fungi infection will not infect you. Discard every empty
cans around the house to avoid mosquitoes from breeding
there. Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
 Learn how to cook, wash and serve:
Most children do not like to work in the kitchen. They have
servants who cook and serve them while on bed. Children,
learn how to cook by yourself so that you will get used to
the components and the different classes of food and their
nutritive values. Always cook with your mothers in the
kitchen or with the house helpers (maid).Make and eat
balanced meal/diet rich in protein, fruits and vegetables.
Eat homemade food, avoid junks and stay healthy.

4
 5

Always exercise and step out for fresh air:

Exercise regularly to keep fit and healthy.

Always visit your doctor when necessary:

Always visit your doctor for general check up, see your eye
doctor and dentist for a healthy living. Go to hospital
whenever you are sick for diagnosis and treatment.
 Be security conscious anywhere you are:
There are lots of ills and deviant behaviours in our society
today. Always be on your guard, know where to go to and get
home on time.
Avoid friends that will put you into trouble, know your
friend's homes, parents and siblings.
While at home, put all doors under lock and key.

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 8

No personality is bad; learn how to tolerate each

other:
All hands and legs are not equal. People come from different
backgrounds, with different cultures and values. What you
eat may be forbidding food in your friend's culture. Your
upbringing and background of your friends may not be the
same, therefore, learn her behavior and know how to
tolerate each other for peaceful co-existence.
Teach and learn something good from your friends always.
 9

Greet visitors and show them kindness and respect.

10

Every child is beautiful and handsome:

Don't get carried away with statement and styles like...
“Baby, you're so pretty or handsome, my honey, sugar,
egovin, mirror in the sun, my heart, my world, Irish potato,
fresh tomatoes” e.t.c. They are all good statements but be
careful with people that will use these to put you into
trouble. H.I.V is real, be in control of yourself.
Don't be shy, look straight up to anybody talking to you.
Shyness can put you into confusion.
Be proud of who you are and how you are made.
 11

Good grooming is very important:

Take your bath at the right time, morning and night. Take
care of your teeth, tongue, ears and armpit. Use your
perfume, deodorant if need be. Endeavour to look good
always.
 Attend social functions; learn cultures, ethics and
values of the society. I mean the do's and don'ts of
the society:
Package yourself very well, learn how to talk politely and
give respect to everyone.

12

Learn, Speak and know your native language and

relations:
Your native language will help you to communicate freely
with your parents, siblings and relations who cannot speak
another language, especially grand-mothers, grand-fathers,
uncles and Aunts living in the villages.

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 14

Help your parents and know what they do:

Help them at home and at their work places during your
free periods or holidays because they cared for you and
provide for your needs.
Stay close to them; ask them to tell you stories about their
own development.
 Learn to dress
properly:
Without exposing your
body to avoid sexual
harassment, Know the
type of functions you
attend and dress up
properly.

15

Don't be afraid of anybody, fear God and give respect

to everyone:
Answer questions whenever you are asked. Answer politely.

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 17

Always stand by the truth:

Be a peace maker and a peace builder irrespective of your
status and try and live in peace with one another.
Love and obey your parents, love your siblings and friends,
help the elderly; sick and poor, play and don't fight with
your siblings and friends.
Read your books and don't join bad gangs.
 18

Don't envy anybody, be content with what you have

and look unto God for your help, because your help
comes from God:
Take your destiny into your hands, Work hard for your
future, for hard work pays.
Endeavour not to be a lazy child.
Empower yourself and develop your talents.
Learn one or more vocational skills and learn it well. This will
make you a young entrepreneur and will also help you to earn
additional income for your upkeep and some other needs.
 19

Develop the leadership skills in you and always see

yourself as a leader of good example.

Create fun time with your parents and siblings:

Tell stories; eat together, dance and party together. Learn
your differences and similarities through your interaction,
communicate effectively for peaceful co-existence. Go on
vacation with family and friends possibly. The family that
works together reaps together.

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 21

Be I.T compliant:
Learn how to use the computer very well, but don't put too
much attention on the internet, telephone, television and
movies; most times they are very distractive.
Learn how to watch national programmes on our local
network, they are very educative.
Save your money, your ears, eyes and brain by relaxing
without television or other gadgets.

“Be proud of who you are

and how you are made”

PLEASE MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES

 Questions
1, who is the creator and who do you present anything you do first
before doing it?
Answer- God

2, Time management is good for?

Answer- Effective productivity and good development

3, What are the two advantages of sweeping your environment daily?

Answer - To keep the house and surrounding clean and neat to
prevent infection

4, What are the advantages of cooking?

Answer- To make and eat balanced diet and to know the components
and classes of food

5, What does exercise do?

Answer - Makes you keep fit and healthy

6, Who do you see whenever you are sick? Answer - your doctor

7, How will you be security conscious while at home?

Answer- Put all doors under lock and key while at home

8, How are you to relate with you fellow friends?

Answer- Tolerate one another

9, How do you attend to your visitors and family?

Answer- Give them attention, show them kindness and respect

10, What are the disadvantages of using computer and other gadgets
at all times?
Answer- It affects your eyes
11, List 3 ways of keeping clean?
Answer- Taking your bath, keeping your teeth clean and keeping a
fresh body smell

12, Is it good to attend social functions?

Answer – Yes, it helps us to learn our culture, ethics and values

13, Why do we need to know our native language?

Answer- It helps us to communicate effectively with relatives and
friends who are not very familiar with English language

14, State two reasons why we need to help our parents?

Answer- We learn different things when we help our parents at home
and at their place of work

15, Do we need to dress properly?

Answer -Yes, dressing properly helps one to avoid insults and
harassment from other people

16, Are we expected to be afraid of anybody?

Answer- We need to fear only God our creator and have respect for
every other person

17, Is it good to lie?

Answer - No, always be truthful and honest

18, Who do you run to in desperate time of need?

Answer- God our father

19, Is it good to plan?

Answer- Yes, because it helps you to organized

20, What brings wealth and riches?

Answer- hard work and prayer
21, How do you improve yourself?
Answer- By empowering yourself and developing your skills

22, What makes you successful in school?

Answer- Always reading ahead of time for each term

23, Is it good to be shy and timid?

Answer- No, always see yourself as a leader with good example

24, Is it good to live a peaceful life?

Answer- Yes, live peaceful with your neighbour co-existence and
development

25, What day does Muslims worship?

Answer- Fridays

26, What day does Christians go to church?

Answer- Sundays

27, Is it right to discriminate?

Answer- No, we are all equal in the eyes of the creator

28, How do you bond with your families and friends?

Answer- By creating fun time with your parents and siblings and also
going on vacation with them and friends

29, Is shyness a good behavior?

Answer - No, because shyness can put you into confusion
This book, The Peaceful Woman and her Family is highly motivating
and meant for every body especially women and the girl child
(both young and old) irrespective of your social or Religious status.
it is created to improve our approach to peace and promote a
culture of peace for peaceful co-existence and development.

This book is a treasure to your life and the messages across

should be put into practice to help us embrace peace, teach
peace, network peace and live peace for peace and harmonious
co-existence.

The Author, Okolo Clementina Amaka has Bachelor of Science (Bsc) in

Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution (Noun) National Certificate in
Education from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Diploma in French language and post graduate Diploma from Paris
graduate school of management.

Clementina is a Chartered Mediator, a linguist, a scribe, a teacher and an

Arbitrator per excellence.

As a mediator and human development expert, Amaka has a unique

ability to impact knowledge to aspiring and practicing mediators. a fellow
of Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC), member
Conflict Management and Leadership Training institute, Calgary,
Canada, President, Mediation, Peace and Vocational Training Initiative,
Principal Consultant, Mediation and Peace Consult, Ltd.

She is a member Panel of Neutrals Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Mines

& Industry.
She is happily married with children.

For more Copies, Contact

0807 415 5598, 0803 317 7085, 0813 309 7850
email: fatimaforgod@yahoo.com
www.mediateforpeace.com.ng

ISBN 978 - 978 - 932 - 811 - 6