Navigating Complexities of Parenthood: The Parent Conference Holds Monday

To help parents and guardians navigate the complexities of parenthood for the next generation, Greenwood House School will debut its Parents Conference powered on Monday, 18 September 2023, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. In this interview with THISDAY, the Founder and Administrator of Greenwood House School, Dr Ekua Abudu Akinsanya, speaks on their quest to offer a unique opportunity to analyse the intricacies of parenting the most globally connected generation through the conference.

As a renowned educator, what would you say are the challenges parents and guardians face in raising children today?

The world is constantly evolving, and parenting has become more challenging than ever before. With the advent of technology, children now have access to a world beyond their fingertips, where they can be exposed to content beyond their understanding. As a result, parents and guardians need to explore new ways to parent the next generation better, says Generation Alpha.

Parenting is a constant learning and evolving process which never stops, even when our children are adults. We always seek to understand our children’s needs and the best way to support them. Children nowadays are exposed to so much through social media concerning cyber security and online safety. The cost of living crisis means parents are working harder, and double incomes are necessary, so mothers cannot stay at home with their children.

As anxiety and depression rise, mental health and well-being are a concern, especially during and post-COVID. Conflicting parenting styles from textbooks and the internet are confusing, and the proliferation of fast-food outlets and processed food means nutrition is compromised. In addition, parents are now burdened with addressing issues of diversity, inclusion, and identity. This is in addition to regular parenting challenges.

Recently, Greenwood House School announced an upcoming parent conference. What inspired this conference?

The Parent Conference is an initiative of Greenwood House School in Parkview Estate in Ikoyi, Lagos. As renowned school leaders in education and development, we have organised this conference to serve as a platform for parents, caregivers, educators, and experts to come together and address the complexities of raising children in our fast-paced world and restoring the essential value systems that formed the bedrock of society in the past. It is to provide a forum for discussion, learning, and collaboration around the unique challenges and opportunities that modern parents face. The theme for this year’s edition is “Navigating the Complexities of Parenthood”.

What are the critical goals of the conference?

Our first goal is education and information sharing. Parents will learn about the best practices in child-rearing and get valuable insights into child development, parenting strategies, and effective communication with children. Second, through our sessions, we hope to equip parents with practical skills and techniques for managing the demands of modern parenting and dealing with specific issues like social media addiction, bullying, drug abuse, and depression, amongst other things.

Our third goal is to offer an opportunity for networking and building support networks so parents can connect with others who share their concerns and experiences, providing emotional support and a sense of community. Educators and childcare providers can benefit from the conference by gaining insights into the evolving needs of children and families. Finally, we hope that hearing success stories, expert insights, and personal experiences can inspire and motivate parents to be more engaged and proactive in their parenting journey.

Can you share details about the chosen speakers for the plenary sessions? What qualifies them as expert voices on parenting?

Our keynote speaker is an award-winning architect, renowned speaker, and convener of Awesome Treasures, Olajumoke Adenowo. Our special guest is the former Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo.

Our first plenary session is on ‘Effective Communication’ with children of all ages. It will cover communicating effectively with your children to motivate them, shape their emotional development and well-being, and develop positive relationships. This will be moderated by Nicole Chikwe, a parenting influencer and founder of the Mummy Summit. Her panel will include Yinka Ogunde, founder of the Concerned Parents’ Network; Ronke Onadeko, a businesswoman and author of ‘Notes to My Younger Self’; Temidayo Seriki, founder of the Man up Initiative; and Ohimai Unigboje, Managing Director, Netspex Ltd.

The second plenary will be on ‘Technology and Social Media’. This will be moderated by Jayne Augoye, founder of Fabmums. Panellists include Jadesola Adedeji of STEM METS Resources; Olubunmi Aboderin Talabi, Convener of the Akada Book Festival; Olufunke Fowler-Amba, School Director, Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls; and Adebola Atoyebi, CEO of Heritage Montessori Centre.

Apart from the panel discussions, what other activities should participants anticipate?

We will have three breakout sessions. The first breakout session is for the Early Years Foundation Stage: Maximising the care, development and learning of your child, which will be facilitated by Yinka Awobo-Pearse, Proprietor of Wooden Tots Montessori. The second session is about Confronting Bullying: The Bully, the Bystander & the Bullied and this is facilitated by Chidinma Abiakalam, a child consultant and mental health facilitator. The third session is on Antisocial Behaviour: identifying and dealing with peer pressure, drugs, and depression and this is facilitated by Mabel Okereafor, a developmental psychologist and owner of Nurture Child Development Clinic.

Participants will be able to discuss topics or concerns that may not have been raised previously during the “Open Mic” session. Dr. Bisi Esuruoso of School Safety Lagos will briefly discuss making your child feel valued. We will also have a counsellor, Mrs Bimbo Shomolu, on-site for Parents to consult about challenges they cannot deal with on their own, and we also have a fantastic variety of exhibitors. As you can see, much effort has gone into picking the best to facilitate this conference.

For those interested, kindly share details about the upcoming conference and requirements for registration.

The Parent Conference is free for all participants, but registration is mandatory at (parent conference.com.ng).

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., though registration begins at 8:30 a.m. This is an event no parent, guardian, custodian, or educator will want to miss.