For a world in which social fragmentation and individualism have become the norm, quality advice for bringing up children is hard to come by; the peculiarities of the modern era have opened up a large gulf between the young and the old, so that it has become difficult for the latter to pass on their wealth of experience in parenting to the next generation. This gap is what Parentinvestment seeks to bridge, and it wants to do so using an avenue that modern parents would relate with, and appreciate.
Parentinvestment is an online interactive platform which offers parents the opportunity to read, discuss and reflect upon resources that they need to make themselves into better parents to their children. It was founded by Charity Babatunde, an experienced administrator and life coach with a declared passion for developing the potential that lies within Nigeria’s youth. Parentinvestment is powered by RAVE et al, a social enterprise created by Mrs. Babatunde. Through a number of pages and sections, Parentinvestment provides a great deal of thought provoking and insightful material which parents and parents-to-be could find useful.
The site’s blog section has articles containing parenting tips, a mix of practical guides and timeless wisdom made accessible through their portrayal in contemporary terms. The articles also serve as a springboard for discussions on parenting, as contributors in the comments section can start off conversation threads and share their own experiences, for the benefit of others. In the ‘Tried and Tested Values’ section, stories and thoughts on values and the importance of instilling them in young people are shared. The wider social context within which the task of parenting has to be performed is not left out- ‘Think Naija’, a page dedicated to exploring the reorientation of values in Nigeria, reminds the reader that children are not brought up in a vacuum, and that the society they live in can and should provide positive influences for their minds to be shaped by. There are photos and videos as well, which present visual aids to reflection, meant to inspire us to be moral individuals and responsible parents.
Parentinvestment seems to reflect Mrs. Babatunde’s preferred approach to parenting, with its emphasis upon values, practical skills and social relevance. The site’s reference to the need for parents to make an ‘investment’ in themselves and in their children, and to raise well-rounded individuals, apparently points to her own background as a banker and entrepreneur; the focus here though, is on a different kind of investment, a cumulative building up of character and social worth.