DON’T GIVE UP ON YOUR CHILD . 

At the age of 7, I didn’t know how to say or recite the ABCs. For many years, I couldn’t pronounce the number 50. I remember very well that at age 10, I was asked to spell ‘tea’ and I could never spell it. I received the best beatings of my life. I sat in KG for a couple of years because I was not ‘intelligent’ and was afraid of being caned if I dared to go to class one. Because my father was dead and my mom was financially overburdened, I couldn’t have a better education from childhood. Above all, some called me ‘Jon’, meaning ‘stupid boy’.

Everything began to change in Primary 3. A teacher called Mrs. Awotwe of Senya Methodist Primary School showed special interest in me and encouraged me greatly to learn. I picked up so quickly that at certain times the primary 4 teacher would invite me to her class to mention a word. She would give me the cane to cane my seniors who couldn’t pronounce the word. My Uncle, Christopher Bonney, taught me how to sign (the signature I still use) in Primary 3. Another Uncle, Bro Kow, who is a fisherman, made me spell the first biggest word, ‘University’, and by doing so, instilled in my heart the desire to go to the University one day. All these happened in Primary 3, and I continued to be, if not always the best, one of the very best in every class and school, to the point of winning the Best English Student, 3rd best mathematics student, and 2nd Best student in the Greater Accra Region in Junior Secondary School. It was also in Primary 3 that my leadership skills started as I became the class prefect and continued to be the prefect in every class and also school prefect in every level (primary, JSS and SSS) – and a member of the University of Ghana parliament.

Why am I sharing this? We live in a world where we easily and quickly write off children who are not academically good. In a world of social media where little kids are doing exploits and kids with wonderful results are on display, many parents find themselves in despair due to the poor performance of their kids, ‘low IQ’, and slow attention to academic work. We look at eloquent kids on the Internet and on reality shows and begin to think our children amount to nothing in comparison. Sometimes we even compare them to their siblings and lose hope for them. We also always look at their positions in class and assume there is no hope for them.

But life teaches us that the future of a child is not determined by eloquence and academic prowess. Every child is unique and has a unique way and time of learning. Some are fast learners, and others are slow learners. Others might fall under any of the following:

Visual learners (learn by watching)

Auditory learners (learn by listening)

Kinesthetic learners (learn by demonstration and participation)

Visual learners capture images and are able to memorize and reproduce quickly. Auditory learners are good listeners and grasp easily once the ear hears well. Kinesthetic learners enjoy playing and a practical approach to learning.

Unfortunately, our kids are often put in the same pool, and the teaching and learning process doesn’t pay attention to their uniqueness and time. That is why some children may appear dull, but no child is unintelligent.

I encourage you to, therefore, be patient with your child and help your child step by step. After all, after school, the A students usually work for the C and D students. And some F students come out far better in life than University professors.

Does it mean education and excelling in school are unnecessary? Far from that. It is very important to help your child become the best he or she can be in school, but don’t limit the hope for the future of the child to the classroom – speaking, spelling, and writing English or prowess in mathematics. With time, patience, and encouragement, your child will rise above every limitation.

Thank you,

Abeiku Okai

Anathallo Chapel Int.