THE SOCIO-CULTURAL CONSEQUENCES OF CHILD REARING PRACTICES IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

The study critically examined the significance of effective child nurturing practices in Delta State and the consequences on the individual and the society in general. Also, it evaluated the place of the family and the community as catalysts in the whole process of raising a child from infancy. The study which adopted the Maslow's theory of the hierarchy of needs also utilized the in-depth interview, focus group discussions and the 51-item child-rearing practice scale for data collection. It, however, revealed that other members of the family shared in the task of child upbringing yet, the mother is seen as the primary caregiver for the infant. It further revealed that no agency can be a complete substitute for family life due to the care and training it affords the child. The study recommended that parents should be diligent in providing the basic needs of their children during the early years to enhance the overall development of the child. It further recommended that contemporary parents should embrace the traditional child-rearing practices, the constraints notwithstanding.