Ekwurnekwu: Nlekọta Ụmụaka (Discussion: Caring for Children) – Basic 3 Igbo Lesson Note (Third Term)

Nlekọta ụmụaka bụ ile ụmụaka anya, ichebe ha, na ime ka ha nọọ n’udo ma dị ndụ (child care means looking after children, protecting them and keeping them safe and alive).

Behavioural objectives

1. Define child care (nlekọta ụmụaka) in Igbo.
2. Name people in the family and community who care for children.
3. State ways of caring for children under food, learning, safety and love.
4. List the basic needs and other needs of children.
5. State the duties and good behaviour expected of children.

Gịnị bụ nlekọta ụmụaka? (What is child care?)

Nlekọta ụmụaka bụ ile ụmụaka anya, ichebe ha, na ime ka ha nọọ n’udo ma dị ndụ.

• Ile anya: watching over children and seeing to their needs.
• Ichebe: protecting children from harm.
• Ime ka ha nọọ n’udo: keeping children safe, calm and happy.

Ndị na-elekọta ụmụaka: who cares for children?

Children are cared for by people in the family and people in the community.

N’ezinụlọ (In the family)

• Nne na Nna: mother and father.
• Nne ochie na Nna ochie: grandparents.
• Nwanne ochie: elder siblings.
• Ndị ọzọ n’ezinụlọ: other family members.

N’obodo (In the community)

Kedu ụzọ esi elekọta ụmụaka? (What are the ways to care for children?)

There are four main ways to care for children: food and health, education and learning, safety and protection, and love and support.

Nri na ahụ ike (Food and health)

• Inye ha nri dị mma: give them good food.
• Ime ka ha ṅụọ mmiri ọcha: make them drink clean water.
• Iburu ha gaa ụlọọgwụ: take them to hospital when sick.
• Ime ka ha saa ahụ: make them wash their bodies.
• Inye ha ọgwụ mgbe ọ dị mkpa: give medicine when needed.

Nkuzi na ọmụmụ (Education and learning)

• Iziga ha ụlọakwụkwọ: send them to school.
• Inyere ha aka n’ọmụmụ: help them with learning.
• Ịgụrụ ha akwụkwọ: read books to them.
• Ikuzi ha ihe ọma: teach them good things.
• Ime ka ha mụta omenala: make them learn culture.

Nchekwa na nchebe (Safety and protection)

• Ichebe ha n’ihe ize ndụ: protect them from danger.
• Ile ha anya mgbe ha na-egwu: watch them while playing.
• Ime ka ha nọ n’ebe dị mma: keep them in safe places.
• Ikuzi ha iwu nchekwa: teach them safety rules.
• Ịhụ na ha alọghị n’ụlọ: make sure they do not get lost.

Ịhụnanya na nkwado (Love and support)

• Igosi ha ịhụnanya: show them love.
• Ige ha ntị: listen to them.
• Inye ha nkwado: give them support.
• Ịkasi ha obi mgbe ha kwara akwa: comfort them when crying.
• Ime ka ha nwee obi ụtọ: make them happy.

Gịnị ka ụmụaka chọrọ? (What do children need?)

Children need basic needs for life and other important things for healthy growth.

Kedu ọrụ ụmụaka nwere? (What are children’s responsibilities?)

Children also have duties to do and good behaviour to show.

Ihe ha kwesịrị ime (What they should do)

• Rubere ndị okenye isi: obey elders.
• Mụta ihe n’ụlọakwụkwọ: learn in school.
• Nyere ndị ọzọ aka: help others.
• Debe ahụ ha ọcha: keep themselves clean.
• Egwukwala n’ebe dị ize ndụ: do not play in dangerous places.

Agwa ọma ha kwesịrị inwe (Good behaviour they should have)

• Ikwu eziokwu: tell the truth.
• Inwe nkwanyere ugwu: be respectful.
• Inwe obiọma: be kind.
• Inyere ndị nne na nna aka: help parents.
• Akpọghị ndị ọzọ aha ọjọọ: do not call others bad names.

Isi okwu mkparịta ụka (Discussion points)

Use these questions for reflection (ajụjụ maka nchegharị).

1. Kedu otú ezinụlọ gị si elekọta gị?
2. Gịnị ka ị na-eme iji nyere ndị nne na nna gị aka?
3. Kedu ihe ị chere na ụmụaka chọrọ karịa?
4. Kedu otú anyị ga-esi chebe ụmụaka n’obodo anyị?

What are the class discussion topics?

Students talk in small groups (mkparịta ụka otu) on these topics.

1. How do you help younger children at home?
2. What makes children happy and safe?
3. How can the community better protect children?

Sharing time

• Family care: ways their families care for them.
• Helping siblings: how they help younger brothers and sisters.
• Greatest need: what they think children need most.

How do we use child care in real life? (Ojiji n’ezi ndụ)

Students can practise child care at home, at school and in the community.

At home

• Help: help with younger siblings.
• Safety: follow safety rules.
• Thanks: appreciate family care.

At school

• Look out: look out for younger students.
• Report: tell a teacher if someone needs help.
• Kindness: be kind to all children.

In the community

• Respect: respect all adults who care for children.
• Rules: stay safe and follow rules.
• Help: help other children when possible.

Gịnị bụ ozi dị mkpa? (What are the important messages?)

For children

• Value: you are precious and deserve care.
• Listen: listen to adults who protect you.
• Care: help take care of yourself and others.
• Ask: ask for help when you need it.

Cultural values (Ụkpụrụ omenala)

• Ọ bụ ọrụ onye ọbụla ilekọta ụmụaka: it is everyone’s job to care for children.
• Ụmụaka bụ ọdịnihu anyị: children are our future.
• Nlekọta ụmụaka bụ ọrụ omenala: child care is a cultural duty.

Practice exercises

Exercise 1: Complete these sentences about child care

1. Nlekọta ụmụaka pụtara _______ ha anya.
2. _______ na _______ na-elekọta ụmụ ha.
3. Ụmụaka chọrọ nri, mmiri, na _______.
4. Anyị kwesịrị _______ ụmụaka n’ihe ize ndụ.

Exercise 2: Who helps care for children?

Match each person to the correct role.

Exercise 3: What do children need?

Group these items into “Basic Needs” or “Other Needs”: Nri, Ịhụnanya, Mmiri, Egwuregwu, Uwe, Agụmakwụkwọ.

• Basic Needs: _______________
• Other Needs: _______________

Exercise 4: Answer these discussion questions

1. Kedu otú ị na-enyere ụmụaka ndị nta aka? Answer: _______________
2. Gịnị ka ndị okenye kwesịrị ime maka ụmụaka? Answer: _______________
3. Kedu ihe ụmụaka kwesịrị ime n’onwe ha? Answer: _______________

Exercise 5: True or False

1. Naanị nne na nna na-elekọta ụmụaka ( )
2. Ụmụaka chọrọ naanị nri na mmiri ( )
3. Nchekwa dị mkpa maka ụmụaka ( )
4. Ụmụaka enweghị ọrụ ọbụla ( )

Evaluation

1. What is nlekọta ụmụaka?
2. Name two people in the family and two people in the community who care for children.
3. List the five basic needs of children in Igbo.
4. Write three ways children can show good behaviour (agwa ọma).

Assignment

Ask your parents how they cared for you when you were smaller. Then write three ways you can help care for younger children.