Civic Education · Lesson 9

Traffic regulations, interpersonal relationships & responsible parenthood

WAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

WAEC: meaning, roles of parents, importance to national development; Topic 6 Traffic regulations: meaning, importance, roles of individuals and government; Topic 7 Interpersonal relationships: meaning, types, importance, skills; inter-communal relationships, conflicts and conflict resolution skills

NECO: meaning, roles of parents, importance to national development; Topic 6 Traffic regulations: meaning, importance, roles of individuals and government; Topic 7 Interpersonal relationships: meaning, types, importance, skills; inter-communal relationships, conflicts and conflict resolution skills

What you will learn

Define responsible parenthood and explain the roles of parents.
Explain the importance of responsible parenthood to national development and the consequences of irresponsible parenthood.
Define traffic regulations and explain their importance.
Explain the roles of individuals and government in road safety.
Define interpersonal and inter-communal relationships and explain their importance.
Identify causes and effects of conflict and apply conflict resolution skills.

Key points

Responsible parenthood: planning for, providing for, protecting, training and guiding children to become useful citizens.
Roles of parents: basic needs, health care, education (UBE Act 2004), moral training, protection, discipline, communication, role modelling, birth registration (NPC).
Importance: disciplined, educated, healthy citizens; manageable population; good values; less crime and burden on government.
Irresponsible parenthood leads to street children, dropout, delinquency, teenage pregnancy and poverty.
Traffic regulations: rules controlling road users for order and safety; FRSC Act 2007, National Road Traffic Regulations 2012, Highway Code.
Road signs: regulatory (circle), warning (triangle), informative (rectangle); red–amber–green lights.
Crash causes: human, vehicle, road and environmental factors; FRSC (1988), police, VIO, state agencies enforce rules.
Interpersonal relationships: family, friendship, school, work, community; built on trust, respect, communication, empathy.
Inter-communal conflicts arise from land, resources, chieftaincy, intolerance and politics; effects include deaths and displacement.
Conflict resolution: dialogue, negotiation, mediation, arbitration, adjudication, reconciliation.

Start here: Responsible parenthood: meaning

Two neighbours each have four children. In one home, the parents plan their spending, send all the children to school, take them for immunisation, and talk with them about honesty and hard work. In the other, the children roam the streets, miss school and are left to fend for themselves. Twenty years later, the difference shows not only in those families but in the whole community. This is why Civic Education teaches responsible parenthood.

Parenthood is the state of being a parent (father or mother, or a guardian acting as a parent). Responsible parenthood is the ability and willingness of parents to plan for, provide for, protect, train and guide their children, so that the children grow up to become healthy, educated, disciplined and useful members of society.

Features of a responsible parent

Plans the size and spacing of the family according to ability to care for the children.
Meets the basic needs of the children: food, shelter, clothing and health care.
Sends the children to school and supports their learning.
Teaches good values by word and example.
Protects children from abuse, neglect and danger.
Communicates with and listens to the children.
Disciplines with love, not cruelty.

Responsible parenthood begins before a child is born: with preparation for marriage, family planning, antenatal care and good nutrition in pregnancy.

Styles of parenting

Psychologists often describe four broad parenting styles. Authoritative parents are warm but firm: they set clear rules, explain the reasons and listen to their children. Authoritarian parents are strict and demand obedience without explanation. Permissive parents are warm but set few rules. Neglectful parents are neither warm nor firm and are largely absent. Research generally links the authoritative style with the best outcomes, such as confidence, self-discipline and good school performance, so it is closest to what responsible parenthood means.

Worked example 9.1

Explain why family planning is part of responsible parenthood.

Every child needs food, schooling, health care and attention.
Parents who plan the number and spacing of children can meet these needs for each child.
Good spacing also protects the health of the mother and baby.

Planning lets parents care properly for every child.

Try it yourself. Define responsible parenthood in one sentence.

Show solution

The ability of parents to plan for, provide for, protect, train and guide their children to become useful citizens.

Continue this lesson in the free app →

Practice questions

1. Responsible parenthood means

planning for, providing for, protecting and guiding children
having as many children as possible
leaving children to the state
only paying school fees

Show answer

A: planning for, providing for, protecting and guiding children
To raise useful citizens.

2. The Child's Rights Act defines a child as a person under

16 years
21 years
12 years
18 years

Show answer

D: 18 years
Child's Rights Act 2003.

3. Free and compulsory basic education is provided under the

NYSC Act
Land Use Act
UBE Act 2004
Electoral Act

Show answer

C: UBE Act 2004
Universal Basic Education.

4. The road safety agency in Nigeria is the

NOA
FRSC
NDLEA
NAFDAC

Show answer

B: FRSC
Federal Road Safety Corps, 1988.

5. A triangular road sign usually gives

a warning
an order
information
a direction only

Show answer

A: a warning
Circle = order; rectangle = information.

Key words

Parenthood: The state of being a parent, with the responsibilities it brings.
Responsible parenthood: Planning for, providing for, protecting, training and guiding children so they grow into useful citizens.
Family planning: Deciding the number and spacing of children a couple can care for, using lawful methods.
Child: Under the Child’s Rights Act 2003, a person under the age of 18.
Traffic regulations: Rules that control the use of roads by vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians for safety and order.
Highway Code: The official guide to rules and good practice for road users.
FRSC: Federal Road Safety Corps (Commission), Nigeria’s lead road-safety agency, created in 1988.
VIO: Vehicle Inspection Office: state body that tests vehicle roadworthiness and drivers.
Road crash: A collision or incident on a road causing injury, death or damage.
Interpersonal relationship: A connection or association between two or more people.
Inter-communal relationship: The relationship and interaction between different communities.
Conflict: A disagreement or struggle between persons or groups over interests, values or resources.

Learn Traffic regulations, interpersonal relationships & responsible parenthood step by step, free.
The Cara's Tips app teaches every topic from the very basics, with quick checks, worked examples and exam practice. It works offline.
Open this lesson in the free app Download for Android