Children need to grow in an open and friendly environment where they know what to expect and what is expected of them for a positive parenting outcome. The right environment provides a sense of security and comfort to the child. Research is rife with evidence that the environment in which children are brought up today has transformed as society and family continue to adjust to social and economic changes, but none has delved deeper into that of the contemporary Ag?k?y? community living in Kar?r? Catholic Parish. Our study therefore examines the parenting environment within the Ag?k?y? community responsible in bringing up morally upright individuals. This is done with the aim of proffering strategic choices for recovery of some of its application towards holistic parenting today. The descriptive survey research design is engaged and data collected through questionnaires, interviews and observation techniques. The study finds the environment in which children were brought up in the older Ag?k?y? society to have changed significantly resulting in deprived parenting. Today personal goals prevail over those of the community. Family and community relationships have also changed and a new culture is taking place among the youth. It is recommended that parents reach out to extended family and community members and involve them in parenting of children. This will expose the children to new thinking, experiences, shared values, and allow important social bonds to develop. Overall, a new parenting approach is necessary in view of the changed parenting environment and new culture.
Areji, A. C., & Anyaehie, M. C. (2015). Igbo traditional morality as a panacea to Nigerian security crises. Open Journal of Political Science, 5, 102-108.
Bastien, S., Kajula, L. J., & Muhwezi, W. W. (2011). A review of studies of parent-child communication about sexuality and HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. Reproductive Health, 8(25). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC3192730/
Billen, R. M. (2015). Interdependent determinants of parental involvement among families of children receiving early intervention services. http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/ 3396
Boff, L., & Boff, C. (1987). Introducing liberation theology. MaryKnoll, New York: Orbis Books.
Bornstein, M. H., Putnick, D. L., Oburu, P., Lansford, J. E., Deater-Deckard, K., Bradley, R. H., …, & Britto, P. R. (2017). Parenting, environment, and early child development in Sub-Saharan Africa in Abubakar, A., & Vijver, F. J. R. (2017). Handbook of applied developmental science in Sub-Saharan Africa. New York: Springer.
Bottignole, S. (1984). Kik?y? traditional culture and Christianity. Nairobi: Heinemann Educational Books.
Cagnolo, C. (2006). The Ag?k?y?: Their customs, traditions and folklore (New Ed.). Nairobi: Wisdom Graphics Publication.
Chang’ach, J. K. (2012). An unfinished agenda: Why is the boy child endangered? International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 2(4), 181-188.
Conlon, B. A., McGinn, A. P., Lounsbury, D. W., Diamantis, P. M., AGroisman-Perelstein, A. E., Wylie-Rosett, J., & Isasi, C. (2015). The role of parenting practices in the home environment among underserved youth. Childhood Obesity, 11(4), 394–405.
Diamond, A. (2013). Executive functions. Annual Review of Psychology, 64, 135-168.
Eliot, L. (2010). The truth about boys and girls. https://www.researchgate.net/ publication/ 42836385_The_Truth_about_Boys_and_Girls
Evans, S. D. (2007). Youth sense of community: Voice and power in community contexts. Journal of Community Psychology, 35(6), 693–709.
Gach?hi, K. (2017). Modern revolution on traditional circumcision practices. https://www. standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001263371/Church-leaders-push-traditions-far-away-from-circumcision
Gathogo, J. M. (2008). Some expressions of African hospitality today. Scriptura, 99, 275-287.
George, S. (2003). Emerging youth cultures in the era of globalization: Techno culture and terror culture in Tiplady, R., One world or many?: The impact of globalisation on mission. Pasadena: William Carey Library.
Gitonga, J., Mb?gua, S. W. N., & Ogeda, J. (2013). Skilful parenting and molding behaviour at an early age. Nairobi: Parenting in Africa Network.
Gross, H. E., Shaw, D. S., Moilanen, K. L., Dishion T. J., & Wilson, M. N. (2008). Reciprocal models of child behavior and depressive symptoms in mothers and fathers in a sample of children at risk for early conduct problems. Journal of Family Psychology, 22(5), 742–751.
Healey, J. G., & Sybertz, D. (1996). Towards an African narrative theology. Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa.
Hill, N. E., & Bush, K. R. (2004). Relationships between parenting environment and children's mental health among African American and European American mothers and children. Journal of Marriage and Family, 63(4), 954-966.
Ishii, Y. (1997). Birth control and reproduction in the Kikuyu society: The case from Murang’a District in Kenya. African Study Monographs, 18(3 & 4), 191-201.
Kang’ethe, K. (1981). The role of the Ag?k?y? religion and culture in the development of the Karing'a religio-political movement, 1900-1950 with particular reference to the Ag?k?y? concept of God and the rite of initiation (Unpublished PhD Thesis). Nairobi: University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Katola, M. T. (2014). Incorporation of traditional African cultural values in the formal education system for development, peace building and good governance. European Journal of Research in Social Sciences, 2(3), 31-39.
Kaur, J. (2014). Adolescents’ perception of pare
In-Text Citation: (Wachege & R?gendo, 2018)
To Cite this Article: Wachege, P. N., & R?gendo, F. G. (2018). The Parenting Environment in the Contemporary Ag?k?y? Community of Kenya. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 8(8), 135–148.
Copyright: © 2018 The Author(s)
Published by Human Resource Management Academic Research Society (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
