What does it mean by "It takes a village to raise a child"?

Answer 1

No one person has all the answers to every problem that will arise with a child. No one person can keep a child in sight at all times. No one person can do everything and be everything for a child.

Answer 2

While Hillary Clinton may have made the phrase famous in America, it is actually an African proverb. Like many of the other respondents have noted, it means that everyone in a community or child's sphere should bear some of the responsibility for raising that child. It is in no way meant to undermine the parents' role, instead it helps bolster, strengthen and reinforce the lessons the parent is trying to teach their child.

As for baseballandbbq, I'm sure your Grandfather was a fantastic person, and was raised well...but are you telling us that he never went to school, never played with other children, never had a teacher or other adults in his life? Any close relationships with people outside the immediate family are considered part of the 'village' that help shape child into the person they'll become.

Answer 3

Some "villages" have financial means that able them to actually be around their children and monitor their behavior. Others are torn by a system that forces them to work more than see their kids. It's not failure, it's an inescapable cycle of poverty that is ignored because the answer to the problem calls into question the entire socioeconomic makeup of the nation.

Answer 4

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RE:
What does it mean by "It takes a village to raise a child"?

Answer 5

It takes a whole family to help each other raise each other,if one person don't have the solution of a problem then another person of the family
will have the right answer,and working with family like your a village of people will help each an everyone involved.

Answer 6

takes village raise child

Answer 7

The concept is based of the fact the nurturing and environment play the largest roles in the development of children. So, a village raising a child provides that environment, and eventually all of society benefits. Practical examples in society today could include strong public schools and quality health care for children.

Answer 8

What it really means is that everyone looks after that child. But sometimes that can backfire when you are much older. I once got a spanking because a neighbor told on me that I was at the park when I wasn't supposed to be there. Man I wish I knew what neighbor that was.

Answer 9

I agree with the first two answers... and, I always thought it also meant that we don't raise children in a vacuum. If your house is safe, but your neighborhood isn't, your children aren't really safe. Children need good role models, teachers, counselors, advisors, doctors, besides just needing good parents. So, it takes the whole community (and really our whole nation) to help raise the next generation.

Answer 10

Socialist concept propogated by Hillary Clinton. My Grandfather was raised on a farm by only his Mother and siblings after his Father died and he did just fine. The greatest man I have ever known. In his case, "it took a family". Don't misunderstand me, some kids may get raised by "a village" but it doesn't TAKE a village in all cases.