admin_county
December 20, 2019
Nurture children’s talents, parents urged
Parents have been asked to support children who demonstrate outstanding levels of competence in one or more fields.
Nakuru County minister for Youth, Gender, Culture, Sports and Social Services Engineer Lucy Kariuki said it’s time to focus beyond academic capabilities.
“The society should give much attention to the unique talents, abilities, and interests exhibited by children at an early age,” she advised.
The minister was speaking when she received at her office Little Miss Kenya- 2019 and Tiny Mr. Kenya- 2019 winners Briannah Nyambura and Jesse Smith respectively.
The annual children pageantry that runs from the regional to national level seeks to develop talents, self-esteem, confidence, and personality from an early age.
Twelve-year-old Briannah a pupil at Lions Primary School in Nakuru has already exhibited leadership skills whereby she is the school’s deputy head girl.
She is currently working on a charity project targeting the less privileged in the society as well as recycling plastics to clean up the environment.
“I urge or children not to give up on whatever they are doing beyond academic work and always seek guidance from teachers and parents,” urges Briannah.
Unlike Briannah who looks forward to becoming an Ambassador one day, Jessy Smith, 5, also of Lions Primary School wants to become a pilot.
But just like Briannah, cleaning the environment is Jessy’s passion and is working on a project to offer an environmentally friendly alternative to the plastic straws.
Billions of plastic straws a day, most of which end up in the ocean killing the aquatic life.
Briannah’s mother Ms. Njeri Nyambura said schools should emphasize more on extra-curricular activities with the establishment of the competence-based curriculum.
“It’s a nice thing to support your children as it brings out their personality. It will nurture them and they will never take anything for granted,” said Ms. Nyambura.
Last year, 12-year-old Tyra Angel Odeny from Kenya was crowned the “Little Miss World 2018 Grand Prix” winner.
She beat 47 other participants from 20 countries at the highly comepetitive18th International Children’s Festival of Culture, Fashion and Arts held in Thessalonika, Greece.