Why the Youth Are Wayward: The Foundation Matters - By Prince K. Nfor

In today’s society, the concern over the behavior of young people is growing louder. Many parents, teachers, religious leaders, and community elders constantly ask: "What has gone wrong with this generation?" It is undeniable that many children and teenagers in our time are becoming increasingly wayward—displaying attitudes and behaviors that reflect moral decay, indiscipline, and disregard for values.

From disrespect for elders, sexual immorality, drug and alcohol abuse, violence, theft, to juvenile delinquency, these issues are no longer isolated cases but rather common occurrences. But while we often criticize the youth for their misconduct, we fail to examine the most important aspect: the foundation. A child’s upbringing is the root of their character. And when the root is weak or corrupt, the fruit will not be healthy.

Understanding the Waywardness of Today’s Youth

1. Lack of Discipline at Home

Many children today grow up in homes where discipline is absent or poorly enforced. Parents are either too busy chasing careers or too permissive, allowing children to “raise themselves.” In such homes, there is no respect for rules, boundaries, or consequences. Children are not corrected when they err, and as they grow, they believe they are accountable to no one.

2. Absence of Moral and Spiritual Guidance

Decades ago, the home was the first classroom for moral education. Parents taught their children honesty, humility, respect, and the fear of God. Today, many homes have lost that moral compass. Children are exposed to internet content, music, and media that glamorize immorality, violence, and rebellion. With no spiritual foundation, they are easily swept away by destructive influences.

3. Broken Families and Neglect

The rising rate of divorce, absentee fathers, and teenage mothers has contributed to unstable family environments. A child raised in a broken or emotionally neglected home is likely to seek love, attention, and validation elsewhere—often in the wrong places. They fall into peer pressure, join bad company, and become rebellious.

4. The Influence of Social Media and Pop Culture

Today’s children are growing up in the age of TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. While these platforms can be educational, they often promote unrealistic lifestyles, vulgar behavior, and a culture of “likes” over values. Many youngsters are more influenced by social media influencers than their own parents or teachers.

5. Lack of Parental Involvement

Parenting is not just about providing food, shelter, and school fees. It’s about intentional involvement in a child’s emotional, psychological, and moral development. Sadly, many parents do not spend quality time with their children. They do not know their children’s friends, struggles, or dreams. This creates a distance that weakens guidance.

The Foundation Matters

A strong foundation is the base upon which every child’s life is built. Just as a house without a solid foundation cannot withstand a storm, a child without proper upbringing cannot resist the storms of life—peer pressure, temptations, and societal challenges.

The Bible says in Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." This timeless wisdom emphasizes that what is poured into a child during their early years shapes their future.

Parents are the first teachers. They are responsible for building values, discipline, and character into their children. When this foundation is ignored or poorly laid, children grow up confused, rebellious, and lost.

Solutions: Building a Better Generation

To address the growing waywardness among the youth, we must return to the foundation. Here are some actionable solutions:

1. Parenting with Purpose

Parents must be intentional. Spend quality time with children. Set rules and boundaries. Teach them to respect elders and value hard work. Be present in their lives, and don’t delegate parenting to house helps, cartoons, or the internet.

2. Moral and Spiritual Education

Introduce children to spiritual values early. Encourage prayer, honesty, kindness, and service to others. Whether through religion, community values, or traditional wisdom, every child needs moral grounding.

3. Monitor and Guide Media Consumption

Control what children watch, listen to, and read. Encourage educational content and discourage entertainment that promotes immorality, violence, or disobedience.

4. Restore Family Unity

A peaceful and loving home is a safe ground for a child’s emotional development. Couples should strive for unity, resolve conflicts respectfully, and avoid exposing children to toxic environments.

5. Community Involvement

It takes a village to raise a child. Teachers, religious leaders, and community elders must play active roles in shaping the youth. We must bring back mentorship, discipline, and communal responsibility.

The waywardness we see in many youths today is not accidental—it is a reflection of the foundation they were given. If we want to build a generation that is responsible, respectful, and morally upright, we must go back to the roots. We must rebuild the foundation—at home, in schools, and in our communities. It is not too late to change the narrative, but it must begin with us.

Let us remember: A child well-raised is a nation well-built.

Prince K. NFOR

Self-improvement activist. 

Source: PTT Juvenile Delinquency

References

Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go…”

BibleGateway: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+22%3A6

Juvenile Delinquency in Cameroon Schools – On the influence of broken homes and poor discipline.

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/379880152_Juvenile_Delinquency_The_Rise_of_Moral_Decadence_in_Cameroon_Schools

Parent–Child Bonding and Risky Behavior in Cameroon Youth.

PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23809373/

Family Structure and Juvenile Delinquency in Cameroon.

Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/document/136759298/Ngale-Family-Structure-and-Juvenile-Delinquency

Faith-Based Solutions to Youth Waywardness in Africa.

Faith Driven Investor: https://www.faithdriveninvestor.org/blog/our-solution-to-changing-the-system-of-youth-education-and-upbringing-in-sub-saharan-africa

Parenting Style and Youth Deviance in South Africa.

MDPI – Social Sciences: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/11/4/152

UNICEF on the Importance of Positive Parenting.

UNICEF: https://www.unicef.org/support-parenting

UNODC on Family Breakdown and Juvenile Crime.

UNODC: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/justice-and-prison-reform/cpcj-crime-prevention-youth.html

WHO on Adolescent Health and Upbringing.

WHO: https://www.who.int/health-topics/adolescent-health