Keep children occupied and safe during holiday

Schools are closing for the longest holiday of the current academic year, which is a welcome break for the young ones, but it presents a nightmare for the parents. The joy of the learners as they begin their break often ushers in a stressful period for most parents.

According to the Ministry of Education’s school calendar, the third term officially ends on October 23, and the holiday will run until January 1 next year. Some of the learners will spend a chunk of that break sitting their national examinations and assessments. The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams start today with oral and practical papers.

The teachers have done their bit, and the parents must now ensure that these young people do not go astray during this 10-week holiday. Managing the weeks of childcare, keeping them occupied, and balancing everyday responsibilities can be overwhelming.

Indeed, the biggest headache for the parents is how to keep the children safe, engaged, and mentally stimulated, and to engage them in household chores and spare time to read and prepare themselves for the new academic year ahead.

The young boys and girls should be engaged so that they are not easily lured by some of their peers into negative activities. Without proper guidance, these temptations can negatively impact the children’s physical health, mental well-being, and eventually hamper their academic progress.

Working parents must strive to balance their job demands and the supervision of their children now on holiday. The children are exposed to negative peer influence, unsafe activities, inappropriate online content, and drug and alcohol abuse. This is also the time when the risk of teenage pregnancies is real.

The temptations for the children during the long holidays include staying up late, spending hours on smartphones, video games, and TVs instead of engaging in physical activities.

Parenting experts have warned parents against recreating the school timetable at home. What is required a balance of rest, recreation, social learning, family time and safety.

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