Make the most of the holidays

Students and pupils are on holiday after completing their term one. The holidays are a great opportunity to not only spend time with children but also improve on different aspects. Here are some ideas to try out this holiday. Learning a thing or two

Learning
Fagil Mandy, an education expert, says learning is very broad which does not necessarily have to end at reading books and textbooks.

“Holidays are a good opportunity for parents to guide their children on the use of computers, encourage them on the usage of multimedia platforms because we can’t run away from them since they are the sources of information,” says Mandy.

He encourages parents to breed a good reading culture among children especially during this holiday. “Ensure children visit public libraries around the country for them to read inspirational pieces, much as it can also give them exposure.

George Kutosi Kotaki, a teacher at St Henry’s Kitovu Masaka, says learning for the children should be holistic and away from Biology, Chemistry, Literature and other subjects.

“I do not advise the parents to take their children for coaching classes because students need knowledge in diverse fields,” notes Kutosi.

Health and hygiene
Dr Alex Kakoraki, a general physician based at Murchison Bay Hospital, says health should be given priority as children come back home for this short holiday. Health should cover the body and mind.

“As a parent, you ought to ensure a proper and healthy environment for your child. Make sure they have healthy relationships that won’t lead them to temptation that may culminate into abortions, early pregnancies and imprisonment for the boys.

During this holiday, ensure a proper and healthy meal for your child because not many schools take balanced diet as a priority,” he says.

Dr Kakoraki adds, “I would also advise parents to take their children to hospitals for general health checkups because this will help you as a parent to monitor your child’s wellbeing.”

Mandy encourages parents to interest children in physical fitness routines such as playing football, netball, working out in gym, and many other exercises that build one’s body and mind.

Family
According to Samuel Okello, a parent in Kisugu, a Kampala suburb, the holidays will help him bond with his family.

“Home is bound to be noisy at this time as our four children will all be home telling stories. It is amazing to listen to these endless tales and the life they bring at home,” notes okello.

Parents should use this time to observe, play and give time to their children.

“If the family operates a business, this is the best time for the parent to nurture their child to get business oriented by giving them some responsibilities in the business. Don’t just keep your child reading books!” says Mandy.

Entertainment
Like the saying goes, ‘work without play makes Jack a dull boy’ Dr Kakoraki urges parents to give their children ample time for entertainment as a way to discover society.

He says adventurous minds are creative minds so parents should take their children for tours, take them to places where they can relax and unwind. He says, “this prepares them to begin the new term fresh and ready to learn.”

Job Wesonga, a parent and inspirational speaker, recognises that inspirational films do a lot in the child’s mindset and teach them how to appreciate their society as they face real issues.

For the holiday makers, below are some of the trending movies; Get Out, The Promise, The Boss Baby, Ghost in the Shell, The lost of the city, Guardian of the Galaxy2, among others.

Security
Security is a vital issue when it comes to parenting. Emilian Kayima, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, says parents play the biggest role when it comes to safety.

“There are very many cases of kidnap, defilement and other sexual offences going on in the country and most of the people committing these crimes are the people we know, uncles, friends and other relatives.

In case of any insecurity, they should act fast and report to the nearest police,” says Kayima adding that parents should take time to study the behaviour of their children and relatives around as it is good to know the person that you are dealing with. Be careful about who you expose your child to.