Get your child busy this holiday

The holiday is upon us and for some parents whose children have been in boarding school far from home, they describe it as a period “to take over from teachers”. Some children are happy that they are taking a break from books to play video and computer games, as the others catch up on their favourite TV programmes. Parents share tips on how they keep their children busy during holidays.

Engage them in chores
There are different responsibilities at home that can keep children occupied. This holiday Easter Namayanja, a mother of three, has decided their nanny should take a break. Namayanja says holiday time is an opportunity for her children to learn chores.
“My children go to boarding school. Holidays for us means tackling areas that teachers do not deal with,” she explains, adding that this instils in them a sense of responsibility.

“They need to understand that chores are part of their daily lives and that everyone has a role to play in running the household.
Namayanja says while in Primary Three, she used to wash her clothes. Today, the trend has changed because clothes are washed and ironed by matrons and at home, the nannies do the house chores.
“The day after school we discuss everyone’s expectations for the holiday. We draw a time table showing and the nanny monitors them.”
When her Primary Six daughter prepares lunch then dinner must be prepared by her daughter in Senior Three. Division of labour has not only kept them busy but has also helped them learn and improve their skills.

Charity
“Every holiday I give my children a chance to suggest which charity home to visit or what they want to offer to the needy,” James Ssentongo explains.
Ssentongo is building a giving culture among his children. Their actions, no matter how small, can create a difference in the lives of others. Ssentongo says, to keep them busy every Saturday, he takes his children to a home of the needy and they spend their day there.
“I realised that life is beyond attending good schools and going for outings during the holidays. They need to know and understand that there are people who go to bed without food. Some children cannot afford going to school,” Ssentongo says.

Feeding the disabled, cleaning and washing clothes are some of the activities Ssentongo’s children engage in during such visits.
“I want my children to understand the importance of giving. I also realised they bond during charity activities,” says Ssentongo.

Develop their talent
Dorah Nankiga, a mother of two, says schools have not allocated much time to developing children’s talents.
There is no better time for children to nurture their talents than the holiday time. Proverbs 18:16, says “a man’s gift makes room for him and sits him before great men.” Identify and grow their talents.
“So, for my son who is passionate about football, this is the perfect opportunity to discover if he has the talent. Every morning his coach picks him up to go and train. At midday, he returns home to rest and in the evening he does the dishes,” Nankiga says, explaining that this has helped him understand where her son’s passion lies.

Networking
To Agatha Kisaye Kabugo, a parenting coach and mother of two, holiday is a time to connect with family and friends.
“We are now raising a generation that does not know how to make friends. They do not know the value of networking. They think friendship is about phone calls,” notes Kabugo.
She says it is important for children to maintain social contact .
“My daughter has gone to stay with my sister’s daughter. I want them to learn from each other. When peers meet they can easily learn from each and share their experiences.”

Build skills
Stephen Mukasa, a teacher at Romasa Collage, says holiday is a time to break off from the paper work and books. Children spend most of their time at school and spend two to three weeks at home.
“During this time I expect them to be learning life skills that are not taught in school,” Mukasa says. Playing and resting are part of a child’s development. From Monday to Friday children are in school, they take home work every day and at the weekend. Children miss out on things meant for the holiday. When it is holiday get them involved in skill building activities, such as doing dishes and mopping,” Mukasa explains.