During the long holidays, some parents complain that their children play, disturb and also eat a lot. As a result, some send them to summer schools or to stay with relatives. But it’s not a good thing to neglect the fact that the period is for the children to learn new things not taught in school.
A mother of two, Mrs Dorcas Omopariola, stated that the long holidays were for children to learn other educational or vocational skills.
She said, “The long holiday is always tiring because children will use the opportunity to show who they are. My children are troublesome and noisy. Last year, when I could no longer endure their tantrums, I decided to let them learn a skill or whatever they are interested in. I asked them what they would like to learn. My first son said he would like to learn how to play the saxophone, while my second child said she wanted to learn how to bake. I started searching for a training centre around me and I was lucky to find one and many children were there. They attended the training from 10am to 3pm. I was able to enjoy my peace whenever they were not around till they returned in the evening.
“Some parents took their children to summer coaching during the long holidays. But the truth is that they were in school for a long time. Why let them stress their brains further. The holiday is for them to go on vacations, learn new things and enjoy themselves but rather some still go to school during the period. The children were taught well. There were skills to learn but a child can only learn one at a time. Within one month, my son could play the saxophone well and my daughter learnt how to bake a cake and do other things. Children learn quickly because their brain is still young and they are not thinking about anything. They could also assist with house chores depending on their age. With that they will be more productive during the holidays.”
Another mother and a baker, Mrs Omolade Donalds, said she sometimes takes her kids for summer coaching or allows them to stay at home.
Donalds stated that during long holidays, children tend to eat more, play and disturb a lot. She added, “That’s why there is summer coaching. My first child is a teenager. She goes for lessons because she is preparing for external exams but my other two children that are still in primary school disturb a lot. I do tell them to read for a few hours after letting them do some chores they can do. Sometimes, they go for summer coaching but this year I’m not planning to let them go for coaching.”
She urged parents to allow their children to learn some skills during the holiday.
She said, “Parents can keep their children at home during holidays. It’s the time they can learn how to do house chores. They can also go on vacations, play and enjoy themselves and learn new things. As a baker, I take my kids with me to my cake shop. They help me with a few things and even learn some new things. Some parents that have handwork can teach their children how it is done.”
On his part, a father, Uzoma Okere, said that whenever he’s home and his children were home for holiday, he seized the opportunity to bond with them.
He said, “Before the holidays, sometimes my children go to school without seeing them in the morning because whenever I return from work late, I wake up late. They would have gone to school before I woke up or I would have gone to work before they woke up. However, that does not happen all the time. I see the holidays as an opportunity to bond with them before I go to work or when I return from work. I make sure I ask them questions and they are always open to me.’’
Okere added that children could have fun, learn vocational skills and new things during holiday.
“My children don’t go to summer schools or lessons during holidays, especially the long holidays. I feel they have been learning so they should rest and enjoy the holiday. Also, during the holidays we go for a camp meeting. Hence, they use their holiday to enjoy, learn and serve God. Children can also learn different vocational skills on holidays before they return to school. It might not be useful for them now but it will surely be useful to them in future,” he stated.
Commenting on the issue, a lecturer at the Department of Curriculum Studies/Instructional Technology, Rivers State University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Prof. Keziah Achuonye, said that Nigerian schools only have the intellectual development to offer but other areas of development weren’t explored.
Achuonye said that many parents in Nigeria were no longer playing their roles as they should, describing the situation as unfortunate.
During the long holidays, some parents complain that their children play, disturb and also eat a lot. As a result, some send them to summer schools or to stay with relatives. But it’s not a good thing to neglect the fact that the period is for the children to learn new things not taught in school.
A mother of two, Mrs Dorcas Omopariola, stated that the long holidays were for children to learn other educational or vocational skills.
She said, “The long holiday is always tiring because children will use the opportunity to show who they are. My children are troublesome and noisy. Last year, when I could no longer endure their tantrums, I decided to let them learn a skill or whatever they are interested in. I asked them what they would like to learn. My first son said he would like to learn how to play the saxophone, while my second child said she wanted to learn how to bake. I started searching for a training centre around me and I was lucky to find one and many children were there. They attended the training from 10am to 3pm. I was able to enjoy my peace whenever they were not around till they returned in the evening.
“Some parents took their children to summer coaching during the long holidays. But the truth is that they were in school for a long time. Why let them stress their brains further. The holiday is for them to go on vacations, learn new things and enjoy themselves but rather some still go to school during the period. The children were taught well. There were skills to learn but a child can only learn one at a time. Within one month, my son could play the saxophone well and my daughter learnt how to bake a cake and do other things. Children learn quickly because their brain is still young and they are not thinking about anything. They could also assist with house chores depending on their age. With that they will be more productive during the holidays.”
Another mother and a baker, Mrs Omolade Donalds, said she sometimes takes her kids for summer coaching or allows them to stay at home.
Donalds stated that during long holidays, children tend to eat more, play and disturb a lot. She added, “That’s why there is summer coaching. My first child is a teenager. She goes for lessons because she is preparing for external exams but my other two children that are still in primary school disturb a lot. I do tell them to read for a few hours after letting them do some chores they can do. Sometimes, they go for summer coaching but this year I’m not planning to let them go for coaching.”
She urged parents to allow their children to learn some skills during the holiday.
She said, “Parents can keep their children at home during holidays. It’s the time they can learn how to do house chores. They can also go on vacations, play and enjoy themselves and learn new things. As a baker, I take my kids with me to my cake shop. They help me with a few things and even learn some new things. Some parents that have handwork can teach their children how it is done.”
On his part, a father, Uzoma Okere, said that whenever he’s home and his children were home for holiday, he seized the opportunity to bond with them.
He said, “Before the holidays, sometimes my children go to school without seeing them in the morning because whenever I return from work late, I wake up late. They would have gone to school before I woke up or I would have gone to work before they woke up. However, that does not happen all the time. I see the holidays as an opportunity to bond with them before I go to work or when I return from work. I make sure I ask them questions and they are always open to me.’’
Okere added that children could have fun, learn vocational skills and new things during holiday.
“My children don’t go to summer schools or lessons during holidays, especially the long holidays. I feel they have been learning so they should rest and enjoy the holiday. Also, during the holidays we go for a camp meeting. Hence, they use their holiday to enjoy, learn and serve God. Children can also learn different vocational skills on holidays before they return to school. It might not be useful for them now but it will surely be useful to them in future,” he stated.
Commenting on the issue, a lecturer at the Department of Curriculum Studies/Instructional Technology, Rivers State University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Prof. Keziah Achuonye, said that Nigerian schools only have the intellectual development to offer but other areas of development weren’t explored.
Achuonye said that many parents in Nigeria were no longer playing their roles as they should, describing the situation as unfortunate.
