December holiday: Best ways to guard your child
Dec 08, 2012
THE 2012 school calendar has closed, giving way to the December long holiday. But as students packed their belongings and left school for home, most parents were happy but also worried on how to keep these youngsters occupied for almost two months.
By Agnes Kyotalengerire
THE 2012 school calendar has closed, giving way to the December long holiday. But as students packed their belongings and left school for home, most parents were happy but also worried on how to keep these youngsters occupied for almost two months.
It is an open secret that defilement, fornication, hooliganism, idleness and drug abuse take centre-stage during holidays. Many boys and girls end up in bad company. Parents lose the peace in some homes as chaos rules during this time.
This also creates frustration and stress.
“My children leave home the minute I go to work and roam the village until sunset. I cannot keep at home to monitor what they do all day long,” laments Betty Ahumuza, a parent in one of the city suburbs.
Paul Wanda, another parent of two secondary school-going boys, aged 14 and 16 years, says he dreads holiday time because it puts him on tension.
“Controlling the boys becomes difficult. On several occasions, my friends have reported finding them roaming the neighbourhood in company of teenagers suspected to be drug addicts,” Wanda explains.
He even wishes schools had holiday sessions to keep his sons in a tightly-controlled school environment.
Tony Musisi, the LC1 chairperson of Kiwamirembe Zone 4 on the outskirts of Kampala, says the crime rate in his zone increases during holidays.
This is just a glimpse of the chaos that many homes are thrown into when holidays start.
The situation leaves many parents wondering how best to engage their children productively over the holidays.
Mary Kitakule, a parent, says her children help with home chores.
She adds: “It is imperative to teach children chores like cooking, cleaning the house and compound, laundry and working on the farm. “These are practical skills, which must be instilled in every child to help them grow into responsible, committed and disciplined people.”
Moses Otyek, a district leader in Lira, notes that holidays are a time when children should rest.
However, to enable the children acquire more skills, Otyek advises parents to design activities that keep their children occupied.
“Parents need to plan with their children the holiday calendar in advance so that they do not blame anyone in case the programme or any activity fails,” he counsels.
Fagil Mandy, a parenting and education expert, says apprenticeship or attaching the children to work with people who have production centres is another productive way to help them during the holidays.
However, Mandy warns parents to be cautious about the people running such programmes.
“Make sure you do not entrust your child with a person of bad character,” he warns.
IF you have enough money, Otyek suggests that you take the children for short courses, say in languages like German, Chinese or French. Such lessons, will come in handy in future when the children are applying for scholarships abroad.
Apart from future scholarship opportunities, languages are marketable; when students graduate, they can comfortably work in foreign countries or with international organisations.
Alternatively, parents can take their children for computer classes. Since the education ministry is nowadays advocating for computer literacy in the country, enrolling your children for computer lessons will equip them with the knowledge needed to pass their examinations at school.
There are several reputable schools offering short courses in computer training to suit your child’s needs in the city or any big town across the country.
Mariam Lubega, a parent, says taking her children to Uganda Museum Children Resource Centre to read books, do creative writing, art and painting is one the best ways she keeps her holiday-makers busy.
“If the child seems interested in music, you can think of enrolling him or her for music and dance training at a local theatre.
Julius Lugaya, a music instructor at the Kampala Ballet and Modern Dance School, says attending music and dance lessons inculcates discipline, teamwork and planning skills in children.
Sarah Nyende, an adolescent counselling psychologist and a parent, suggests allowing children use part of the holiday to visit and get to know their relatives.
“Children are away from home for about eight months a year. This has resulted in most children not knowing their relatives and majority of them hardly draw a family tree, yet they have many friends on Facebook,” Nyende wonders.
Mathew Okello, a fitness instructor, says as part of relaxation, children should engage in physical fitness exercises. Exercising does not necessitate taking your children to the gym, but opting for simple drills like jogging in the morning and evening around the house.
“Play therapy is important for children’s growth and development. Parents can engage children through games like scrabble, netball, football, volleyball, tennis and swimming,” says Dr. Catherine Nyangabyaki, a paediatrician at Nsambya Hospital in Kampala.
Nyende also advises children to engage in handwork activities like weaving mats, baskets and knitting.
Tips to help you around
Cooking and baking: Involve children in these activities and let them choose from a selection of recipes that you have ingredients for.
Cultivate a garden patch: Dedicate a small part in the garden to children. Plant flowers or herbs; anything that grows quickly and gives them the satisfaction of having produced something. It is said that gardeners are the happiest people alive.
Go on picnics: You do not have to go far to have a picnic.
Create a holiday diary: Encourage the little ones to keep December diaries. They can take photos of special days and write about them. It will become a lovely memory book for them in the future and also keep them busy for hours.
Dance sessions: Get your children to sing and dance for you. Dance with them if you can as this keeps the family happy and strengthens its bond.
Painting lessons: One of the best ways to express your creativity is by using paint. Buy large manila papers and of paint for them to use. To avoid any stress later, prepare the area well and cover with plastic or newspapers.
Get into jewellery making: Go to a bead shop and stock up on beads and wires. This activity can be done with the youngest child, just be sure to get appropriate bead sizes for different age groups. The children will be so proud to wear the jewellery that they have made.
Take nature walks: Go on nature walks with a purpose. On the beach, collect shells and stones. In the forest, get kids to seek out different sorts of plants or trees. Alternatively, give them a map to plot the route you are taking. By giving them control and a plan; will ensure they don’t get bored too quickly.
Organise visits: Plan some visits and invite friends over. This may give you the opportunity to do some work and even connect with other parents.
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