Ideas to Engage Kids During the Long Holidays

 

     Yay! The long awaited holiday is here. Many parents are rolling their eyes back in their heads but the kids are happy to be home, it going to be a very long holiday. Most schools vacated during the third week of July so from then on through the whole of August till the second week of September! You can imagine their excitement. As a kid, it was always a time to look forward to especially for those of us who were boarders. It also marked the beginning of a new school session so if you didn't do well in your studies or if you had to repeat a class, you know you will be getting an earful of your incapabilities for a long time to come. It was a welcome relief as we had howbeit temporary relief from school food, being hounded by senior students, waking up early and other school activities. The euphoria of the long holiday lasted barely two weeks before we would begin to think about what we would do with all the time at hand. It didn't take long for boredom to set it, I imagine it is still the same now. Being bored is a good thing for children because it stimulates their creativity and resourcefulness and develops their independence.

    Now I understand my parents' frustrations at having their hands full with us and still having to work full time with little or no help. Inasmuch as we are happy to have our little ones home full time for a while, we are racking our brains on different ways to keep them profitably occupied. In spite of the stress, it is also a great time to bond with our children and be an positive influence in their lives. Let's face it, they are growing up way faster than we want them to and soon our nest will be empty so let us maximise this time also. And to further complicate matters, this is the time when the rains fall the heaviest and we are concerned about the very little kids. If you are searching for ways to keep your kids busy this holiday, you are in luck as we will discuss an array of activities that can occupy your kids from the preschool age to the secondary school age. You need to plan the activities ahead of time and you should involve your kids, their ideas may surprise you. These ideas are not just entertaining but also educates their young minds.

• Indoor games: this would particularly interest very young kids. Get cardboards and lots of paint for painting and drawing and let them get creative. A treasure hunt, Ludo, Scrabble, creative writing and card games for the older ones. They can even make their own games. You could also make a fun video of everyone and save them for when they are back to school again.
• Outdoor activities: take nature walks and listen to birds, look out for animals and insects; go swimming, dance, play ball, have a picnic and it doesn't have to be in a fancy place.
• Snack and drink ideas: plan a cooking or baking day and get everyone involved in the process from the beginning. It will take you longer to finish and your kitchen will be messier but the point is to let your kids have fun and learn. Drinks like zobo, kunu, tigernut juice are healthy and delicious too.
• Visit the library or bookstore. Let the children pick books that interest them, not just to keep studying and while you are at it, you can pick up some age appropriate movies too.
• Holiday crafts: try out papier-mâché,  learning to sew, knitting and crocheting.
• Community service ideas: let them learn about the different ways they can be a positive influence in the society. Visit the orphanage and donate items they have outgrown, cut your neighbour's grass, pick up trash along the road and teach other kids in the neighborhood.
• Travel to the village: it would be a great time to visit their grandparents. Let them have that connection and also learn from a generation that is different from theirs and your parents will enjoy having them around.
• Give them responsibilities: children like to act like adults and it will help their early development. Activities like sweeping, dusting, making beds and even looking after the younger ones will give them a sense of accomplishment.

     While you are having fun, be sure to connect with your kids and be mindful of their associations. Keep the video games to a minimum and be in church regularly so they can learn good morals too and also meet other kids their age. Thank you for reading and enjoy your holiday. Please share this post and follow us on Pinterest and Facebook. Thank you.