How parents prepare kids for the festive season

The festive season is one with which working parents will have to cope with the challenge of shuttling between work and taking care of their children. While schools are on vacation, organisers of home tutorials and extramural classes may also travel or will want to celebrate the season with their loved.

Therefore, many parents are left with no option but to care for the children and still ensure that their occupations do not suffer.

Parents will want to treat their children to a nice experience to add pleasure to the season. So they are usually caught between their jobs and planning the special treats.

A civil servant, Mr. Moses John, fully aware of the needs of his children and the importance of the season, applied for his annual leave this December so that he will have enough time to attend to spend the festive season with his family.

Mr. John said, “I usually take my leave in December to spend some quality time with my kids. I feel there is need for them to relax during the break so that they would have fun, be refreshed and prepared for resumption.”

John said he took them out frequently and showered them with gifts to encourage them not only in their studies, but also to celebrate the season.

Mrs. Philomena Daniel, a trader and mother of two, said her children usually watched cartoon channels while she worked in her shop.

“I don’t usually engage my children with studies or home tutorials during the festive period because I feel holiday should be resting time for them as they prepare for next term; they need to refresh their memories.”

Mrs. Daniel said she employed a nanny for them and that “when they are at home, they are busy with cartoons and other games. I take them out on Sundays to get them what they want and allow them to play to their satisfaction.”

Another parent, Mr. Gbenga Adeosi, said while some parents wanted their wards to be engaged in extra lessons, some wanted them to learn trade and so took them to their workshops, but that his children were always indoors.

“During this festive period, we have cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and rituals. Some parents believe their children should stay at home during the festive period because of security threats in some places in the country.

“Since the holiday is almost one month, and I know that those who are doing lessons will have need for money, I will get a home tutor to take them on some subjects for two weeks and use the remaining two weeks to celebrate,” he said.

For Mr. Afam Chikwindu, he said, “I am doing my best to provide for the children and make their holiday lively, especially during the festive period. Even though I don’t spend too much time with them, the little I have, I use it judiciously.”

Mr. Chikwindu said his children were not normally enrolled in extramural classes during the December break, and that as such, they had enough time to rest and enjoy the festive season.

Unlike Chukwindu, the holiday is a time for Malam Musa Aliyu to send his children home to his parents.

Malam Aliyu said, “Once the children are on December break, I send them to see their grandparents so that they will get to know them and also get acquainted with our culture. There is fun in the village, you know,” adding that his children had gotten accustomed to the routine that they eagerly waited for December every year.

“My children love December breaks more than any other break because they don’t do any lesson; all they do is play and travel,” he said.