Education stakeholders have urged parents to strike a healthy balance between learning, recreation and rest for children during the long vacation.
The stakeholders said the holiday should provide children with time to recover from academic pressures while also exposing them to useful skills, family activities and productive experiences.
A headmistress, Mrs Gladys Ohiwere, encouraged parents to promote daily reading, digital skills and age-appropriate household chores. She suggested that children spend about 20 to 30 minutes each day reading storybooks to improve vocabulary, pronunciation and comprehension.
Parents were also advised to introduce children to practical skills such as cooking, cleaning, sewing, simple repairs, hairdressing and other vocational activities, depending on their interests. One of the stakeholders, Mr Atomore John, cautioned against overloading children with academic lessons, stressing the importance of adequate rest.
Another parent, Mrs Adaoma Kennedy, encouraged families to consider Vacation Bible School programmes and agricultural activities during the rainy season, particularly for children whose parents are farmers.
The stakeholders stressed that a productive holiday should not focus solely on academic achievement but should support children’s physical, social, emotional and intellectual development, while allowing them enough time to play, rest and bond with family.
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