HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE SUMMER HOLIDAY

😃😂😂Now, it's summer holiday in most schools and the above picture says it's all.  I couldn't resist bursting into laughter the first time I saw this animation but really it says a lot about what is going on right now in homes here in Nigeria and many other countries of the world. Some parents are loosing it and some have had to employ a psychologist to help put their emotions in check😁

Well, school is not going to resume any time soon till September as we already know so this is a cross we have to bear🤣 but hey...! the good news is we don't really have to carry this cross alone. This is the time to be tactical, seek help and collaborate with others as much as we can. It's not the time to pretend that we have super powers and can do it all by ourselves 🤩

I'll be sharing some tips with you which have worked for several families in making the summer period a pleasurable one in their homes.

1. BOND & BE THEIR BEST FRIENDS:

 Yes, this is absolutely an opportunity to bond with the children. A lot of parents barely know much about their children (though they think they know😜) and now is the time to talk to them and really discover what's going through their minds. A lot of children have some really personal questions they need answers to ranging from, sexuality to relationships, religion and faith, violence and bullying, drugs and all forms of abuse, natural disasters, myths, humanity, money.... the list is endless. As a teacher, I've had pupils approach me to seek explanations on some of the topics above and sometimes I do wish those discussions rather occur in their homes. I've had to call up some parents to share some disturbing concerns their children have so that they can also provide some support at home.

Also, a lot of children will be missing school and their best friends this holiday. Now, you have to be their best friends by all means😜 If you need to play soccer with them, tennis, go for a swim, cycling, race, computer games e.t.c just have fun with them and they will so love you for it😁😘

2) DISCOVER THEIR CREATIVITY & SKILLS: This is the time to discover and harness those hidden talents in your children. Expose them to different activities like, 

- Drawing and painting, I do this with my 4 year old son and it's usually exciting for him. Tell them to draw simple things like their cups, spoons, plate and even draw themselves with mummy and daddy😁 It's usually very engaging for them as drawing requires concentration. This will give you ample time to mind your own business and focus on yourself for that moment at least 😜😜😁😁

- Dance & aerobics (you can get dance aerobics videos for kids online). It's also a form of exercise and the kids will certainly love it. You can join on the dance floor especially days when you are off work schedule or during weekends. They will appreciate you for it💕

- Cookery; now is the time to teach the little ones how to fix breakfast for themselves e.g toast, sandwiches, tea e.t.c and the older ones can learn to bake cakes, cookies, prepare salads, make smoothies and fruit juices. This will be really exciting and the kids will definitely look forward to it💃🤩🤩

- Music; you might need to get a music teacher if you've noticed your child loves singing and interested in musical instruments. It's better to start early and even your preschoolers can be engaged in music lessons along with their older siblings.

- Sports:  For children who are sport lovers, it will be a good idea to register them with a club or school with a plan for sports this summer. I would recommend that you check DOIS football academy on Instagram @doisng 

3. VISITATION: Due to the stringent process and requirements of travelling as a result of the pandemic, a lot of parents are unwilling to travel for tourism this summer like they would usually do. So, it's a good time to plan special visits to family members and close friends, some of them have their children home on holiday so it's a great time to bond with their cousins, uncles, aunties and grandparents 🧑‍🤝‍🧑👭👬

4. GAMES: For those with grown up children you can engage them in healthy competitions like, spelling games, multiplication facts games, science games e.g names of birds, water animals, land animals, plants e.t.c. There could even be a debate or quiz competition among siblings right in your homes😃🤩

You can also make some print out online like; puzzles, scramble and unscramble worksheets on various topics to keep them alert intellectually.

5. LEARN A LANGUAGE: Now, we have parents who complain about their children not being able to speak their local dialect, this is the best time to teach them their native dialect. You can get a family member to help you out with this or even employ someone if you have a very busy schedule and no close family member around.

You can as well enroll them to learn a foreign language like French, Spanish or Mandarin. This will pay off greatly in the long run.

6. HOME MAKING & HOUSE CHORES: Now, we've got to keep them busy and as well teach them independence. Now, that they have less burden of school assignments and projects to handle, they should be able to handle some basic chores themselves, their nannies can only guide or supervise. Teach them how to lay their beds properly, how to sweep the floor and clean furnitures, how to wash the dishes, how to arrange clothes neatly in their wardrobes and even do some simple laundry. 

What usually seem like a herculean task for adults will be fun filled for the children and they will always want to help even after the holidays, hence; making you conserve energy and the work around the house faster and easier😁👍

I hope the above tips help greatly in managing our lovely children this summer. 

Kindly leave a comment on what has been shared and we will also like to learn if you have other points that haven't been mentioned. Please use the comment section to share your thoughts...🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

Our next episode is titled, choosing the right school for your child/children. You certainly do not want to miss this😁😁👍👍