Why school holidays are a headache for parents

By PHARES MUTEMBEI

At a cybercafé in Nairobi’s Kasarani estate, a group of children noisily jostle for space with other clients.

While the latter comprise of students doing research, the children, who are on holiday, have come to play computer games.

Once in a while, they burst into celebrations after one of them trounces his or her opponent or scores high marks, much to the chagrin of the adult clients.

The lady who runs cybercafe has a hard time ensuring that their noisiness are kept under check.

“They are primary school children enjoying their holiday. They have little else to do. They are my best customers because they pour in by the numbers and spend the whole day playing computer games,” she says.

The attendant reveals that most parents pay for them to play computer games to keep them occupied.

“A few have computers at home, so they remain indoors all day playing. Majority who do not have computers go to cybercafés. During holidays and weekends, children make up the bulk of daily customers,” she reveals.

Although allowing children to use gadgets such as computers, ipads and mobile phones to play games can help keep the children busy during holidays, it can lead to addiction and eye problems due to exposure to the brightly-lit computer screens.

But 45-year-old Dickson Mute, who says he knows better, ships his children off to their rural home to help their grandparents to herd goats during holidays.

“I am experienced enough to know that allowing the children to have access to my laptop when I am away is not helpful at all. That is why I take them to the countryside to spend the holiday with their grandparents,” says Mute, a computer programmer.

Apart from the holidays leaving parents at a loss over how to keep the children occupied, the vacations also come with huge financial implications.

Merciline Wangare, a single mother, says she can barely make ends meet and school holidays make matters even worse.

“If I had a say in this issue, I would prefer the holidays to be shortened. I spend more money during holidays when my three children are at home and I find it burdensome for someone like me who is struggling financially. I would prefer a one-week holiday, at most ten days. That is enough time for them to rest,” adds Wangare, a green grocer.

But Goretta Muthoni says children should be given ample time to rest.

Experts say children should be involved in exciting activities during holidays such as park tours, swimming, camping and visiting relatives.

James Muiruri, a sports instructor and motivator, has ran holiday camps for children for 15 years and says they add value to well-being of students.

“After working so hard in school, even children need rest. That is why I came up with the idea of a sports camp. We use sports to expose children to different environments to encourage holistic development,” he says.

Muiruri runs the Swim Africa Sports Camp where children from different schools in Kenya and foreign schools participate in various sports, including water sports, soccer, cycling, motor sports and many others.

Gain confidence

“The role of sports cannot be underestimated. Cycling instils endurance and helps them acquire body balance and gain confidence. During the holidays, we set them up in schools in the leafy parts of western Nairobi, away from all forms of distractions or noise. A sports camp is an excellent way of keeping them occupied, as opposed to playing computer games and watching television all day.”

“The parents leave them with us and they either pick them later or we take them home. It is a complete separation with their parents-and books!” says Muiruri.

Muiruri has just returned from England, where he had taken holidaying children to participate in an international sports tournament.

Muiruri says that apart from meeting and making friends with children from other parts of the world, the kids also toured famous spots, including Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United, Buckingham Palace and other famous historic sites.

“If parents can afford an international holiday for their children, why not. It is a great opportunity to get out and see the world. The trips expose them to the outside and they get to make new friends and have fun,” he said.

He advises parents to always ensure their children make the most of school holidays.