“Parents Should Use Holidays To Spend More Time With Children”

What is the significance of holidays to children?  
Holidays are a period whereby children get to rest and relax after a period of studies. Significantly, this period helps to relax children as they witness changes in their daily routines. It rekindles bonding among friends and family members as time is created to visit each other. It also sets the stage for new learning and discoveries as many get to try new things. 
How can parents render holidays more useful and pleasant to children? 
It is usually said that periods like these are characterised by lots of challenges. But parents can make these periods more impactful and enjoyable for their children by doing several things. Among them, is training children in livelihood skills like culinary arts. Parents should involve children more in kitchen work, such as teaching them how to bake, cook, and make fruit juice or anything that would help them build skills. Also, teach children how to clean, wash and keep the house in order. Assigning more house chores to them during this period will also help them learn better and faster. Parents should also create time for relaxation and entertainment. Parents should have movie nights with their children at home, whereby they can learn through educative movies. In addition, take children to amusement centres where they get to meet other friends. Enrol children into holiday programmes so they can learn how to play table tennis, basketball and other sports disciplines. This keeps them happier, livelier and healthier. Teach children soft skills like emotional intelligence, emotional control, effective communication, self-awareness and finance management. These are skills that are not found in school curricula but are very vital in the upbringing of any child. Helping children acquire these skills during the holiday period will make them more efficient as they go through life’s journey. Parents should also use the holiday period to allow children to manage holiday expenses through the planning and saving of money for house expenses. This means having a well elaborated budget during the holidays and end of holidays. 
How can parents manage holidays’ expenses, to lessen the cost when it is time for children to go back to school? 
Parents can manage holiday expenses by planning and saving. This means having a budget for the holidays and for end of holidays. Develop strategies to handle these and be disciplined to do as planned as much as possible. Hence, parents should consider strategies such as the repair and reuse of old clothing and items that are still usable. Accept hand-me-down items from family mem...