Back-to-School: Last Days Of Holiday

As the long school holiday draws to an end this Sunday September 6, parents in Douala are gradually preparing their chil­ dren to return to the early mornings, busy schedules and discipline that come with the school routine. For many families, the final days of the holiday are being used to adjust sleeping habits, organise school materials and help children mentally pre­ pare for the resumption of classes. After weeks of staying up late and waking up at their convenience, pupils are now being encouraged to go to bed earlier and wake up sooner. Mr Leonard Nfogwe said he has limit late- night television, video games and prolon­ ged use of mobile phones. He said this is to gradually restore a routine that will al­ low his children to wake up early, have breakfast and get ready for school wi­ thout rushing. “I have started asking my children to go to bed earlier because they will soon have to wake up at 5 a.m. to start preparing for school. During the holidays, they became accustomed to sleeping late, so we have to help them adjust little by little”, Mr Nfogwe explained. The change in schedule is particularly im­ portant for younger children, who may find it difficult to immediately adapt to early mornings. Parents are therefore in­ troducing fixed times for sleeping, wa­ king up, meals, reading and leisure. Beyond sleep routines, Lovette Abue, a mother of three, said she is also comple­ ting preparat...