By Zoba Opara

As school gates close for the summer break, parents and caregivers are faced with the challenge of keeping their children engaged, entertained, and learning.

While the freedom from structured school schedules can be a welcome respite, it also presents a valuable opportunity to nurture skills, foster creativity, and strengthen family bonds.

According to an educationist, Mrs Angela Anozie, who visited a school in Owerri the capital of Imo state, ‘During this period, our children must be skillfully enhanced for a more responsible generation.’ With the right approach, summer break can be a transformative time for children, laying the foundation for lifelong learning, social skills and emotional intelligence.”

In a chat with the press crew on the importance of using the summer break for extracurricular activities that go beyond the traditional classroom experience, Mrs Angela said “during this period, our children must be skillfully enhanced for a more responsible generation.

“This break serve several purposes including rest, relaxation, family bonding, academic recovery, extracurricular engagement and teacher planning.

It offers opportunities beyond the classroom, primarily for relaxation, allowing both students and teachers to recharge after extended academic activity.”

Speaking on the need to properly engage children during the break, a secondary school teacher, Mrs. Angela Anozie, said that students from Primary Three to secondary level need essential life skills and character formation to avoid falling into negative peer pressure.

She urged caregivers to partner with teachers by being intentionally involved in the monitoring, mentorship, and motivation of their wards at this crucial stage of life.

However, she maintained that it should not become a period of idleness, but rather one for meaningful engagement in various interests.

We allow them rest and also engage them meaningfulyl to help develop other areas of life.”

In the words of Denis Waitley, “The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” She concluded.