Nairobi News

Millions of school going Kenyan children are currently home for the long end of year school break. This year, they will be home for roughly two months. Parents will be on their toes keeping them engaged and away from vices and peer pressure in a bid to keep them in line. Many will undergo extra- academic tuition, some will be ferried to rural Kenya to spend some time with their extended family while others will be signed to camps and vocational programs. Unfortunately, millions more will be left to their own devices including spending time online, playing video games and spending unsupervised time with friends.

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That said, we as Nairobi News feel that there are four special groups of students that should be keenly watched over during this long school break/holiday in terms of their health, social and mental well being after completing their third terms and preparing to move to the next grade.

1. Bullied students- Parents must maintain vigilant and supportive watch over their children, especially if they’ve been victims of bullying at school. Bullying can have long-lasting emotional and psychological effects, and it’s crucial for parents to provide a safe and open environment for their children to express their feelings. Monitoring their well-being ensures that any signs of distress or trauma are detected early and dealt with by providing emotional support, counseling, and guidance, helping their children heal and regain their self-esteem. Parents must stay engaged with the children especially at this time and show them they are not alone.
2. Visually impaired students- Visually impaired individuals tend to be more comfortable of environments they are familiar with. For many, joining schools provides new challenges and hazards for them. If your visually impaired child was in boarding school and is now home, it is important for you to monitor them to help adjust to a new environment. At school, they may have been more social but the holidays can be socially isolating for visually impaired children. Parents can arrange play/meet up dates and social activities to ensure their child continues to develop social skills and personal growth. This will help them beat feelings of boredom, frustration and even mild depression as well as experience continuity in their world without enduring great changes.
3. Underperforming students- In recent years, there have been many cases of underperforming students taking their own lives when they do not live up to their and society’s expectations of their academic capabilities. In monitoring this category of students, parents must actively identify and address the root causes of their child’s underperformance, whether it’s related to learning difficulties, lack of motivation or other challenges. Moreover, close monitoring enables parents to foster a positive attitude toward learning, boost their child’s self-esteem and reinforce the value of education, ensuring that the long school break doesn’t result in greater setbacks in their academic progress.
4. Teen parents- These young parents often face unique challenges as they juggle the responsibilities of parenting and being teenagers alongside their education. By maintaining close supervision, parents can provide vital assistance and respite, allowing their teenage children to balance their parental duties and personal growth. This support can range from offering babysitting assistance to providing guidance on time management, stress management and emotional well-being. By actively monitoring their teenage parents, parents can help ensure that their children continue to progress academically and emotionally, all while providing a safe and supportive environment for both their child and grandchild.