Online Reporter
WITH the exception of the examination classes – Grade 7s, Form 4s and Form 6s, Zimbabwean schools have closed for the mid-year holidays after three months of hard work.
These included lessons, assignments, sports and examinations.
As such, this long-awaited break is a time to breathe, catch up on rest and enjoy the company of family and friends.
However, while rest is important, the students on holiday need to be reminded that too much idleness can be costly.
It is therefore important to remind the students that the two or three weeks away from the classroom should not be seen as a licence to abandon learning altogether.
The holiday break is an opportunity to balance rest with productive activities that build character, skills and knowledge.
This is because, learning is not confined to school buildings given that, as words of wisdom say, life itself is a classroom.
As we have said before, setting aside a few hours each day for study can make a big difference when schools reopen. A personal study timetable can help maintain discipline and ensure all subjects get attention.
Younger learners, especially those in primary school should be encouraged to read widely during the holiday.
Reading materials vary from newspapers, novels, biographies, or even engaging in simple creative writing which can strengthen comprehension and critical thinking.
This is where parents come in handy by providing access to reading material and discussing what their children read, turning it into a fun family activity.
Sports and exercise should not be forgotten especially in this era when many children are glued to television screens and mobile phones, physical activity is essential for good health.
While students were looking forward to the break ahead of end-of-year examinations, parents and guardians must be alert to the dangers that school holidays can bring as unsupervised time can expose children to negative influences.
The include drug abuse and crime to risky relationships. Also worth noting is that, technology, while useful for learning, also brings the temptation of excessive gaming, harmful online content and social media distractions.
It is therefore important that parents take an active role in their children’s holiday routines, including setting clear rules for internet use, knowing their friends, and maintaining open communication about daily activities.
The temptation for many parents is to keep students buy by enrolling them for holiday lessons. However, there is a real danger of overloading students with more studies at the expense of rest and personal growth.
A balanced approach to the midyear holidays is for students to enjoy their rest while remembering that dreams require effort, even in the holidays while parents should ensure that they guide, monitor and inspire children.
