By Maria Famakinwa
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The summer holiday is here and it is an opportunity for parents, especially those who have their children in boarding houses, to spend quality time with their wards. Summer is probably the most exciting holiday for students because it gives them a break from rigorous school work to spend quality time with their families.
Summer holiday opens students up to a much larger world than that of the classroom. It helps learners to discover hidden talents in them aside the four wall of classrooms. As beneficial as this period is, some parents are at a loss about how to keep their children safe and busy for the holiday duration.
Some concerned parents explained that even as they planned making the best out of the holiday with their children, their safety must be prioritised, as cases of kidnapping, rape, ritual killings and other vices are on the rise . Parents who spoke with The Hope on how best to guarantee children’s safety during the holiday observed that children are easily bored while on holiday, and not knowing how best to keep them safe and busy could pose a serious danger.
A parent, Mr Abimbola Ifatusin, who warned parents against toying with their children’s safety during this summer, added that the situation in the country should serve as enough warning for the wise. According to the father of four, everyone is a victim, hence the need for parents to protect their children during this time.
He said: “Every right thinking parent needs not to be told that the economic situation in the country is forcing people into nefarious acts to survive, including killing innocent ones for rituals. The perpetrators of the evil acts are always on the edge during long vacation because of the belief that children who are mostly their targets are on holiday. Parents who cannot stay with their kids because of the nature of their jobs should enroll them in summer classes or centres for skill acquisition programmes like drawing, playing instrument and shoe making among others. They should also plan their time so that when the children are through for the day, they would have secured places to stay till their parents come for them.
“When children are occupied with one activity or the other, the chances of getting into danger are reduced. Aside this, parents should be interested in what their teenagers are doing. Get to know their friends and discourage them from visiting any friend or family member they are not sure of. Don’t send them on errands when it is dark or when the road is lonely. Happenings today show that both boys and girls are vulnerable, so parents must be wise,” he warned.
Sharing a similar view, a teacher, Mrs. Adebisi Ayowole, also appealed to parents to give the safety of their children needed attention and added that children are open to dangers and fall victims of evil doers mostly when they are left alone during holidays. She said: “The safety of your children should be of paramount importance to you and you should put in your best efforts to ensure that their safety throughout the break is highly guaranteed. For guardians or parents with children below 10 years, it is important you keep all sharp objects away. Every item at home that you know may cause any hazard should be taken from the reach of these children. When the kitchen is not in use, ensure it is locked to avoid children having unrestricted access to it.
“Another important safety tip is that parents should not keep izal bottle where kids can take it, because they might think it’s milk. The same goes for medicines, especially the liquid ones, because children are unpredictable. The point I am making is that parents should always make sure their children are with them. Don’t be in the sitting room and leave them inside the bedroom. Wherever you want to go while your children are at home during this break, take them along, even if is just down the road. Always ensure that your children are within your reach, and do not lose sight of them no matter how busy you can get during this summer break.”
The teacher who also advised parents against keeping their children, especially girls, with males, irrespective of the relationship observed that 90 percent of reported rape cases were perpetrated by people known to the victims. She also urged parents to talk to their females about sexual abuse. “ Talk to your female children. Discuss boundaries with them. teach them that their body is their own and no one has a right to touch their body or take pictures of them without permission. Let them know it’s okay to say “no” to unwanted hugs, kisses, or other affection, even to adults and family members. Tell them to talk to you or another safe adult if anyone crosses their personal boundaries.”
A father and businessman, Mr Bankole Idowu, wants parents to use the holiday period to study their children better and correct them when necessary. The man who argued that everything should not be about summer classes or acquiring skills added that there are some hidden behaviours in children that would require careful parents to know and correct.
When told to mention some of such behaviours, he said: “I am referring to boarding students who only come home during holidays. Most of them lack good upbringing because they are not at home with their parents. There are some of them (teenagers) who cannot do basic house chores, yet they are expected to know all these as they grow. What do you make of a 16-year-old female boarding student who cannot cook or wash her clothes clean? There are some home trainings a child needs as he/she grows which most boarding students are denied of because they are not growing under their parents’ watch.
“I am speaking from experience. Everything should not be acquiring education and not be able to do certain things expected at one’s age. These students spend most of their time in school and when they are through with secondary school education, they go to higher institution. When they are through, they go for the compulsory one year youth service and from there try to settle down. Where is the time for parents to give them the needed home trainings? That is why I am appealing to parents in this category to use the holiday period to put them through some of these things so that they will not become burdens in the future after acquiring education. No man will be happy to marry a lady who cannot cook and no lady will be happy to marry a man who lacks good morals.”
On the issue of safety, Mr Idowu advised parents to tell their children not to allow any visitor whenever they are not at home, no matter how close such a visitor is to the family, and should not give their teenagers freedom to go out and come in at will. “News of how some people are desperate to become rich at all cost is scary and a warning to parents to be security conscious. Parents must know where their children are at a particular time and always monitor what they do on phones. Children should be told not to rush and open the gate whenever anyone knocks without first finding out who the person is. If there is need for your children to go out, parents should monitor their movement. Rules and regulations to guide their conduct must be given while at home, which must be strictly adhered to, and punishment must be meted out to anyone who defaults on any of the rule, to serve as a deterence,” he said.
