Parents' holiday headache: Keeping teens safe, busy, fed

Students head home for the holidays. [File, Standard]

Thousands of learners across the country head home, their faces beaming with excitement. For them, the prospect of nearly 80 days away from classrooms means freedom from examinations, homework and the strict school timetable.

For parents, the long holiday brings anxiety, financial pressure and the daunting responsibility of keeping their children safe, disciplined and productively occupied.

For many households, the first question is how to keep children meaningfully engaged for the period when the cost of living continues to rise and parents must still report to work.

The challenge is particularly acute for working parents who leave home early and return late chasing professions and investments.

Unlike boarding schools, where learners follow structured routines under the supervision of teachers and school administrators, homes may not offer the same level of monitoring.

Silas Obuhatsa, chairman of the National Parents Association, said children can easily find themselves with too much free time, limited supervision and increasing exposure to potentially harmful influences.

He urged parents to remain vigilant during the long holiday, warning that children can become vulnerable to exploitation and risky behaviour when left without adequate guidance.

“We live in informal settlements where some individuals may take advantage of children when parents are away,” he warned.

His concerns reflect the fears of many parents, particularly those living in densely populated urban settlements where economic hardship, drug abuse and negative peer pressure can expose young people to danger.

The threat of illicit drugs and substance abuse remains another major concern, with parents fearing that some learners may fall into the company of peers who encourage smoking, drinking or experimenting with other harmful substances.

For teenagers already struggling with peer pressure, the long break can become a period of temptation if there is little guidance at home.

Parents are equally concerned about immoral behaviour, irresponsible sexual relationships and teenage pregnancies.

Anthony Mudekere, a parent of five children, said the absence of a structured school routine may leave some children vulnerable to influences that undermine the values their families and teachers have worked hard to instil.

“The new matatus commonly known as ‘Nganya’ are eating into the character of our children. Away from the eyes of parents, the children make rounds in matatus from estates to towns, meeting different characters and morals,” she said.

Technology presents yet another challenge: smartphones and social media platforms have opened windows to knowledge, creativity and communication, but they also expose children to inappropriate content, online predators and harmful trends.

For parents already stretched by work and domestic responsibilities, monitoring every online interaction can be difficult.

The Ebola virus concern adds another layer of anxiety, with Mary Moraa saying parents need reliable public health information and guidance on appropriate precautions.

“Families must remain alert to official health advisories without allowing rumours or misinformation to create unnecessary panic,” she noted.

Meanwhile, the economic burden of the holiday threatens to stretch household budgets to the limit.

Kamau Chege, a parent in Korogocho, Nairobi, children who previously depended on school feeding arrangements now require meals at home throughout the day.

“Most of our learners live on school feeding programs in public schools. Even those in private schools get meals at a cheap rate. At home you must budget well on the idle minds,” she stated.

Joyce Atieno, a parent struggling to balance household expenses with the demands of raising school-going children, said that even modest holiday programmes or tuition classes can be unaffordable luxuries.

“Children do not stop needing food, attention and guidance simply because schools have closed. You want them to enjoy their holiday, but you also worry about where they are, who they are with and what they are doing,” she says.

Heated political debates, inflammatory public statements and online political exchanges can expose children to hostility and divisive attitudes.

Parents worry that young people may absorb political intolerance from adults and social media at a time when they should be learning responsible citizenship, peaceful coexistence and respect for differing opinions.

President William Ruto has repeatedly called on parents to take responsibility for nurturing their children, complementing the work of teachers and other stakeholders in building a disciplined and morally upright generation.

The appeal highlights an important reality: although schools play a critical role in education and character formation, parents remain the first teachers in a child's life.

The long holiday provides an opportunity to strengthen family bonds, teach responsibility and reinforce values that may receive less attention during the busy school term.

However, religious leaders and community organisers face their own challenge: reaching as many children as possible while operating within limited financial and human resources.

Pentecostal Assemblies of God- Kenya General Superintendent said the government agencies, schools, churches, community organisations and parents must therefore work together to ensure the long break does not become a season of neglect.

“As learners settle into their homes, the responsibility of shaping their character shifts more visibly to families and communities. The holiday should be a time for rest, discovery and growth, not a prolonged period of uncertainty,” he said.

He noted that Bible classes, youth camps, music lessons, sports activities and mentorship programmes offer opportunities for young people to develop their talents while learning discipline and responsibility.