Schools across the country have officially closed for the third term, ushering in a long 10-week holiday that will see learners remain at home as ahead of the festive season.

The National assessments for the Grade 6 learners that saw 1,380,483 learners sit the Kenya primary School Education Assessment ( KPSEA) were concluded Wednesday, with  1,206 028 Grade 9 learners for the Kenya Junior School education assessment  (KJSEA) entering the homestretch whereas  a total of  1,048,355 form four learners will continue with their national examinations (KCSE) up to November 21.

The holiday also coincides with the traditional initiation season as well as heightened political atmosphere and campaign season ahead of next year’s general elections.

However, for many families the extended break comes with mixed feelings ; excitement for rest and family time, but also anxiety over how to keep children engaged and disciplined throughout the holiday.

Lucy Wambui, a parent from Kenol town, said the long holiday is welcome but requires  a lot of planning.

 “I have two teenagers and a younger one in primary school. It’s a long time to have them at home, so I’ve planned activities for them which includes helping at the shop, reading and carrying out household chores,” she said.

“I also hope that our church will organize some youth programs which they will attend and stay more engaged and grounded, it is not easy bringing up teenagers in this digital era,” she said.

Another parent, Samuel Gathogo, a fruit vendor, said the economic challenges, high fuel prices, cost of household commodities this year make it harder to meet children’s needs during the break.

“When schools close, food consumption goes up, and children also want entertainment and new clothes as the festive season approaches,” he said.

“We already feel strained and hard pressed and now we have to stay home with them for more than two months so we must plan carefully and engage in more activities to generate income,” he added

Albert Nduati, a father of three from Kangari, said keeping children engaged is the best way to maintain discipline and family harmony.

“Parents can find productive activities for the kids to do to keep them busy,” said Nduati.

 “We also need to spend time with our children to understand them better so that we will know their strengths and weaknesses and support their development,” he said

Parenting experts are urging parents to use the holiday as a period to reconnect and mentor their children rather than leaving them idle or unsupervised.

Kenol based counselling psychologist Purity Gachukia noted that while the long break is an opportunity for bonding, it can also expose children to social vices if not managed well.

“Parents need to be on the lookout for their children as prolonged absence from structured school environment presents significant challenges, coming at a time when the country’s political temperature is rising rapidly ahead of the 2027 polls,” she  said.

“Ten weeks is a long duration and in the past, we have witnessed a spike in teen pregnancies, early marriage and even learners engaging in substance abuse and a complete erosion of morals,” she noted.

Gachukia observes that any sudden change in behavior in a child ought to alarm a parent as that is the only way to detect any mental health issues that ultimately impact the social, emotional, physical and cognitive well-being of a child and those around him or her.

“We have heard cases of suicides in colleges and universities meaning the young people are going through challenges that can only be brought to light and tackled by first identifying the root cause,” she notes adding that,

“Despite the daily busy schedules, try to strike a balance between employment, vigilance and guidance during these schools,’ long break”.

by Florence Kinyua