Insights on how engaging children productively during the holidays would strengthen them and help their learning were shared in the latest episode of The Education Podcast released this week.
The guest, Maryam Tanko-Salami shared valuable strategies for achieving this during the holiday season with the podcast host, Abdussalam Amoo.
With many children home from school, parents often face the challenge of providing enriching activities that foster growth and creativity.
Mrs Tanko-Salami emphasised the importance of planning, stating, “It is very important to know what you want to do for your children during the holiday. If you have a plan, you can have a stress-free break.”
She encouraged parents to establish routines, mentioning that “planning the children’s routine…meaning their sleep time, breakfast time…is crucial for a better result at the end of the holiday.”
The episode also highlighted the significance of age-specific activities. “You need to figure out the age group that your children are,” Tanko-Salami explained, pointing out that different children require tailored approaches.
For younger children, she recommended engaging activities that develop motor skills, such as outdoor play and nature crafts.
One notable suggestion was integrating educational outdoor adventures, like scavenger hunts for leaves to spark curiosity and creativity.
“When children bring it back, you tell them to feel it and express themselves…Let them find out whatever they are discovering by themselves,” she advised.
Additionally, the podcast explored how to balance screen time with productive activities.
“There are educative apps or programmes that children can engage in,” Tanko-Salami noted, ensuring that screen use is both controlled and beneficial.
To foster social engagement, she suggested creating opportunities for children to volunteer or collaborate on projects with peers, stating, “Creative projects will mean that they have a friend that they are creating something with.”
Tanko-Salami’s insights underline the importance of structured planning that accommodates children’s diverse needs while ensuring they remain socially engaged and creatively stimulated during the holidays. As she aptly put it, “If you follow through your plan, you would achieve a lot.”
For more details, viewers and listeners are encouraged to visit the education podcast across various platforms and explore additional strategies for enhancing their children’s holiday experiences.
The full video is presented below.
