Winter break plans: Parents and NGOs share

The Citizen

3 days ago

With the upcoming winter school holidays starting and offering teachers, non-teaching staff and learners a well-deserved break, parents across Tshwane will be looking for activities to keep their children busy.
The three-week-long break starts on June 27 until July 22.
Rekord visited a few local parents across various regions and NPOs to understand how they will be keeping children engaged during the upcoming school holidays.
According to the chairperson of Vhathu Phanda Community Forum, Thabo Moshabela, the forum in Mamelodi will be partnering with several organisations to keep children busy during the school holidays.
'In partnership with Lesedi Foundation, we will be hosting school holiday book reading clubs to keep children safe.
'In partnership with Tshalanang NPO and Tso All-Stars, we will be hosting an under-9 soccer tournament in Mamelodi during the school holidays,' said Moshabela.
He emphasised key safety measures parents must follow to keep their children safe and engaged during the holidays.
'Parents must teach children to be cautious of strangers, not to accept anything from them, and to avoid going anywhere with them,' he said.
Centurion mum Roxzann Roos said this would be her first winter holiday with her five-year-old daughter, who is a Grade RR learner.
'I am fortunate enough to work from home and also have my mom living in the same complex a few doors down, which is an absolute blessing some days,' she said.
Roos has created a creative and low-cost holiday plan for her daughter.
'My daughter is very busy, so I've used Chat GPT to my advantage to create some colouring pages with her and her favourite characters,' she explained.
She relayed challenges she faces as a parent when it comes to keeping her child engaged during the holidays.
'I think it's hard with young children, seeing that they need to be entertained constantly and can't do much for themselves yet, like to make lunch and drinks. Because their minds are still fresh, they want to stay busy, so multitasking will be put to the test this holiday.'
Another parent, Leoni Meissner, also embraced creative solutions to keep her children happy during the holidays.
'My kids are going to start a vegetable garden – that is their idea,' she said.
Meissner explained that they are also planning to visit the library since her children love reading, and that they will go fishing and spending time with their grandparents at Marloth Park.
'We'll also enjoy a bush breakfast at Rietvlei Nature Reserve,' she said.
Here are some entertaining and affordable options to consider taking the children on these holidays:
– Pretoria National Zoological Gardens: Offers families picnic spots and educational elements such as plant species and trees. The wide open lawns and waterfall views can also be enjoyed.
– Union Building Gardens: A historic place to visit, as children can run freely on the lawns and learn about SA's democratic history.
– Freedom Park: Families can explore the museum, amphitheatre, and learn about South Africa's history through guided tours or self-guided exploration.
– Voortrekker Monument: Families can explore the museum, which showcases a collection of Voortrekker memorabilia and cultural heritage.
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