- Astiba Kebong’o argues that the August holiday offers parents an opportunity to strengthen children’s discipline, values and emotional wellbeing.
- She urges families to monitor children’s digital lives while encouraging practical skills, reading, sports, creativity and responsible use of technology.
- Kebong’o says schools, churches, communities and policymakers must complement parents’ efforts through mentorship, counselling and positive role modelling.
The recent wave of school unrest, coupled with delayed reopening in some institutions, should not simply become another headline that fades away with time. It is a timely reminder that the responsibility of shaping our children extends far beyond the school gate.
As the August holiday approaches, every parent, teacher, religious leader, community member and policymaker must pause and reflect. Holidays are not merely an interruption of learning; they are a defining season in which values are reinforced, habits are formed and character is either strengthened or weakened.
If we use this period wisely, we can raise a generation that is resilient, disciplined, compassionate and responsible.
The calm that follows the recent unrest should not lull us into complacency. Rather, it should inspire us to ask difficult but necessary questions.
Are we doing enough to prepare our children for life beyond examinations? Are we intentionally nurturing integrity, empathy, resilience and self-discipline?
While schools play a vital role in academic development, the home remains the first and most influential classroom of character.
American psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner, whose Ecological Systems Theory transformed our understanding of child development, emphasised the importance of children having caring and supportive adults in their lives. His insight reminds us that meaningful relationships with adults remain a strong protective factor against risky behaviour and indiscipline.
Parenting is not measured by the amount of money spent on children but by the quality of time invested in their lives.
Developmental psychologist Diana Baumrind’s work on parenting styles demonstrated the importance of combining warmth with firm guidance and consistent expectations.
During this holiday, parents should intentionally create opportunities to talk with their children, understand their emotional wellbeing, know their friends, identify early warning signs of distress, celebrate their strengths and gently correct undesirable behaviour.
The greatest gift parents can offer is not constant supervision but consistent presence.
Parents should also strike a healthy balance between work and family life. Amid demanding careers and economic pressures, children should never feel like visitors in their own homes.
Shared meals, family conversations, recreational activities, community service and prayer create lasting memories while strengthening trust between parents and their children.
These seemingly ordinary moments often become the foundation upon which responsible adults are built.
Guide children through the digital world
One of the greatest influences on today’s learners is no longer confined to the classroom—it is the digital world.
Social media has become a powerful influence, shaping opinions, behaviour, language, aspirations and even attitudes towards authority.
While technology offers immense opportunities for learning and innovation, it can also expose young people to misinformation, cyberbullying, violence, unhealthy lifestyles and dangerous online trends.
Parents can no longer afford to be passive observers. They should understand the digital spaces their children occupy, know the content they consume, discuss what they encounter online without condemnation and guide them towards becoming responsible digital citizens.
The internet should become a tool for growth rather than a breeding ground for destructive behaviour.
Equally, we must ask ourselves as a nation what lessons our children are learning from the adults they watch every day.
Young people observe political discourse, public demonstrations, television debates and social media exchanges. When violence, insults and intolerance appear to be rewarded, children may begin to view such behaviour as acceptable.
Leadership, whether at home, in schools, churches or public office, must model respect, integrity, peaceful dialogue and responsible citizenship. Actions speak louder than words.
Holidays should nurture talents and skills
The August holiday should also be a season of discovery.
Learners should not spend weeks glued to television screens or endlessly scrolling through social media. Instead, they should make productive use of the holiday by reading widely, acquiring digital and vocational skills, engaging in sports and creative arts, assisting with household chores, participating in farming where possible, volunteering in community projects and nurturing healthy friendships.
Such experiences cultivate responsibility, resilience, teamwork, creativity and self-confidence.
Schools equally have a responsibility to ensure that holiday assignments strike the right balance.
Homework is important in reinforcing classroom learning, but excessive academic tasks may deny learners opportunities to rest, acquire practical life skills, strengthen family bonds and explore their talents.
Education should nurture the whole child—academically, emotionally, socially, physically and morally.
Churches and communities have a role
The church remains one of society’s institutions for shaping values and character.
During the holiday, churches can organise youth mentorship programmes, Bible study sessions, counselling services, talent development activities, career guidance forums, music ministries and community outreach initiatives.
Such programmes provide young people with purpose, hope, positive role models and a sense of belonging.
The Bible offers timeless guidance on nurturing young people. Proverbs 22:6 reminds us: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Similarly, Galatians 6:9 encourages parents, teachers, mentors and religious leaders not to become weary in doing good.
Following any crisis, rebuilding begins with reflection and deliberate action.
The recent unrest should therefore become a turning point that inspires families, schools, religious institutions and policymakers to strengthen mentorship, guidance, counselling and emotional support for learners.
Turn the holiday into an opportunity
The August holiday presents Kenya with an opportunity to turn a difficult chapter into a new beginning.
Let every home become a centre of mentorship, every church a sanctuary for moral formation, every community a safe space where young people discover their purpose and every learner a willing participant in building a brighter future.
Academic excellence will always remain important, but character is the foundation upon which lasting success is built.
When schools reopen, our greatest achievement should not simply be learners who completed holiday assignments.
Our true success will be measured by young people who return wiser, emotionally stronger, more disciplined, respectful, compassionate, resilient and ready to contribute positively to society.
Let this August holiday become more than a break from school. Let it become a season of restoration, mentorship, responsible parenting, spiritual renewal and purposeful living.
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If every stakeholder plays their part, we will not only reduce indiscipline in our schools but also raise a generation of principled citizens capable of contributing to a peaceful and prosperous Kenya.
Astiba Kebong’o is the author of this opinion article.
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