By Sylvia Tochukwu-Ngige
[AWKA July 14, 2026]
Soon schools in Nigeria will vacate for the long holiday. There eill no more 5:00am alarm. But dear parent, the real work is just starting. Can you hear it? That sweet silence. No more “Mummy, wake me up.” No 5am uniform ironing. No traffic. No “we’re late!” in the car. For the first time in 3 terms, you can finally breathe. You deserve that rest, mama. You deserve that rest, papa.
But let’s talk heart to heart. The holiday can make or break a child. We all say “let them rest.” And yes, they should. But we also know what happens when 2 months pass with no plan:
TikTok finishes their data. Their attitude changes. Books gather dust. Then September comes and we’re shouting, “Why have you forgotten everything?”
Truth is: Holiday is not a break from parenting. It’s a different kind of parenting.
So What Should Parents Do This July?
1. Rest WITH them, not FROM them
You’ve been running too. Sleep. Watch movies. Cook jollof at 2pm and no one is complaining.
But also find 15 minutes to ask: “How was your term? What stressed you? What made you proud?” Those small chats in July will save you 3 months of fights in September.
2. Give structure, not prison
Don’t turn the house into “extra lesson center” from day 1. By August they’ll hate you.
Try this instead:
Morning: 1 hour reading, chores, or learning a skill
Afternoon: Play, visit grandma, learn to fry plantain
Evening: Family time. No phones. Kids do better when they know what’s coming. Chaos breeds wahala.
3. Teach life, not just subjects
July is for the lessons school doesn’t have time for:
How to budget ₦2,000 for the week
How to wash and iron their own clothes
How to greet elders, run a small business, or fix something
Faith, values, and “this is how we do things in our house”
This is the education that will carry them when certificates can’t.
4. Watch the screen time
I know. “Mummy I’m bored.” And YouTube is the easiest babysitter.
But 8 hours of skits daily will bring back a different child in September.
Set limits. Swap 1 hour of phone for 1 hour of skill: beads, coding, baking, football, church choir.
To The Tired Parent Reading This
You carried them through exams and PTA meetings.
You did well.
July is your reward. But it’s also your responsibility.
Don’t feel guilty for resting.
Don’t feel guilty for setting rules.
Your child won’t remember every textbook.
But they’ll remember if July felt like love, laughter, and growth in your house.
The Big Question
In September, what kind of child do you want to send back to school?
The one who wasted 2 months?
Or the one who rested, learned a skill, and grew closer to you?
The choice starts today. So, Mama, Papa, what’s the plan for your kids this holiday?
Extra lessons? Skills? Village? Just rest?
Drop it in the comments. Let’s help each other.
One parent’s idea might save another parent’s July 🙏
Sylvia Tochukwu-Ngige Founder | https://.www.sylviangige.com | Where women’s power meets real life