General News
Five Ways to Get Your Children Off Screens and Outside
Children are increasingly spending an excessive amount of time on screens which could have a detrimental effect on their overall wellbeing. This became more apparent during the pandemic where children (and adults) – confined to their homes because of lockdowns and restrictions – added more screen time to their days.
For many parents, screen time for children offers a break, some relief and a distraction as adults try to juggle work, life and other responsibilities. With the ongoing school holidays, children of all ages have more time on their hands to be attached to phones, tablets, computers and televisions. However, you can decrease the amount of time your child spends staring at screens and, instead, get them out and about.
Here are fun and creative ways to get your children outside over these holidays.
Plan nature walks and hikes
Depending on how old your child is and what their fitness level is, you can plan for mild to moderate walks and hikes. If you are in an area that is close to a park, like The Dreamworld Africana, you can head out as a family for regular walks. Alternatively, a walk around your neighbourhood will do wonders for all of you and give your child some fresh air and a break from screens.
Go on a family trip
If you have the means, plan a holiday out of town for the family. There’s no better way to keep kids off their devices than to physically take them to an area that encourages disconnecting. Kainji Lake and Yankari National Parks are excellent choices for families, as kids and adults alike will be captivated by the animals, the smell of the outdoors and the wide open spaces. Game drives, nature walks, and bird watching are just a few of the activities available there.
Relieve your house manager
Consider giving your live-in house manager some time off to see her family, rest and recharge. Assign some light tasks around the home to keep the kids occupied while she’s away. Have the older ones help with meal preparation or cleaning the outdoors while the younger ones can tidy up the living room area.
Also, keep in mind that it’s the school holidays, and you don’t want to put yourself or your children under too much pressure with house chores. Engage a vetted and trustworthy cleaner from SweepSouth to come in once or twice a week to help you thoroughly clean the house. One of the advantages of hiring a domestic worker from SweepSouth is that they conduct criminal and reference checks on all the domestic workers on the platform, giving the customers the much-needed peace of mind while their cleaning is being done.
Involve them in different activities
Despite their ages, look around for activities within and outside the home to engage them in. Teenagers can take up volunteer opportunities in children’s homes, or you can also take them upcountry to help their grandparents or other elderly relatives. This fosters responsibility in them.
For younger children, plan activities around the home that they can engage in with ease. If you have an outdoor area, whether it’s a backyard or a balcony, consider getting potted plants or a pet that they can tend to. This not only gets children outside, but also gets them excited about doing their part for nature. Activities like baking, reading, or arts and crafts are great indoor ideas.
Alen Ribic, Co-founder of SweepSouth and dad of three, notes that even if your outdoor space is small, you can make it a fun and enjoyable space for the whole family if you have the right type of help.
Set up outdoor play dates with other parents
The great thing about school holidays and being a parent is knowing that there are hundreds and thousands of other parents going through the same thing as you. Most parents out there are wondering what on earth to do with their children over the holidays. So, why not set up outdoor play dates and activities together? Each day could be a different parent’s responsibility to come up with something fun. And it doesn’t have to be the whole day, either. It could be an afternoon visit to Freedom Park, a picnic at Lekki Conservation Centre, an evening walk with other parents and children, or even a creative play day where children get to engage in their hobbies.
School holidays can be fun for both parent and child – you just have to plan ahead of time. This not only ensures that you have enough activities to keep your child busy and off their screens for a while, but it also gives you time to adequately prepare for all the games and activities.
Federal government has temporarily suspended the controversial annual dues imposed on public interest enterprises by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) after fierce opposition from businesses.
Jumoke Oduwole, minister, Industry, Trade, and Investment, announced the decision during a Ministerial Consultative Meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
The move follows mounting pressure from private sector groups, including the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), who slammed the Financial Reporting Council (Amendment) Act 2023 for burdening companies with excessive fees.
The Act mandates cumulative annual charges for non-listed entities and imposes a harsh 10% monthly penalty on unpaid dues, compounding until full payment, a provision that sparked widespread backlash.
At the meeting, major industry players like NECA, MAN, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce (NACCIMA), oil producers, and telecom operators warned that the fees would cripple businesses already struggling in a tough economy.
Oduwole clarified the suspension, stating, “The government has decided to direct the Financial Reporting Council to pause in the implementation of the new annual dues. You know that I am a lawyer, and a suspension request by the organised private sector would be in contravention of legislation duly passed by the National Assembly. A pause is an administrative process simply to review, in line with what we discussed today.”
She assured stakeholders that the halt would last no longer than 60 days, with a technical working group—including FRC officials and private sector representatives—set up to reassess the policy.
“We are a listening administration. The private sector has requested a range from three months to an indefinite suspension. We are not going to do that. So, at the most, 60 days is in my estimate. We are going to set up a technical working group comprised of the FRC and the organised private sector who have formally written in, and this will be reviewed,” Oduwole emphasized.
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says it is intensifying efforts to standardise locally manufactured products, including Made-in-Aba brands, in order to enhance both local and international acceptance.
Aharanwa Chuks, Director of Region (South East), SON, communicated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
Chuks said through the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP), SON ensured that all Nigerian-made products conformed to the relevant Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS).
According to him, MANCAP involves direct engagement with manufacturers to certify that their products meet established quality benchmarks.
“This process includes inspecting production facilities, sampling products and testing them against NIS requirements.
“Successful compliance results in the issuance of the MANCAP certification, signifying adherence to quality standards.
“In Aba, SON has been proactive in educating manufacturers about standardization.’’
The director said SON also conducted stakeholder interactions; gathering manufacturers from various sectors to provide guidance on producing goods that met both local and international standards.
“For instance, leather manufacturers in Aba have been sensitized on standardization practices to enhance the global competitiveness of their products.
“Manufacturers are encouraged to collaborate with SON to obtain MANCAP certification, ensuring their products are not only marketable within Nigeria but also competitive internationally.
“This initiative aims to boost consumer confidence and promote the acceptance of Made-in-Aba products globally,” Chuks said.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has busted a Ponzi Scheme Academy and arrested 133 suspects in Abuja.
They were arrested at the Compensation Layout in Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, following actionable intelligence on the existence of the Academy.
The Academy, named Q University (a.k.a Q-Net) is in the business of recruiting gullible young Nigerians who are trained to recruit more gullible citizens into the scheme with the promise of getting unrealistic profit returns.
The suspects are enrolled into a training codenamed: “Special Training for New Generation Billionaire” and brainwashed to believe that they would graduate into the league of billionaires.
They got into the training by obtaining a form the promoters called “Independent Representative Application Form” with promotional slogans such as: “I’m a Champion” “I’m Unstoppable”, “I’m Infinity”, among others.
The EFCC carried out the operation in collaboration with officers and men of 176 Guards Battalion, Nigerian Army.
Items recovered from the suspects include phones, computers and other electronic gadgets.
They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
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