Some parents in Ibadan have taken advantage of the long school holiday to expose their children to educational and recreational experiences outside the classroom.

The parents spoke during a visit to the University of Ibadan Zoological Garden on Monday.

The parents said that such outings would help their children learn, relax and create lasting memories.

A businesswoman, Fatima Rashid, said she brought her children to the zoo to give them experiences they could draw on when writing about their holiday activities.

Ms Rashid said, “Unlike visits to malls and restaurants, the zoo offered the children an opportunity to observe animals and experience nature in a different environment.

“The children also had the opportunity to play and enjoy the natural surroundings, away from the noise associated with some urban entertainment centres,” she said.

Similarly, construction worker Prosper Ufoma said he planned his annual vacation to coincide with the school holiday to bond with his children through activities such as visits to the zoo.

Mr Ufoma said that the visit would expose the children to new experiences, which they could later discuss and write about when asked how they spent their holiday.

“Taking children to different places helped them observe their surroundings rather than relying solely on stories told by their parents,” he said.

Also a public servant, Rukayat Alimi said the visit to the zoo was to let her children see different animals in real life instead of only watching them on television.

Ms Alimi said the family planned to visit other places in Ibadan after the zoo, adding that the outings would provide fun and create lasting memories for the children.

She said, “Recording the experiences through devices would also enable the children to look back on them in the future.”

A businessman, Mayowa Oluyinka, said his visit aimed to help the children have fun, sightsee, and share meals with him.

Mr Oluyinka described the experience as one the children would cherish, saying, “Exposure to nature could help relax the body, soul and spirit.”

An alumna of UI and business owner, Tamurat Afere, said she had taken her children on a tour of the institution to see where she had her tertiary education as well as to the zoo to see the animals.

Ms Afere said seeing animals in person would complement what the children had learnt in school and make their lessons more practical.

“Some animals taught in school had not been seen by the children in real life, making the visit an opportunity to deepen their understanding through direct experience,” she said.

Summer school activities in most schools ended on August 28, leaving parents to find alternative ways to engage their children and make the long holiday memorable.

(NAN)