School Holidays: Leaving Nobody Behind

As schools close for the long end-of-year break, many Kenyan families are preparing for weeks of a different rhythm at home. For some children, it is a welcome pause from early mornings, homework and busy school days. For others, especially children with disabilities or additional support needs, the sudden change in routine can feel unsettling.

This holiday season is an opportunity to slow down, reconnect and enjoy the small things. It is also a reminder that inclusion does not end at the school gate. Every child deserves to feel safe, understood and part of family life, and every caregiver deserves practical support.

When routine changes, children feel it

Children often rely on predictable routines to feel secure. A long holiday can bring later mornings, unfamiliar visitors, travel, louder homes, different meals and less structured time. For a child with autism, ADHD, sensory sensitivities, a physical disability, a communication difference or an intellectual disability, these changes may be more difficult to process.

Some children may struggle to explain what they are feeling. Instead, they may become withdrawn, restless, anxious or upset. This is not “bad behaviour”. Often, it is communication.

A simple visual timetable, familiar bedtime routine, quiet space at home, advance notice before outings and realistic expectations can make a significant difference. Small adjustments — such as preparing a child before visitors arrive or allowing extra time to get dressed and leave the house — can reduce stress for the whole family.

Disabled children belong in the holiday too

In Kenya, many families raising children with disabilities continue to navigate stigma, limited access to services, transport challenges, high care costs and a shortage of specialised support. Yet inclusion is not only about classrooms, therapy sessions or school placements. It is also about everyday moments: playing with cousins, attending a family gathering, going to church or the market, joining a neighbourhood game, or simply being asked what they would like to do.

Children with disabilities should not spend the holidays hidden away, left out of family plans, or treated as a burden. They need chances to play, make choices, build friendships, learn life skills and enjoy childhood like every other child.

That may mean choosing accessible venues, bringing familiar snacks or communication tools, planning rest breaks, or asking relatives to be patient and welcoming. It may also mean challenging unhelpful comments gently: every child is not “just being difficult”, and every family is not simply “managing”.

Who cares for the caregivers?

Behind many children enjoying the holidays is a parent, guardian, sibling, relative or caregiver carrying a great deal. In many Kenyan households, caregiving often falls heavily on mothers, grandmothers, aunties or older siblings — sometimes while they also work, run a business, manage a household or care for other children.

Caregivers need rest, encouragement and realistic help. Support can look like:

• Sharing caregiving tasks among family members rather than leaving one person to manage everything.
• Giving a caregiver time away to rest, attend an appointment, work or simply breathe.
• Checking in regularly, without judgement or unsolicited advice.
• Offering practical help: preparing a meal, accompanying a family on an outing, watching the children for an hour, or helping with transport.
• Listening when a caregiver says they are tired, overwhelmed or unsure.

A caregiver who is supported is better able to offer patience, consistency and joy at home.

Make room for siblings too

Siblings of children with disabilities can experience a complicated mix of love, pride, responsibility, jealousy, worry and loneliness. During the holidays, they may be expected to help more, share their parents’ attention or adjust their plans around a brother or sister’s needs.

They are children first. They need time to play, see friends, make mistakes and be listened to. Ask them how they are feeling. Explain their sibling’s needs in an age-appropriate way. Give them one-to-one time with a parent or trusted adult. Encourage them to include their sibling in play where possible, but do not turn them into unpaid caregivers.

When siblings feel seen, they are more likely to grow up with empathy, confidence and a strong sense of family belonging.

Practical ideas for a more inclusive holiday

Families do not need perfect plans or expensive activities. They need flexible, realistic ideas that work for their home, budget and community.

• Keep some familiar routines, especially around sleep, meals, medication and personal care.
• Use a simple daily plan with pictures, words or a checklist, depending on the child’s needs.
• Plan one manageable activity at a time rather than filling every day.
• Prepare children before changes: visitors, travel, loud events or new places.
• Create a calm corner with favourite toys, headphones, books, cushions or sensory items.
• Involve the child in choices, such as what to wear, eat, watch or play.
• Choose outings with accessibility in mind, including transport, toilets, entrances and quiet spaces.
• Let relatives know ahead of time how best to communicate and interact with the child.
• Celebrate progress, however small: trying a new food, joining a game, using a new word, tolerating a busy environment or asking for help.

Inclusion is a family and community effort

Kenya’s commitment to inclusive education recognises that children with disabilities need reasonable accommodation, early identification, assessment and appropriate support not exclusion or pity. But inclusive communities are built beyond policy documents. They are built in homes, churches, mosques, estates, matatus, playgrounds, shops and family WhatsApp groups.

This holiday, we can all play a part. Invite the child who is often left out. Speak kindly about disability. Offer help without taking over. Give caregivers grace. Let siblings be children. And listen to disabled children themselves, because they know their own needs, preferences and dreams better than anyone else.

At Wezesha Africa, we believe every child has potential, every caregiver deserves support, and no family should have to navigate this journey alone.

This school holiday, let us make room for everyone.

We would love to hear from you: what has helped your family during school holidays? What support do caregivers and siblings in your community need most? Share your ideas in the comments.

🌿 Leaving Nobody Behind. Otherwise, why are we here?