Parents attending this year's Sunny FM Couples Retreat at Aqua Safari Resort will not have to worry about keeping their children engaged, as The WHIT School has partnered with Sunny FM to provide a specially designed four-day programme for children.
The programme will combine games, Christian values, creativity, outdoor activities and learning, allowing parents to participate in the retreat while their children enjoy an experience of their own.
Speaking on Sunny 88.7 FM's Inspirational Morning Drive (IMDrive), WHIT School Principal Barbara Spencer and Deputy Principal Esther outlined plans to effectively bring the school's learning experience to Aqua Safari.
"We are not doing supervision. We are doing intentional care," Esther explained, stressing that activities have been deliberately planned around the children throughout the retreat.
About The WHIT School
The WHIT School, whose name stands for Wisdom, Intelligence Training, is a Christian, faith-based school established in 2018. It runs from playgroup through Year 9 and combines academic learning with Christian principles and character development.
According to the school, its approach is built around holistic and lifelong learning, encouraging children to remain curious and recognise that learning does not happen only in the classroom.
That philosophy will shape its activities at Aqua Safari.
"We are bringing the WHIT School to Aqua Safari," Barbara said, describing a playful environment where children will learn, interact, bond and build teams while having fun.
A Themed Four-Day Programme
Each day will have a theme.
The opening day's theme will focus on "I am fearfully and wonderfully made," helping children appreciate their individuality and understand that although they are different, each has been wonderfully created by God.
Friday's programme will focus on friendship.
Children will begin with morning devotion before taking part in circle-time discussions about friendship and some of the challenges young people encounter in their relationships.
There will also be friendship-themed crafts, storytelling, outdoor games and a Mini Olympics featuring relay races.
The activities will include lessons about being a good teammate, prize-giving, supervised pool time, nature walks and an art table.
Keeping Parents in the Loop
Parents will also be kept informed about what their children have been doing.
The WHIT School team said it intends to give parents updates at the end of each day, including highlights from the children's sessions. Where facilitators identify something that may require a parent's attention, they will engage the parent privately.
The arrangement means couples who have struggled to decide whether to attend the retreat because they cannot leave their children behind can make the trip as a family.
Children will have their own structured activities while their parents participate in the main Couples Retreat programme.
"Geniuses Are Created"
For the WHIT School, however, it is about more than keeping children occupied.
"At the WHIT School, we believe that geniuses are created. Everyone is born great, but you need the right environment to enhance and to bring out that creativity, that talent and that genius spirit you have," Esther said.
She encouraged parents not to see bringing their children as a burden.
"The Couples Retreat is not only for the couples. It's also for the kids to have fun, to explore and experience a new environment and just bond with family," she said.
"Just bring them on board."
The WHIT School is located in East Legon, about five minutes from American House, and can be contacted on 0242 338 1111.
The partnership forms part of Sunny FM's effort to make its annual Couples Retreat a complete family experience, while still giving couples the opportunity to step away from everyday routines and intentionally reconnect.