As the
final bell was about to ring in mid April and the classrooms were about to
empty out for the season, parents got busy, coming up with ways to keep their
kids occupied during the long summer vacations. After a long year of
sitting at the desk and
listening to teachers, kids of all ages look forward to the summer to burn up some energy in the warm
sunshine. While many families
spend a portion of the holidays travelling, a chunk of the period is mostly
spent at home.
When at
home, children today usually spend their time indoors, torn between the computer
and television. A tried and true option of keeping them occupied is a fun summer camp
experience. Summers camps play a balancing act. They keep things active through
various activities and also help the kids relax and unwind from their taxing
term schedules.
Dr Sweta Gandhi, residing in Caranzalem, says, “I find the concept of summer camps very interesting and
motivating, I enrol my son at the
Don Bosco Oratory for their
summer camp every year. Each
year, he gets to
learn something new; last
year he learned few tricky skills in cricket and this year, for the first time, he is trying his hand at archery. I believe it will
help him improve his concentration, build a healthy competitive spirit and expose him to other kids of
different age groups.”
Another
mother, Sangita Keni from Navelim, says, “I enrol my kids in camps and other activities that
keep them busy and
active, which is a healthier alternative to watching television and playing with electronic gadgets the whole day. My nine-year-old son spends three days a
week attending a football camp organised
by his school and my daughters are attending
dance classes thrice a week. I also plan to enrol them in different language
learning classes. My kids attended the summer camp organised by Junior Herald last
summer. It was worth the time as it kept the kids busy the whole day.”
Sharing
her experience of sending her children to a summer camp, mother-of-two, Shiba
Rodrigues, says, “An overnight summer camp encouraged my child towards healthy living, being outdoors
and amidst nature. It was also about making new
friends. My child learnt
skills that will definitely
prove useful in the
future.”
“I like it when my daughter shows a lot of interest in summer camps as she can
pick activities of her own choice. She learns different activities such as
flower making, photography, cookery, etc. As a parent,
I always encourage her so that she gets motivated,” expresses Daniel D’Souza from Mapusa.
When children attend camps, they are given the opportunity to become more independent; this also helps them build their self-esteem. While curricular learning is
important, building one’s social and creative skills are also essential for
overall development. Learning about nature and the environment is also
paramount in today’s day and age. Having said that, one should also keep in
mind that while planning out your child’s schedule for the summer, ensure that
they aren’t overburdened by these summer activities. Balance them out with some
quality family time and enjoy a wholesome summer vacation.