Yep. Exams are over for the children (which means the school
year is almost done!). Most parents are happy because they no longer have to
pack lunch for their children, early morning school routine, or study in the
evenings, but those feelings will not last long because parents must arrange
their children's summer vacations.
Every summer, we (parents) start to question if our children
should continue to keep their minds and body active or should be allowed to enjoy
themselves?
The answer to this hypothetical question is both...!
This article provides an overview of summer vacation for
children as well as suggestions for activities to keep them involved during
their vacation.
You can also read: Children's Reading Habit: How To Build A Reading Habit In Children
Physical Activities For Children: Is It Important For Children To Engage A Physical Activity
Why Do Children Need A Summer Vacation?
Summer vacation is a special long break during which children
can relax and enjoy their free time after a year of intense school work. It
creates many memorable special moments in the lives of everyone, especially
children.
The summer holiday is special for children because they have
the freedom to do whatever they want. Every child is different, and they all
enjoy their vacation in their own way. Some children enjoy going on picnics or visiting
other places with their families, while others choose to improve or learn new
skills in their areas of interest, while still others prefer to spend their
free time at home with their family and friends.
The main goal of summer vacation is to provide a break from
the routine of school life and intense school work. Like I said earlier, each
child is different, and everyone has their own plans for celebrating the
vacation. It is the best time for all new trials (that is, plans to improve
their personal skills, plans to learn a new language, plans to visit new places,
plans to learn any sport).
On the whole, summer vacation is an important time for
children's development as well as for them to enjoy themselves and make the
most of their time memorable.
Why Is It Important To Keep Children Engaged During Their Summer Vacation?
Children can learn new skills, languages, sports, and a
variety of other extracurricular activities during their summer vacation. In
fact, children learn best when they are relaxed and stress-free. In their school
years, they never relaxed because they were always concerned about their
academic performance.
When it comes to planning our children's summer holidays, we must
keep their interests in mind. If we plan their summer vacation around their
interests, he or she will be more motivated and interested in following the
plan.
When a child is engaged in natural learning processes (i.e.,
no one forces or pushes them), it provides a positive feeling that encourages them
to learn readily. It also protects their mental, physical, and emotional development.
How To Keep Children Involved During Summer Vacation
Summer vacation is to encourage children to get involved in
their favorite pastimes. It is time for children to explore themselves and
develop their creativity. The following are some summer vacation pastimes for
children: Parents, remember one thing: if your children do not enjoy any of the
suggested pastimes, do not force them to participate. Instead, respect their
interests and engage in those pastimes.
(i) Reading
If your child is more interested in reading books, make sure you
buy them their favorite books or take them to the library, where they will find
a variety of books to improve their interest in reading and learn new things. Encourage
and appreciate them anytime they put in their best efforts to learn new things.
(ii) Yoga and Meditation
Children, especially during their school years, live in a
stressful environment. They should work hard in school to score good marks in
exams; therefore, they need to pay more attention. However, these repetitive routines
might cause stress in children. So, during vacation, they will have so much
free time. Encouraging them to get involved in yoga and meditation classes will
be helpful to them in the long run.
(iii) Enroll in a Skill-building Program
A lot of free time and patience is required to learn a new
skill. During summer vacation, children have a lot of free time. So, parents
should take advantage of this time to teach their children a new skill. You can
introduce children to various sports, musical instruments, cooking, baking,
swimming, and even life skills.
(iv) Art and Painting
Actually, art and painting skills can help your child express
his or her creativity. Children love to get their hands dirty, especially with
paint and colors. So, parents are happy to allow their children to get their
hands dirty by experimenting with painting, drawing, and art and craft projects.
(v) Plan some fun activities
Parents should prepare some fun activities for their children
and encourage them to invite their friends and family to join them for the day.
Over the school years, your children spend the majority of their time with
their friends, so they may miss them during vacation. So, to make your child
happy, set up a time for them to play with their friends. You will be able to
get some work done and even interact with other parents through these.
(vi) Assign them responsibilities around the house
Assigning children some duties around the house is the best
way to get them involved in household activities. For the period of summer
vacation, assign children little tasks such as dusting, watering plants, or
dishwashing (small vessels).
(vii) Plan some outdoor playtime in the evening
It is important for children to spend part of their free time
outdoors in the evening rather than in the morning. They can go for a walk or
play a game with their friends. Make sure children spend 2 to 3 hours outdoors when
the weather is pleasant; this will help them avoid boredom while also keeping
them physically active.
Final Thought
Summer vacation is not only a stress-relieving break for
children, but it is also a stress-relieving break for parents. Parent-child might
become even closer and create a strong parent-child bond during vacation. You
(parents) should pay attention to and understand your children's interests, and
help them by enrolling in classes that they enjoy. I am sure that at the end of
the vacation, you will see a major improvement in your children.