When summer comes calling

Jasmin Pannu

The summer vacations are here again. Now, ours being a commercial world, there comes a barrage of typical offers for activities and events to engage kids in. While all of these can surely keep them busy, they might not actually enhance your child’s creativity and mental horizon. So, it might be time for you to think out of the box and utilise the precious 45-day break. Turn the break around and indulge your li’l ones in nature, art, fitness and new friends too. Read on for some tips:

A wall of their own

Nobel-winning writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez famously shared how his grandfather allowed him to write on the walls of the house to let him vent his feelings. This vacation, why not let your kids break free and do what they want to on a small piece of wall. In case you can’t spare a wall, you could simply cover it with chart paper. Tell the kids, it’s their wall for the month. Let them scribble, write, paint! Let slightly older kids go even more creative by giving them a theme, according to which they can write or paint.

Neighbourhood storytelling session

This one takes care of two issues parents might face: Firstly, a child’s reading and, secondly, social skills. Creative and picturesque storytelling sessions can do wonders to your child’s penchant for reading. You can motivate your neighbours and friends to get the kids together at a common place. Depending on the age group of the children, you can choose a story or even a play. Make sure that the reading is conducted with expressions, histrionics and effects. You can have an interactive quiz based on the same later and give away little prizes! Storytelling to a young group also means that the kids are there for each other, and new friendships might be forged too!

The nukkad art

While this one might be ideal for older kids, the younger ones can also try their hand with some help from their elders. Choose a theme pertaining to a current social issue such as child beggars, corruption or lack of civic sense and help them prepare a small act or a street play. You can then organise a special performance for your neighborhood and have the kids give out special invites to all residents around. 

Time to get fit

This is the time to dust away the grime on those bicycles and skipping ropes. The family could get up a little early and go out with to do a physical activity every day. And try doing activities together s that leads to bonding between the parent and the child.

Have a heart for the wretched

Give your kids a chance to bond with other kids of their age, who are just like them, but not as privileged. Let them take a few board games or just a ball along and play with the children in the slums or around construction areas where migrant labourers live. The time they spend with these kids would be much more enjoyable than time spent with the gadgets. Also, they learn the most important lesson — of equality — in life.

No time, no problem

• While the stay-at-home moms can usually manage their routines to spend time with the children, it is an arduous task for working parents. While there is always the option of simply bundling them away to camps, here are a few things you can do:
• Ditch the mall and take your kids around town to see museums, old buildings, or just nature. A holiday well spent will make up for a week at the crèche.
• Send your kids to stay with their grandparents for a few days. This is the time when the two can bond with each other.
• Enroll the other working moms in your apartment or societies and arrange to host recreational events for children on a rotational basis.
• Make them join NGOs that take full charge of kids and involve them in serious volunteer work.