The countdown has begun and it’s time to kick off into planning mode. Summer holidays are a difficult time for parents; keeping children amused for six weeks or more can prove difficult and can turn exhausting.
That is where summer camps come into the picture. A boon for parents, with classes ranging from music and dance to roller skating and aero modelling to catering to the varied interests of children, in an age of virtual friends and video games, children’s summer camps are working their magic.
And although sometimes parents just want their wards out of their hair but have a good time, there is also a sense of having something else on the resume, whether that's learning a new language or learning animation.
While vacation classes in various disciplines are in plenty, Jawahar Bal Bhavan, perhaps one of the oldest institute to hold vacation courses still finds itself with a steady and heavy footfall.
The government-run establishment has been conducting summer classes since 1969. However, the variety of courses offered then were limited and mostly related to the arts and culture. Now, there are 26 subjects for the students to choose from. The latest are personality development, spoken English, roller skating and yoga. The institute is perhaps the only one in the city that conducts summer classes in aero modelling.
Says Malani S., principal, Jawahar Bal Bhavan: “Parents these days are tired of their children whiling their time away in front of the television or the Internet. They want their wards’ summer days to be activity-packed and meaningful. More and more children are participating in our summer camps as parents these days want their children not only to learn socialising but also to utilise their time learning new things.”
While classes for spoken English, roller skating, personality development and yoga are usually jam packed, another popular programme is Malayalam Language Awareness. This awareness class introduces the language in a fun way through tales, poems and interesting titbits about the language and its history. Classes in drawing, painting, dance and Western music have a lot of takers too. “Our music classes are a favourite amongst parents, especially those for keyboard and guitar. Although we have a large collection of instruments, we have to restrict the number of applicants as demand fails to meet supply.”
Open to students between the ages of four and 16, students from various walks of life attend this two-month camp. The camp is divided into two sessions – morning (10 to 12.30 p.m.) and afternoon (2.30 p.m. to 5 p.m.). The sessions are then further divided into various levels. While level one is for beginners (those new to the school), level two is for the intermediates and level three for the seniors. Students can elect five subjects of their choice, which will be handled by well-trained instructors. Those who opt to stay back for the afternoon can opt for five more. “Those who attend both sessions are usually children from nuclear families with both parents employed. As safety is an issue in this day and age, working parents prefer sending their children to us as we ensure their child is safe. We have a group of helpers who keep an eye on and attend to the needs of the children.”
Every year, nearly 2,000 students enrol for the camp. Malini says there are a large number of children who are regulars at the camp. The institute also has a pick up and drop facility that covers most parts of the city and its outskirts. A highlight of the camp, says Malini, is that students can perform and exhibit what they have learnt at the camp at a valedictory ceremony in May.
According to Malini, a reason why summer classes are a trend is that the various disciplines introduced at the camp present an opportunity for the children to chill out, identify and learn new hobbies and to prepare themselves for the strenuous school year ahead. “The beauty of a summer camp is that children learn to take interest in meeting people from different backgrounds. Also, when they work together, they learn about team spirit, all of which helps them later in life.”
A time to learn…
Sajini Varghese, centre director, Mindscape, a student counselling and career guidance centre, says summer classes are beneficial to children. “When I was growing up, summer was carefree. I was free to do what I wanted. And while the first few weeks of roaming the fields and playing with friends and cousins were fun, I soon used to get bored. As I grew older I realised I could have learned something new like a language, for instance, over the summer. Vacation camps, according to Sajini, is a good way for children to discover and hone their aptitude and to develop their creative mind. “With summer camps offering so many activities to choose from, summer holdiays are anything, but boring. It’s a great time of the year to acquire a new skill or pursue a hobby. Try not to force your children into a course you like, it should be something they enjoy.”
