Neha Pushkarna | TNN



Gone are the days when summer vacations meant watching TV all day and attending tuitions in the evening. As most schools in the city close down for the summer vacations, children are realising that the ways to spend the holidays are many. They may have danced and sung through many summers but now they can also befriend planets at the National Science Centre, learn to act at the National School of Drama or pick the skills to calculate fast through Vedic Maths at the KATHA centre.

For children, who want to blend fun with learning during the vacations, there are options galore. There are activity classes, workshops and summer camps in every street and corner these days. Even the schools are not behind in ensuring that their children have a good time outside the classroom in May and June by holding various camps for them. And, the parents are loving it too.

Jatinder Kaur from Paschim Vihar says, ‘‘My daughter will join the theatre workshop in her school while my son will go for skating classes early in the morning. I totally believe in the concept of summer activities as it takes the children away from TV.’’

She added, ‘‘Children also get to do some physical activity, make new friends and most importantly, they develop new skills.’’

Many children take keen interest in joining summer camps for the sheer fun of doing something new and exciting. Twelve-year-old Prakul Sharma learnt to play tabla and paint in the last summer vacations. He will hit the swimming pool this time. ‘‘My mom tells me that summer vacations should be utilised properly. There is so much to do, which is not possible during the school,’’ said Prakul.

Enrolling in theatre, dance, art & craft have been the tried and tested ways of spending the vacations, but NGOs and various learning centres are exploring innovative options. At the National Science Centre (NSC), students can learn to make toys based on the concepts of science, or they can go for clay modelling. Senior students can work the ‘wonders of electronics’. Rakesh Kumar Tripathi, education assistant, NSC, says, ‘‘Our objective is to improve the scientific temperament of the schoolchildren and expose them to various possibilities in science.’’

Shireen Quadri from NGO Katha, which will hold workshops on theatre, shadow puppet-making and Vedic Maths, adds, ‘‘The response of children has been really good. They get to learn so many things and meet so many other students.’’

The exorbitant fees for these activities don’t bother parents either as long as their children are getting better. ‘‘If the camp or the workshop is effective and my child comes back as a better person, then money is no constraint,’’ says Kaur. A few summer camp organisers, in fact, also give discounts to deserving children as their learning is what matters, they say.

COOL LESSONS: There are activity classes, workshops and summer camps in every street and corner these days