Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | NXg | Friday Review | Cinema Plus | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

FUN LEARN Stir the creativity of kids at summer camps

Is acquiring new skills and competence being given priority over family life? Is the accent here thus more on gaining excellence and proficiency than nurturing family ties?

Aprajita, a 12- year- old says, “I love to spend holidays at home with my parents and brother instead of attending summer camps. My parents too feel that holidays should be enjoyed at home for the rest of the year we are away at school. So I have never attended any summer camps.”

However, 10-year-old Elena looks forward to summer camps. She says excitedly, “last year I learnt swimming at a summer camp and this year I will be joining a badminton coaching camp. For it is only during the long summer vacation we can learn new things as rest of the year we will have to study. I was very shy at first but now after attending the camps I am not so shy as before. My brother who is in the kindergarten shall be joining a camp where he will be learning the basics of painting, acting etc.”

Viewpoints of kids on summer camps may differ. But for most kids a good summer camp is a place to learn, have fun, meet kids from other schools and grow. Shenaz Merchant, a summer camp conductor says, “it is a competitive world and these camps can give children an added edge. My course is for around three weeks and the timings are from 11.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. So children are not robbed of the time spent with the family.”

Summer camps thus allow children who are withdrawn to overcome their shyness and help them interact freely with others. Catch them young seems to be the goal. These courses are also not just limited to games, public speaking, theatre workshops etc but they also groom kids on etiquette, hosting dinners etc. Lincy Thomas, a young mother of two who has been sending her children for summer camps feels, “summer camps do not rob the children of family life as they are only for a few hours and do not extend the whole day. Besides for most kids who are glued to the T.V. during the holidays these courses offer something constructive and equip the child with more abilities and aptitude. The creativity of a child can thus be stirred.”

Rahul, a father opines, “in today’s fast world when both parents are working these courses prevents children from being unattended and alone at home. And why not? For there are many good camps that teach new skills. Public speaking classes can help children to overcome shyness, stage fright etc.”

But ultimately the choice to send your children to summer camps is solely the parents. Those who feel family life can be affected are entitled to their own opinion. But one can’t deny that among the summer camps mushrooming at Kochi a lot of them certainly give children the needed kick-start to realise their true potential.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail