Dubai: It’s that time of the year when teachers bid farewell to their students, hoping that children don’t forget everything that they have learned during the past school year. It’s also that time of the year when parents take on the challenge of keeping their children active during the holidays. Ironically, a lot of parents resort to technology to keep their children out of trouble; however are unknowingly feeding to an unhealthy addiction that can lead to behavioural problems. Keeping kids engaged both physically and mentally during the summer holidays can improve their performance ahead of the next academic year. Here are some useful tips:
Structure the day or week with activities - Create a schedule each day or week so your child knows what to expect. This works particularly well with children who have a lot of energy. You can reduce distractions, impulses, boredom and ultimately depression and accidents.
Encourage children to track their activity - For the kids that spend countless hours in front of a computer or TV screen, activity trackers might be the motivator they need to get moving.
Keep children active and take advantage of summer camps – Enrolling your child in a camp based on their preference and skills is an option that can be rewarding. Summer camps can help them build self-confidence by removing the kind of academic, athletic and social competition that shapes their lives at school. Summer camps also provide a stable routine.
Exercise their minds and get involved – Introducing children to creative activities that they might not necessarily have the time to do during the school year can be equally rewarding. You could engage them in kitchen/cooking fun, set up games that you can play together such as monopoly or scrabble or organise family activity days. Deciding how much money to spend, or what resources to use and helping your child research events and activities that are of interest can provide a sense of responsibility and can keep a child both engaged and entertained. Some activities including karaoke nights, fishing trips, arts and craft workshops or a trip to the museum
Set a bedtime. This will help keep your child on a consistent schedule and ensure rest. Lack of sleep can have a negative effect on a child’s learning.
The author is head of children’s services at the American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology
