The long hot UAE summer is on its way, and for parents now is a good time to consider subject enhancement courses and sport activities for their soon-to-be-restless offspring.
There are plenty of reasons to sign-up for a course or camp, and it’s about much more than just topping up knowledge or doing a bit of exercise say the experts.
“Summer courses and activity programmes not only help students of all ages explore their own interests and talents but also help them connect with other likeminded children,” said Dr Heena Rachh, Principal at GIIS (Global Indian International School) in Abu Dhabi.
She added: “It can add to their physical wellbeing and also inculcate sportsmanship and discipline. On the other hand, a class in arts will expand their minds to be more creative. All in all, it adds a unique facet to their personality that can't quite be taught or learnt but only explored through activities outside the class. A summer program is the best way to help your children grow in ways that is uniquely their own and inspire a sense of accomplishment.”
There are a lot of interesting course options in the UAE right now, and the big companies have been quick to realise that encouraging talent is better done early on. A good example is the Nikon School in Downtown Jebel Ali. It offers a series of free courses that aims to enhance the creative and technical skills of budding photographers and educate them on different ways to use their cameras.
Narendra Menon, Managing Director at Nikon Middle East said times are changing and schools and colleges are recognising the importance of nurturing creativity over rote learning.
“We are seeing a definite surge of soft skills that accompany classroom learning,” he said. “In fact, art is seen as a sure path towards building minds that are able to look at the different facets of an issue. Photography as a skill and as an art has become extremely popular among students who choose the visual medium to express themselves. Enrolling in activity classes like photography, during summer further helps a student to nurture and discover their talents.”
For the more academically minded there is a raft of courses on offer, especially among the top universities. Harvard Summer School in Dubai has 300 open-enrolment courses in over 60 subjects, covering everything from advanced maths to anthropology.
And for those who finally want to learn Arabic, Eton Institute runs Summer Super Intensives courses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Zabeen Ahmed, founder of Dubai consultancy Sevia advises schools on best practice and education initiatives. She says enhancement courses and camps can give older students a boost that will be to their advantage in the future.
“During the summer months we see a lot of students buckling down as they realise the demands of higher education and know that the extra help will see them through,” she said. “They are studying in advance for everything from GCSE exams to A Levels, AP exams and college entrance exams. If they can avoid burn-out, this extra preparation will stand them in good stead for what is becoming an increasingly competitive higher education and careers market.”
For parents looking for less academic pursuits for younger children, there are some great summer camps too, such as Al Nasr Leisureland in Sharjah for kids aged seven to thirteen. It includes swimming, skating, arts and crafts, cooking and outdoor trips.
Meanwhile, Kidsdxb runs eight-week summer holiday camps for school children with a focus on sport, learning and development. A combination of locations, a varied and broad curriculum, and professional coaches means this is a popular choice for the summer break.
So, this summer, hide the remote control and book something more interesting instead.
