Array of activities to keep the summer blues away

Wondering what to do with yourself and the children this summer?

Dubai offers a range of activities from learning a new language to dancing.

Parents who want their children to learn something new, stay sharp and healthy are spoilt for choice when it comes to leisure or crash courses - whether it's language lessons, music, yoga, dancing, computers and sports.

It's the time of the year when institutions promote them vigorously with discounts offered to make the packages more attractive. Some lessons, especially yoga, come for free.

One of the most popular, however, is learning foreign languages, with English and French being the most in demand.

Samia, a Palestinian mother of two, said her 'investment' in her two children who went to a string of English-language courses over summer was all worth it.

"My two kids took four or five summer courses to brush up their English language. It's worth every buck I spent on them," she said.

She was talking about the British Council's Young Learners' English courses. The British Council has arranged intensive classes each morning from Saturday to Wednesday (with a total course time of 36 hours), from June to August.

Children from the age of three up to 16 can go to any of the British Council centres in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. All courses are taught by professional teachers who are native English speakers with UK qualifications.

Douglas Henderson, the British Council's Assistant Teaching Cen-tre Manager, said teaching is complemented by independent guided learning outside the classroom.

Some parents complain, though, that the Dh1,550 fee for the English language courses (for both adults and children) is quite pricey.

Bassma, a Dubai resident, grumbled: "I find the fees to be on the high side. Besides a three-week or even a month-long language course won't do much to really learn a language. I don't like to pay an non-refundable fee, because I am not sure if my kids will stay the whole course."

Alliance Francaise offers adults a one-month beginner's course in the French language. The fee for adults is Dh1,000, excluding the Dh130 for books while youngsters are charged Dh650, plus Dh100 for books. Thrice-a-week classes are held in in Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices of Alliance Francaise, with each lesson lasting for 1-1/2 hours each.

An adult in Sharjah who enrolled in a month-long language course explained: "A crash course may not be worth it if you don't have the chance to practice it after the formal classes are over. So it's a good idea to have a 'language support group'."

Yasser M., a businessman from Ras Al Khaimah, said he attended a language course for only one week out of the one-month schedule.

"It's called an intensive course but I didn't learn anything. I simply dropped out and didn't get my money back," he said.

"I tried enrolling my two boys in one of the summer camps in Sharjah... but I don't think I'm getting my money's worth, so I simply take my kids to malls," said B.A., a mother of two. "I also heard about a five-year-old boy, who drowned in a pool in one of these summer camps."

There are academically-oriented camps too, such as those who conduct 'bridge' classes.

Atlas Educational Institute offers a two-month summer programme designed to prepare students for the course covering the entire syllabus of the next academic year. This crash course prepares students in advance for the next academic year, enabling them to better their performance.

Atlas also has a children's summer camp, called Summer Maze 2002, conducted for children aged four and above. Activities include painting, colouring, sketching, yoga and aerobics and public speaking.

Training is also offered for improving English grammar, etiquette, table manners and personality development.

The National Institute for Infor-mation Technology (NIIT), conferred the 'Best Training Company Award' by Microsoft 2001 in a May 2002 survey by Dataquest, India's leading computer magazine, has organised a Summer Courses 2002, targeting school children from classes 1 to 12.

NIIT has introduced 20 packages in its Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi centres.

NIIT's training programmes include Futurz, Curriculum for Advanced Technologies Studies (CATS), Short Work Programmes in Information Technology (SWIFT), Learning through Exploration, Discovery and Adventure (LEDA). The latter is designed exclusively for school children.

Children can also unwind for some summer fun with Artkid at Al Khaleej Centre in Bur Dubai. Activities cater to kids between the ages of four and 15 from July 1 to August 31.

Activities include singing, aerobics, reading, board games, arts and crafts, communication skills development. There are also two field trips every fortnight. The fees are Dh400 per month or Dh100 per week.

The Children's City, located in Dubai Creekside Park, also holds the Kids World summer camp under Polar Sports and Event Management.

Polar Sports used to conduct the annual summer camp at the World Trade Centre, but has shifted its venue this year to a purpose-built facility at the Children's City.

A pool of helpers supervise children divided into two age groups: three to six, and seven to 15.
A daily timetable with scheduled and optional activities given to the participants helps them to choose exactly what they want to do. The summer camp runs until August 28.

Activities for three and four-year olds, and five and six-year-olds include live entertainment, educational themes, sports and games, playtime, excursions, story-telling, arts and crafts, computers, cinema and music.

For seven to 15-year-olds, activities include football, cricket, ice skating, basketball, ten-pin bowling, swimming, table tennis.

Entertainment includes cinema, playstations, dance, talent competitions, quizzes, computer games, puzzle-fun games, music, art and craft, and live shows.

Its 'edutainment' package inclu-des Children's City themes, educational excursions, planetarium, worksheets and team challenges.

Fees range from Dh280 for three to six-year-olds (for one-week), or Dh6,609 for four weeks.

Children aged seven to 15 can enroll for Dh170 a week or 440 for four weeks. This also includes visits to Modhesh Fun City, Ice City, and for 10-pin bowling, ice skating, swimming and cricket.

Al Nasr Leisureland offers a summer fun package for kids from three to 14 years of age. It has an exclusive area for activities like rides, bowling, ice skating and swimming in the same area.

Last year, about 900 children enrolled for this over a period of two months. Fees for three to five-year-olds is Dh500, inclusive of breakfast and lunch, while six to 14-year-olds are charged Dh290.

Music fans can enroll at the Asia Music Institute in Dubai and Sharjah. One-month lessons for learning one type of musical instrument (organ, guitar, piano, violin) commands a Dh300 fee during the camp. The students also have the option of learning two for Dh400 and three items for Dh500.