As Friday marked the last day of most schools in Pune, students heaved a sigh of relief as they look forward to a minimum of 40 days of unlimited fun and no-study pressure period.
As Friday marked the last day of most schools in the city, students heaved a sigh of relief as they look forward to a minimum of 40 days of unlimited fun and no-study pressure period.
For parents though summer vacations are a big challenge as keeping children engaged in fruitful activities can be unnerving at times. Some have enrolled their wards in summer camps.
Another reason for parents to attend the DNA’s special workshop today.
Rita Pardeshi, a Bhusari Colony resident who has admitted her five-year-old daughter to a summer camp said. “The one-month camp for three hours daily will teach her calligraphy, storytelling and writing skills, besides playing various indoor and outdoor games. It’ll keep her busy.”
Lecturer Shubhangi Kavishwar’s elder son would be attending tuition classes as he has entered standard IX, while her younger son (standard II) would be enrolling for chess classes.
Psychiatrists say that the selection of activities is equally important.
“The child’s interest and consent in selecting a summer camp must be considered. Kids must do some physical activity also and hence just enrolling in painting classes and letting children watch TV for the rest of the day isn’t a good idea,” psychiatrist Dr Vidya Joshi said.
Another activity that counsellors warn against are playing videogames for long hours or applications on cellphone, especially if it contains violence as it triggers behavioural changes in little ones.
Prasad Tamankar, who owns a cyber cafe in Sadashiv Peth for 4 years, said that he had to stop allowing children playing videogames as they damaged keyboard, mouse whilst playing games.
“They start banging keypads, throw mouse pads and even push and abuse each other when they lose or win,” he said.
Development psychologist Yajyoti Singh said, “A sedentary habit of watching television, videogames, long hours spent in Internet surfing is a definite no-no during vacations. When children engage in a physical activity, the rush in adrenaline releases a feel-good hormone. But if they remain couch potatoes, there is no way to release energy and they get irritable. Eating too much junk food can lead to imbalance in sugar levels and hyperactivity in children.”
Advising parents to have a ‘talking down’ session at the beginning of holidays to set rules straight with kids, Singh said, “Ration everything, don’t over pamper children. Right from junk food to how many movies one can watch, Internet games and sports, everything should be discussed. Utilise this time to make kids responsible. Let them earn pocket money by helping in daily activities or cleaning their cupboards. Let them have fun too but use this time positively.”
No kidding
Shubham Shirke’s brutal killing by his school-going friends brought to the fore an ugly face of excessive and possibly unnecessary exposure of crime to young minds. Parents are often clueless on how to tackle the impressionable minds and channelise their nervous energies in a better manner. DNA, along with Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, will organise a special workshop, ‘No kidding’, where experts will talk to you on how to understand your children better. The workshop will be held at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, 6 pm to 8 pm on Saturday, April 14.
For free registration, SMS DNAVOP 57578 your name or write to us at puneinbox@dnaindia.net. Hurry, seats limited.
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