Your kids need to unwind too

Fifteen-year-old Divya Toshniwal just gave her class X board exams. “I have a long summer vacation this year, to begin with I visited my cousin in the US and it was just wonderful, she says. But now that I am back I don’t have much do, I remember how when I was just 7 or 8  years old how fun-filled my vacations would be,” Divya recalls.

Children need to feel the freedom from academics during their vacations and the best way to do it is by pursuing a hobby.
The Merriam Webster's online dictionary defines hobby as "a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation. So what kids do to get away from school, tuitions, routine studies, attend special tutorials for extra curricular activities to pass their time? Do they have the time for fun or are  they too busy to pursue any hobby at all.

How it helps you child
Pursuing a hobby helps the mind to be creative and develop organisational skills, time management. It also helps in keeping the child busy with something other than television and video games.

According to counselling psychologist, Kirti Kamal Bakshi, the 'electronic addiction' is a parent introduced behaviour. "Often parents allow kids to watch television while having meals, or when they themselves are busy. This in turn becomes a regular activity which cannot be easily waned off," she explains.

A regular urban nuclear family has little or no choice but to resort to gadgets to keep their children occupied while they are doing their own thing.

Child experts are of the view that parents should encourage right hobbies instead of following the herd mentality. "Even during vacations, parents sign their child up for every workshop/camp that is marketed well, without sparing a thought to their child's enjoyment," says Bakshi. She  explains, "The whole point of pursuing a hobby is to enjoy; do something that is out of the main stream, an activity that slows down the process of a burn out after an exhausting session of academics."

Parent talk
Maya Rane, mother of a six-year-old Rohan agrees with Bakshi. "I haven't put my son for any activity this vacation. I just don't see the point in slotting him for another activity during holidays. He is simply relaxing at home, browsing books, playing with his Hot Wheels, solving puzzles and ofcourse spending time with grandparents and cousins."

With almost a month left for schools to reopen, there are parents who want to 'prepare' their children for the next academic year. "My daughter is in Sr KG. The class teacher last year was not very convinced with her English skills so she has asked me to send my daughter to a phonic class," says a harried Smitha Bansal.

Reading, painting, writing, remain favourites but keeping with the virtual world, children are hooked on to Facebook’s Farmville, Treasure Island etc  as much as outdoor activities like rock-climbing, cycling and also some queer ones like running. "It is weird but I often see Rohan as Dash from the movie The Incredibles," says Rane. "He just loves to run. When ever we go to the park, visit the beach or are waiting for the auto outside our housing complex, my son will sprint and come back exhausted and sweaty..but happy," she says with a smile.  

Rohan himself lists out his various hobbies. I love to race my Hot Wheels, I simply bring around 50 Hot Wheels all out on the floor. I also like to read the Curious George series, solving block puzzles, and yes I also love to play NFS on the computer, but my mother gets really mad if I play for too long," he quips.

Bakshi says, "It is important for a child to have a balanced upbringing. Don't insist on achievement when they are enjoying themselves. Maintain that what they do apart from studies and school is for enjoyment; it is only then that they will truly inculcate and understand their innate calling."