What should children do during the summer?

That's a question many parents are asking as the 2024-2025 school year draws to a close and summer begins for their children.

Children playing in a playground in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: QUANG DINH

This summer will also be different as there will be no extra tutoring or supplementary classes. In addition, the increasing number of summer courses with diverse content and attractive advertisements and offers makes it difficult for parents to choose the right course for their children.

With so many skills and talent classes available, it's difficult to know which one to choose that is both safe for children, helps them develop comprehensively in skills and thinking, and fits the family's budget.

Ms. TRAN THI LIEN (worker at Linh Trung Export Processing Zone, Thu Duc City)

Parents' anxieties

Ms. Tran Thi Lien, a worker at the Linh Trung Export Processing Zone in Thu Duc City, is quite concerned about finding a suitable environment for her child during the summer.

She shared: "I work the morning shift from 7 am to 4:30 pm. My daughter is in third grade this year, and during the summer, we have to find a daycare center to send her to all day. My husband and I have thought about it for a long time. There are so many skills and talent classes available now, and we don't know which one to choose that will ensure our daughter's safety, help her develop comprehensively in skills and thinking, and fit our family's budget."

Ms. Ho Thi Ha, a teacher in Quang Ngai , said that even though the students are on holiday, the administrative staff still have to maintain their professional work. What worries Ms. Ha most right now is that her two young children are on summer vacation at home with no one to look after them.

Ms. Ha's family is quite typical in rural areas, where both parents work, there are no grandparents nearby, and the means to send their children to daycare are very limited.

In previous years, Ms. Ha often looked for extra classes near her home for her children to attend. This wasn't necessarily about supplementing their knowledge, but mainly as a temporary solution, giving her children a place to go every day and someone to supervise them.

"Every family worries about children going out to play, wading in streams, riding bicycles in the middle of the road, or gathering to do dangerous things. There are many rivers and streams, and it's very dangerous without adults around," Ms. Ha shared.

Therefore, extra classes, even simple ones like math or Vietnamese taught by a local teacher, remain the optimal choice for many parents.

However, starting this summer, after regulations prohibiting extra tutoring and supplementary classes were tightened, those "disguised childcare classes" also ceased to exist.

In large cities, parents have the option of sending their children to language centers, life skills centers, or summer clubs. But in Ms. Ha's commune, there are no centers operating during the summer, nor are there any daycare classes or regularly organized children's activity programs.

Summer programs are becoming increasingly diverse.

According to Mr. Tieu Minh Son, a soft skills lecturer at Van Lang University, current summer programs are not only increasingly diverse in form but also rich in content, opening up many opportunities for practical experiences for students of different ages.

Mr. Son said that many summer programs have been and are being effectively implemented by reputable organizations such as the Southern Youth Center, the Youth Cultural Center, and children's centers at all levels…

Typical programs include military training semesters, career experience days, life skills summer camps, art clubs, academic clubs, and community volunteer activities.

These activities are not only places where parents can leave their children during the summer, but more importantly, they are "gateways to a new world," helping students increase their independence, interaction skills, and develop life skills and soft skills—something that the 2018 General Education Program is also aiming for to build comprehensive qualities and competencies for learners.

According to an expert at a life skills center in District 3 (Ho Chi Minh City), each family will have their own way of designing summer for their children, such as sending them back to their grandparents' house in the countryside, taking them on trips , sending them to summer classes or programs, etc.

However, regardless of the chosen method, this expert believes that the safety of children must always be the top priority.

For example, if children are left to live independently at home, it's necessary to explain to them in detail about electrical and water appliances in the house, and how to handle situations with strangers. If children are taken to the countryside, they should be instructed not to swim in rivers or streams on their own.

When choosing military-style summer camp programs or other summer experience courses for children, it's crucial to thoroughly research the accommodation, meals, and contingency plans of the organizers in case of emergencies to ensure the highest level of safety for the children participating.

Children enthusiastically read books at Nguyen Van Binh Book Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: QUANG DINH

Most importantly, it has to be a good fit.

According to Mr. Tieu Minh Son, for summer programs to be truly effective, the most important thing is that they are suitable for each student.

Every child has their own abilities, interests, and personality. Therefore, choosing a program shouldn't be based on trends or adult expectations, but should begin with listening to your child: what do they enjoy, what are their talents, and what experiences do they want to have this summer?

Besides personal preferences, parents also need to carefully consider the reputation of the organizing unit, the level of safety, and the practicality of the program content.

These factors will help ensure that your child not only receives attentive care but also learns and develops in the right direction.

Mr. Son believes that parents should be companions, discussing with their children, encouraging, inspiring, and gently guiding them instead of imposing choices.

Because a summer program is only truly valuable when students participate with a positive attitude, feel excited, and are respected for their own decisions.

"Only then will summer experiences become memorable journeys, helping children recharge their energy, accumulate new skills and knowledge to be ready for the next school year," Mr. Son affirmed.

Beware of scams.

In early May 2025, the Dong Nai Provincial Police posted a warning on their official fanpage, alerting parents to scams perpetrated by impersonating career guidance summer camps.

According to authorities, the perpetrators created fake websites and fan pages impersonating universities and training centers, then promoted courses such as military training semesters and skills summer camps to gain trust and trick parents into transferring money.

People are advised to carefully verify information before registering, and only transfer money when the identity of the organizing entity is clear; if they discover they have been scammed, they should report it to the nearest police station or report it through the VNeID application.

Previously, the Hanoi Youth Union and the Hanoi Children's Council also warned about the impersonation of the organizers of the "Summer Military Training Program 2025". Many parents reported being contacted by fake fan pages claiming to be the official organizers, even attaching the names of reputable organizations to increase credibility, and then sending links from unknown sources inviting them to register. These agencies recommend that parents carefully check the source of information and only trust official channels to avoid being scammed.

In fact, the phenomenon of impersonating summer camps to extort money is not new; in 2024, police in many provinces such as Bac Giang, Ha Nam, Kon Tum, etc., also issued similar warnings.

Difficulty choosing a summer course

Ms. Hoang Ha (Ho Chi Minh City) shared that her child is currently in 10th grade and she has enrolled him in a suitable art class this summer. However, she had previously faced considerable difficulties in finding suitable summer activities for her child.

The first difficulty is that the number of centers organizing experiential activities in the area where she lives is very limited, leading to few choices.

Secondly, evaluating the quality of summer classes and courses is also difficult due to a lack of clear and transparent information.

Thirdly, the issue of transportation time also causes difficulties for parents, especially in families where both parents work all day and there is no one to help.

Finally, the cost of attending summer classes is currently relatively high, creating financial pressure for many families, especially those with middle or low incomes.

HO NHUONG - TRONG NHAN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/de-con-lam-gi-trong-he-20250519225347044.htm