Help your children have an enjoyable summer vacation.

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - Summer is the ideal time for students to rest and relax after a hard school year. However, instead of letting their children become "friends" with smart devices, many families have proactively sought out beneficial activities to help their children have a memorable summer. Summer retreats are one of the interesting experiences chosen by many young people.

Each of the three-day meditation retreats at Thanh Ha Pagoda attracts a large number of young people.

Venerable Thich Ban Tri, abbot of Thanh Ha Pagoda in Hac Thanh Ward, said: “This is the second year the pagoda has organized the Buddhist retreat for children and teenagers. With the theme “Buddha, I’ve returned,” this year’s retreat, held from June 27th to 29th, attracted the participation of 400 children aged 9 to 14. To prepare thoroughly for the retreat, the pagoda developed a plan and prepared the necessary facilities such as sleeping quarters, blankets, mosquito nets, and arranged separate areas for boys and girls. At the same time, we established a coordination committee, an orderly committee, a medical committee… to take care of the children throughout the retreat.”

Besides meticulous organizational preparation, Thanh Ha Pagoda also focused on creating engaging and age-appropriate retreat content, including mindfulness practice, Dharma talks, walking meditation, life skills training, teamwork, and extracurricular activities. To create an attractive environment for young people, the pagoda also organized cultural performances and wall newspaper creation; on the evening of June 28th, participants lit candles of gratitude and wrote letters expressing their love to their parents. These activities helped the children not only experience a disciplined living environment but also demonstrate sharing and love among themselves.

This is the third time Nguyen Bao Chau from Hac Thanh ward has participated in the KTMH (Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes) retreat. She shared: “When I was in 5th grade, my parents suggested I join KTMH. I was scared and hesitant because I thought it would be boring just sitting and listening to lectures without participating in fun activities with friends. However, after registering for the retreat, I got to participate in extracurricular activities and the teachers taught me lessons about gratitude, sharing, loving my family and friends, and living responsibly towards the community. I really enjoy this environment, and next year I will proactively ask my parents to let me join KTMH.”

With so many activities organized at KTMH, the Parents' Appreciation Night is always a moment everyone looks forward to with many emotions. Standing before their parents, the children get to experience their own feelings, learn to listen, understand, and express love to those around them.

Ms. Le Quang Vinh from Hac Thanh ward couldn't hide her emotions when her child wrote to her for the first time, expressing overflowing love: "I thank you, Mom, for giving me life and for providing me with a fulfilling life. From the bottom of my heart, I also apologize to my parents for the times I wasn't well-behaved, for not studying hard, for being preoccupied with playing, and for sometimes not listening, which made my parents sad..."

Those simple, loving words have shortened the generational gap, like in the case of Vinh and her daughter, and many other families, since the children joined the KTMH program. The children have learned to express their emotions, share, and love each other more. Many families have missed out on this meaningful opportunity in the hustle and bustle of life.

Along with Thanh Ha Pagoda, many other pagodas in the province have organized early childhood education programs for children with many beneficial activities. Participating in these programs for 2 to 5 days, depending on the conditions of each pagoda, the children learn many practical things related to behavioral adjustment through practicing good habits and playing; self-cultivation through meditation sessions. They also learn about virtue by participating in activities such as the Lantern Festival, writing letters to their parents, and listening to lectures on social topics, school, family, and friends. In addition, during these early childhood education programs, the children are also equipped with life skills through useful activities such as learning about the law, traffic safety, fire prevention, environmental protection, and participating in many folk games, cultural and artistic activities...

Venerable Thich Tam Dinh, Head of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Association in Thanh Hoa province, said: "The retreat is an opportunity for the children to live in a pure and ethical environment, to return to themselves and learn how to live a good life."

Participation in the Buddhist Youth Center has silently sown seeds of compassion in people's lives. It has helped awaken the inherent goodness not only in children but also in parents, fostering compassion, wisdom, and morality through the lens of Buddhism. From there, it helps children avoid bad habits and social vices, and encourages them to continuously strive, train, and build good character, leading to a healthy and beneficial lifestyle for society.

Text and photos: Trung Hieu

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/giup-con-tre-co-ky-nghi-he-thu-vi-254151.htm