Blooming
Many parents in urban areas believe that the more than two months of summer vacation for students is quite a long time.
“Back in my childhood, I lived in the countryside, and the three summer months flew by. We played around the house, in the neighborhood, in the village, with all sorts of mischievous childhood games. But now, in the city, my children spend their summer holidays just staying at home. Watching TV and reading books without physical activity isn't good for their development. Not to mention, they easily get addicted to social media or 'strange' websites. That's even more dangerous,” shared Ms. Tran Ngoc Linh (16 Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi ).
Sharing this view, some other parents expressed that, because they live in urban areas and have to go to work every day, it is very difficult for them to be present during their children's summer vacation.
“I have two children in elementary school, and although we've planned their summer vacation together, it's still very difficult because my wife and I still have to work. We can only afford to send them to their grandparents in the countryside for a week. After that, we only take them on a beach trip for a few days. Therefore, I'm very interested in sending them to summer camps so they can have fun, develop skills, and have someone to supervise them,” said Mr. Phung Quoc Tuan (Thanh Xuan, Hanoi).
Understanding the concerns of many parents like Ms. Linh and Mr. Tuan, many centers and organizations have recently organized summer camps for children to participate in fun activities and experiences. Currently, on social media and in various media forums and groups, many advertisements for children's summer camps are being posted, targeting different market segments.
It can be said that summer camps and summer courses today are very diverse in both content and format. Popular examples include: military summer camps, English summer camps, life skills summer camps, experiential summer camps, sex education summer camps, meditation retreats organized by temples, and even activities for children with autism, or summer camps for children interested in artificial intelligence (AI)... Notably, many international summer camps are also organized by some organizations targeting families with better economic conditions or those who have already planned for their children to study abroad...
Summer camp organizers are also very flexible with the schedule. On average, each camp lasts from 7 to 10 days. However, some camps can last for a whole month, with prices ranging from a few million to tens of millions of VND. Currently, many organizations are also launching promotional programs to attract students, such as: a 30% discount on tuition fees for early registration, a free program for the whole family, and interest-free installment payments.
Beware of scams.
Each family has different goals and considerations when sending their children to summer camps. For those with financial means, sending their children to summer camps for 7-10 days, or longer, provides a safe environment for them to play, share, and experience new things. Through these activities, some aspects of a child's personality and behavior can be adjusted.
However, parents need to be cautious before sending their children to summer camps, especially those advertised on social media platforms. Education experts advise that parents should carefully check and research summer camp organizers before signing contracts or transferring money to them. In fact, there have been recent instances of fraud.
According to the Hanoi City Police, taking advantage of the demand from parents for extracurricular courses and programs for their children during the 2024 summer break, many Facebook accounts have recently appeared on social media with names such as: "Skills Summer Camp - Junior Police Academy Semester", "Skills Summer Camp - Police Academy Semester", "Military Summer Camp", "Summer Military Experience", showing signs of fraud and misappropriation of money from those who register to participate.
Specifically, these accounts advertise connections with police and military units nationwide. Participants will experience the training environment of the People's Police and People's Army; they will receive support with meals, uniforms, and certificates from the police and military units.
When parents register for the program, the perpetrators provide them with the child's application code and the consultant's Zalo phone number, guiding them to access Zalo to register their personal information. After registering, the perpetrators ask parents to join a Telegram group to complete tasks and pay fees, then steal the money.
Amidst the surge in scams involving summer courses on social media, the Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department (Hanoi City Police) advises citizens to exercise caution when researching course information on websites to avoid being scammed.
Citizens need to regularly monitor and update information on crime to prevent it and educate their relatives. When detecting cases with signs of fraud and property theft, citizens should immediately report it to the nearest police station for handling according to regulations.
In addition, the quality of summer camps is also a concern for parents. Amidst the "maze" of summer camps organized by many organizations today, not all have the dedication and expertise to create a meaningful camp that suits each child's needs. Experiential activities and guest speakers who interact and talk with the children are also important considerations for parents. Not to mention, safety is paramount.
In fact, the numerous accidents that have occurred to children participating in some summer camps recently serve as a necessary warning for parents not to be complacent or negligent.
According to education expert Vu Thu Huong, when parents choose summer camps or summer courses for their children, they need to pay special attention to safety, as risks are always present for children attending summer camps. In addition, they need to understand the program and whether it covers knowledge and skills that their children lack and that parents don't have many opportunities to provide. Participating in a summer camp should give children opportunities to practice and experience, not just learn theory.
In particular, this expert noted: Parents should choose reputable organizations with experienced teachers and experts, rather than choosing organizations based solely on their attractive appearance and facilities without knowing anything about their teaching staff.
Source: https://daidoanket.vn/mua-cua-trai-he-10282266.html
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