Summer with grandparents

As the school year draws to a close, many families begin planning their children's summer vacation. Besides extracurricular classes or trips, many parents choose to let their children spend more time with their grandparents. From trips back to their hometowns and days spent with grandparents to simple daily activities, summer is providing many children with memorable experiences and lessons not found in textbooks.

These "summer classes" have no lesson plans.

It's not a long trip or a special class that makes many children excited about summer; sometimes it's simply being with their grandparents. For the children of Ms. Le Hieu Duong (Nghia Do ward, Hanoi), summer begins with a trip to their maternal grandparents' home, more than 30km from the city center. Without needing modern amusement parks or pre-planned activities, the children quickly adapt to the familiar rhythm of rural life. "Going back to the countryside means getting sunburned just like going to the beach," Ms. Duong said with a laugh.

Ms. Duong's son eagerly watched his grandfather build the swing. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

In the mornings, the children would follow their grandfather to the fields to cut grass. At noon, they would ride their bikes around the village bareheaded. Sometimes, when called for lunch, they would disappear in a flash. Early in the morning, they would play by the riverbank, and in the afternoon, they would gather with their friends from the village. What delighted the children was not only the free time for exploration but also the constant presence of their grandparents, watching over them and showering them with love.

"What I hope for most is that my children get to experience real life, to be with their grandparents and relatives, and to have things that will later become beautiful memories in their childhood," Ms. Duong shared. These summer days are becoming a special time for grandparents and grandchildren to bond more closely.

Ms. Bui Diem (Xuan Phuong Ward, Hanoi ) happily calls the time her children spend with their grandmother "Grandma's tour." There are no long trips or packed schedules; the children's summer revolves around the front yard, the hammock under the trees, and their grandmother's small garden. They play soccer, ride bikes, and read books. What surprised Ms. Diem was that the children, who usually love fast food, particularly enjoy the vegetables harvested from their grandmother's garden. "They say Grandma's vegetables taste better than the ones Mom buys," she recounts. The children remember not only the green vegetable patches or the fun playtime in the yard, but also the image of their grandmother patiently guiding them on how to care for the plants, telling them everyday stories, and showing them her care in a very special way.

For Ms. Thu Quynh (Dong Ngac ward, Hanoi), the summer months are a time when grandparents have more opportunities to spend time with their grandchildren. Besides daily care, grandparents patiently guide the children in folding clothes, helping with household chores, organizing their personal belongings, or preparing simple meals. These seemingly small tasks are especially enjoyable for the children. Each time they complete a task themselves, they eagerly show it to their parents. Furthermore, grandparents also take their grandchildren to summer classes for extracurricular activities and skills development. The journeys, the conversations over meals, and the evenings spent together become opportunities for grandparents to understand their grandchildren better, and for the grandchildren to grow closer to their grandparents.

"There are things that adults consider normal, but for children, they are completely new experiences. They are always eager to do things themselves that they previously only saw their grandparents do," Ms. Quynh shared. Those summer days may not be filled with elaborate activities or long trips. But through small household chores, everyday stories, or time spent with grandparents, many children are accumulating invaluable experiences that no book can replace.

You may also like

Protecting and supporting students' development in the online environment.(GLO) - The Gia Lai provincial education sector is implementing the program "Protecting and supporting children's development in the online environment, 2026-2030" with various solutions aimed at equipping students with digital skills; building a support network to help them learn, communicate, and develop safely in the digital environment.

LAND OF LOVE (*): Leaving a trace of the journey to the SouthAmidst the bustling urban landscape, there are still certain quiet spaces where values ​​nurtured over generations can be preserved...

Warning about the trend of younger people becoming drug addicts and engaging in prostitution under the guise of social media.Drug addiction is becoming more prevalent among younger people, with some as young as 14 or 15 years old; prostitution is becoming increasingly sophisticated and is shifting strongly towards online environments...

The teachers of childhood

According to Ms. Le Thi Thanh Ha, Lecturer in Psychology at Hanoi Pedagogical University 2, experiences spent with grandparents during the summer are especially significant for children's development.

According to experts, while parents are often preoccupied with studies, daily life, and the pressures of everyday life, grandparents offer children a different kind of connection—one that is closer and more emotionally rich. Stories about childhood, life experiences, and family etiquette are naturally passed down through daily activities. “Grandparents usually have more time and patience to accompany their grandchildren. When they help with gardening, cooking, housework, or simply chatting every day, grandparents are helping children develop life skills, communication abilities, and empathy for those around them,” said Ms. Le Thi Thanh Ha. The close relationship with grandparents also gives children a feeling of being loved, protected, and emotionally secure. This is a crucial factor for a child's psychological development, especially in the context of many families with busy lifestyles.

Spending time with grandparents helps children and grandchildren feel more connected to their family and roots. Photo: Chi Mai

Furthermore, grandparents also act as a bridge, helping children better understand their family roots, traditional values, and the way of life preserved through generations. These things are not taught through theoretical lessons but are absorbed naturally by children through daily companionship.

"There are skills children can learn in school, but memories of love, compassion, and family stories are often nurtured through relationships with grandparents. These are values ​​that can stay with children throughout their lives," commented Ms. Le Thi Thanh Ha, M.Sc.

For Ms. Nguyen Thi Vinh Quy, from Residential Group 7, Phu Dien Ward, the time spent together by grandparents and grandchildren holds a very special meaning in her family life today. “Every weekend, the whole family gathers to chat, read books together, and exchange what we’ve learned in life. I think that’s a way for family members to stay close and bonded. From the teachings of grandparents, the care of parents, to the love between siblings – these seemingly simple things have contributed to nurturing the character, responsibility, and lifestyle of each person,” Ms. Quy shared.

The theme for this year's Vietnamese Family Day on June 28th is "Happy Family - Prosperous Nation". That happiness often begins with very simple things: a summer spent with grandparents, meals filled with laughter from multiple generations, or life lessons passed down from elders to children.

You may also like

Quoc Oai district launches campaign to address bottlenecks in urban order and build a civilized environment.On June 24th, the People's Committee of Quoc Oai commune held a ceremony to launch a campaign to address bottlenecks in urban order and build a commune that ensures urban order, discipline, and civilization in the area.

Yen Lang commune provides support for building charitable houses for families entitled to preferential policies.On the afternoon of June 24th, the Hanoi Capital Command, in coordination with the Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Yen Lang commune, organized the handover of financial support for the construction of charitable houses for two disadvantaged policy beneficiary families in the area.

Learn skills from summer camp experiences.In order to create a safe and healthy environment for children during the summer, youth union branches throughout the province have organized many diverse and practical activities.

In modern life, where time spent together is increasingly precious, the presence of grandparents not only helps parents share the responsibility of caring for their children but also contributes to nurturing their spiritual lives, shaping their character, and preserving family values ​​for the younger generation.

Years later, the games and summer trips may fade from memory. But the times spent following grandfather to the fields, helping grandmother tend the vegetable garden, the stories told at the dinner table, and the first lessons in independence will often remain in a child's mind for a long time. For many children, grandparents are not only caregivers but also special teachers of their childhood.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/mua-he-ben-ong-ba-1208863.html