Summer is a time for children to leave the screens.

After a packed school year filled with regular classes, extracurricular activities, and time spent glued to digital devices, many parents have chosen a very different kind of summer for their children.

Summer is an opportunity for children to participate in well-organized and safe nature-based activities, thereby distancing them from electronic devices. Photo: Bana Rita

Experience the simple things

With the school year just ending, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong (Tam Ky ward) took her two children, Huynh Tuan Anh (8 years old) and Huynh Tuan Dat (15 years old), back to their maternal grandparents' home in Duy Xuyen commune for summer vacation. For Ms. Phuong, this was a pre-planned trip, aimed at giving her children enough time to temporarily disconnect from television and phones and experience a slower pace of life in the countryside.

Ms. Phuong shared that during the school year, the school schedule, extra English classes, and homework leave her children with very little free time. When summer comes, if not properly organized, children can easily spend too much time in front of electronic screens. Therefore, for many years, the family has maintained the practice of sending the children to their grandparents' house so they can spend their summer days in a more natural way.

Ms. Phuong said that not only her children, but a total of six grandchildren in her family will be staying at their maternal grandparents' house until the end of July. For nearly two months, the children will learn to swim, fly kites, help adults with housework, cooking, and gardening... After that, they will have almost another month to prepare for the new school year.

"I think children's summers shouldn't revolve around extra classes or phones. Back in the countryside, they can run around, learn to swim, help with chores, and learn to be considerate of each other when living with siblings. These are very normal things, but they help children develop skills, learn to observe, learn to take care of themselves, and become more bonded with their relatives. Children need a summer to grow beyond books," Ms. Phuong shared.

In urban areas, the need for healthy summer activities for children is becoming increasingly evident, as many parents do not want their children's long holidays to be spent on phones, video games, or heavy, academic classes.

Mr. Le Nhat Anh (residing in Hoa Xuan ward) said that his family often looks for life skills classes, sports , arts, or short-term experiential programs so that his two children can have more opportunities to exercise, meet friends, and try new activities. “When children are in the right environment, they learn while playing, and they still develop skills while playing. What I hope is that my children have a fun, active summer and become less dependent on screens,” Mr. Anh said.

Students of the Kite Life Skills Club experience preparing dishes from oyster mushrooms. Photo: PHAN VINH

A playground for children to grow up in.

In Tam Ky ward, Ms. Pham Cam Van, founder of the Kite Life Skills Club, said that the demand from parents to enroll their children in summer experiential programs has increased year by year. This summer, the club is organizing many activities for children aged 7-14, such as "becoming engineers" with cement, plaster, bamboo, and wood; making handmade items from scrap paper, clay, fabric, and wool; and "little chefs" with candy chips, jelly cakes, malt candy, peanut candy, and tapioca dumplings...

According to Ms. Van, each program usually has around 20-30 children participating. What parents care about is that their children get out of a passive environment, create a product with their own hands, present their ideas, cooperate with friends, and gain a sense of accomplishment. Alongside the longer courses, the club organizes many short day-long experiences.

“Children nowadays are exposed to screens quite early, while many everyday skills are rarely practiced. When baking, making handmade crafts, or participating in physical games, they have to observe, listen, experiment, and complete the product with their own hands. What we hope is that each program helps children have fun, become confident, learn to work with friends, and have beautiful memories during the summer,” Ms. Van said.

Along with social mobilization models, the Youth Union and Children's Union are also expanding summer activities with a focus on safety skills and physical training. Mr. Le Kim Thuong, Deputy Secretary of the City Youth Union and Chairman of the City Children's Council, said that in the summer of 2026, the City Youth Union, the Children's Council, and the Da Nang Children's Palace will organize free swimming lessons for approximately 300 children at the Da Nang Children's Palace swimming pool (both locations) and the Da Nang City Youth Union swimming pool from May to August.

Besides teaching swimming, the Da Nang Youth Union is coordinating the "Police Training Semester" program in 2026 for young people aged 11 to 16, taking place from June 14 to 23 at Training, Professional Development and Vocational Education Center No. 3 (Thang Binh commune). The program aims to cultivate good conduct, discipline, life skills, a sense of responsibility, and awareness of law compliance.

Many commune and ward Youth Unions also maintain summer libraries, children's playgrounds at cultural facilities, group activities, folk games, and campaigns to prevent accidents and injuries. The important thing is that children's summer must be accompanied by their families, schools, Youth Union organizations, and the community.

"When children learn to swim, hone their skills, participate in group activities, and engage in healthy recreation, they will develop in a more balanced way. A summer away from screens doesn't mean separating children from technology, but rather helping them learn to use their time wisely, exercise, share, and mature," Mr. Thuong said.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/mua-he-roi-man-hinh-cua-tre-3338881.html