Practical summer activities for children

(HBĐT) - Taking care of and educating children and adolescents during the summer is one of the key tasks that the Youth Union and Young Pioneers at all levels in the province pay attention to with many practical activities aimed at children. In particular, this year, the activities are carried out in conjunction with the Month of Action for Children with the theme "Joining hands to minimize harm to children". Accordingly, Hoa Binh youth promote the role of vanguard, volunteer, innovate, diversify practical, effective, safe summer activities that have a wide impact on children and adolescents.

Comrade Nguyen Duy Tu, Deputy Secretary in charge of the Provincial Youth Union, said: Following the direction of the Central Youth Union and the Central Youth Union Council, on May 24, 2023, the Provincial Youth Union has a specific and detailed plan and directs 100% of the Youth Unions of districts, cities, communes, wards and towns to organize summer activities for young people in residential areas; organize training courses on professional skills of the Youth Union for the Youth Union and the Youth Union. Along with that, the work of handing over students to summer activities is directed by the Provincial Youth Union and the Provincial Youth Union Council to the school Youth Unions, Youth Union - Youth Union bases in communes, wards and towns to carefully prepare to welcome young people to participate in summer activities.

Summer activities will take place from May 27 to August 31, including two major programs organized to respond to the summer opening program and the "For Beloved Juniors" Volunteer Soldier Peak Day. The opening program of summer activities - celebrating Children's Day on June 1, responding to the "Action Month for Children 2023" at the provincial level was held on June 1 by the Provincial Youth Union, City Youth Union, and the Provincial Youth Activity Center. After that, the districts and cities all organized the summer opening program. Next, on June 11, at the People's Committee of Da Phuc commune (Yen Thuy), the Provincial Youth Union, the Provincial Youth Union Council coordinated with the Yen Thuy District Youth Union to organize the "For Beloved Juniors" Volunteer Soldier Peak Day program at the provincial level. At the same time, the District Youth Union and City Youth Union also organized many practical activities in response to the program.

According to the plan, the Youth Union at all levels will support at least 1,500 children in difficult circumstances; organize 100 propaganda activities on drowning prevention, injury prevention, child abuse prevention; organize 100 propaganda activities on the Law on Children, policies and laws related to children; organize at least 10 summer camps, skill camps, 50 gifted classes, 50 free swimming classes for children; train and coach Team leaders; mobilize and donate 1 mobile swimming pool, a fixed swimming pool; build new and donate 4 "Red Scarf Houses" to children in difficult circumstances...

Comrade Nguyen Van Hung, Secretary of the Youth Union of Huu Nghi Ward (Hoa Binh City) said: One of the new points in the summer activity program for children in the ward is that the children learn about life skills. Instead of activities that only practice Team etiquette, the children learn skills to prevent drowning, prevent child abuse, participate in traffic safety, prevent accidents and injuries; organize folk games... The children are very excited to participate. This year, the whole ward received about 2,500 young people to participate in activities during the summer.

Nguyen Thanh Minh, Huu Nghi Ward said: I have been participating in summer activities for 3 years. This year, we have experienced many new activities such as folk games, learning about life skills and helping people set up identification codes... I am very happy to participate in useful activities. Many friends participated and everyone enjoyed the meaningful summer experience.

Enhance coordination to increase operational efficiency

That is a practical solution that the Youth Union has implemented to increase the effectiveness of its activities. The Youth Union and Young Pioneers at all levels have proactively coordinated with relevant local sectors to disseminate the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and laws, and the directions of the Government and the Prime Minister in the work of protecting, caring for, and educating children; and disseminate summer activities organized by the Youth Union, Association, and Young Pioneers at all levels, especially activities during the Month of Action for Children in 2023...

Swimming skills class for children during the summer at the Provincial Youth Activity Center.

In addition, the Youth Union at all levels will strengthen propaganda to raise awareness and skills of children, families and communities on participating in safe cyberspace; preventing and combating accidents, injuries to children, drowning, traffic accidents; reporting and denouncing acts of abuse, violence and exploitation of child labor. Propagating to residential areas and families with children about preventive measures, support and intervention to protect children promptly and effectively, especially preventing and combating sexual abuse and violence against children...

Up to now, the Youth Union has coordinated with the Department of Education and Training, the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and local authorities to receive, manage, and organize summer activities for children in residential areas. In addition, the Youth Union has coordinated with the Public Security Department to implement the Ministry of Public Security's Plan on the implementation of child drowning prevention work by the People's Public Security Forces in the period of 2023-2030; coordinated with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to organize activities to respond to the campaign for the whole population to practice swimming to prevent drowning and inspect and review the construction and maintenance of swimming pool systems at local sports facilities; proposed that sports and tourism service facilities with swimming pools support safe swimming classes for children.

Currently, in localities, the Youth Union has coordinated to organize activities to educate about historical traditions, culture, ethics, lifestyle, entertainment, foster cultural, artistic and sports talents; experiential activities, improve foreign language skills for children; invest in organizing experiential programs, summer camps, and skills education programs for children such as: "Journey to know, learn to live", "Summer adventure, learn to be a farmer"... Proactively connecting youth and student volunteer teams in localities to support children in reviewing lessons, studying, organizing skill training activities, and playgrounds with high educational value.

In particular, organize activities to equip children with safety skills, self-protection and escape skills in emergency situations; safety skills in the online environment, traffic safety; establish and effectively promote the role of local volunteer youth teams in residential areas through implementing activities to inspect, review, and place warning signs in high-risk areas leading to drowning and injuries for children; organize propaganda and instruct parents and caregivers on knowledge and skills in preventing and combating injuries and drowning, etc.

The Youth Union also focuses on promoting the role of the Provincial Youth Activity Center; coordinating with the Center for Culture, Sports and Tourism of localities in supporting Youth Union bases in residential areas to organize summer activities for children; mobilizing social resources to organize activities to care for and support children in difficult circumstances, children who are children of young workers, children in shelters, child protection centers, and orphans affected by the Covid-19 epidemic; mobilizing resources to build activity and entertainment spots for children such as: "Toilet for children", "Space for reading, interaction and Team activities", "Red scarf" house; advising on organizing activities for local leaders to meet, dialogue, listen to children's opinions and aspirations; organizing programs to honor children with outstanding achievements in emulation movements of the Youth Union.

Community responsibility for the "problem" of lack of playgrounds for children

The efforts of the Youth Union and Young Pioneers at all levels in creating playgrounds for children, especially during the summer, are undeniable. However, objectively speaking, not all children enjoy meaningful programs and activities. In addition, there is a lack of playgrounds, summer activities or spaces dedicated to children. Students are on summer vacation, so finding places for children to play and participate in activities is not possible in every locality.

As a parent of two young children, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh, Group 8, Tan Hoa Ward (Hoa Binh City) is quite worried because she does not know where to send her children during these summer days, while she cannot take a break from work. Every time she goes to work, she only knows how to tell her children to be careful when playing by themselves and even though she does not want to, her family still has to register her children for extra classes as a form of childcare. However, when attending classes, she also has to spend time picking them up and dropping them off, and the classes only last 2 hours, the rest of the time her children mainly stay at home, watch TV and attend online knowledge enrichment classes.

In addition to the lack of playgrounds for children, summer activities in some places are just formalities. Summer is also the time of hot weather, children often like to play in ponds, lakes, rivers, streams to swim, play in water, which poses potential safety risks... Therefore, organizing swimming courses for children is one of the activities supported by many parents. However, due to limited facilities, this activity is not really effective. The number of swimming pools in the area is limited, so the Youth Union cannot organize many swimming classes for children. Propaganda work to prevent drowning and injuries has been carried out in all communes and towns, but the results have not been as expected. The capacity of cadres and the organization of Youth Union and Team activities in some places are still limited, leading to playgrounds for children not being really rich.

There are many reasons why playgrounds for children are still difficult, not only in rural areas but also in urban areas. The team of responsible staff lacks skills, is not proactive in adapting to the new situation, the content of activities is still lacking in depth, and is not sustainable. The facilities for organizing activities for children are still limited. In some places, the team leaders have not yet promoted their role in coordinating the management, care and education of children in residential areas.

Comrade Nguyen Duy Tu, Deputy Secretary in charge of the Provincial Youth Union, added: From the reality in localities, in order to build a complete playground for children, in addition to the pioneering role of the Youth Union, it is necessary to have the cooperation of organizations, individuals, philanthropists and people from all walks of life. When people proactively participate in contributing and supporting, it will certainly raise awareness of protecting, preserving and promoting the effectiveness of the playground to improve the quality of life for children. Therefore, in addition to the efforts of the Youth Union and the Young Pioneers, it is necessary to have the leadership and direction of Party committees and authorities at all levels, the cooperation of families, schools and the whole community so that children can truly live in a safe and healthy environment, with the immediate goal of having a joyful and meaningful summer 2023.

Hong Duyen

OPINION GROUP

Equipping life skills to help children have a useful and meaningful summer

Duong Duc Anh, Secretary of Hoa Binh City Youth Union

Hoa Binh City is a place with a large number of young people. Summer is also the time when the city's Youth Union must make the greatest effort to effectively implement plans and programs to organize summer activities for young people.

Therefore, right in the first days of summer, the City Youth Union directed the Youth Unions of wards and communes to simultaneously organize summer activities, Action Month for Children, and celebrate Children's Day 2023, attracting a large number of children to participate. At the program, children participated in many special activities such as: dancing, singing, playing games, camping, playing soccer, fashion shows, etc., creating a vibrant and joyful atmosphere. In addition, there were activities of visiting, giving gifts, awarding scholarships, sponsoring, caring for, and supporting teenagers and children.

In particular, the City Youth Union directs the Youth Union units to do a good job of socialization, mobilizing resources to organize summer activities for children, supporting children in difficult circumstances. Promote activities to educate morality, lifestyle, skills, entertainment, and experiential programs for children, ensuring practicality, effectiveness, and wide-reaching influence.

Mobilizing social resources to care for and support children and adolescents

Bui The Nham, Head of School Youth Committee (Provincial Youth Union)

Wherever there is attention and facilitation from all levels and sectors, summer activities will be strong. This is evidence from reality over the past many years. Therefore, the Youth Union chapters at all levels in the province always strive to accompany localities in mobilizing social resources to organize activities to care for and support children. In particular, focusing on the youth force in difficult circumstances, children who are children of young workers, children in shelters, child protection centers, and orphans affected by the Covid-19 epidemic; mobilizing resources to build activity and play areas for children such as: "Toilet for children", "Space for reading, interaction and Team activities", "Red scarf" house; advising on organizing activities for local leaders to meet, dialogue, and listen to children's opinions and aspirations. Pay special attention to organizing programs to honor children with outstanding achievements in emulation movements of the Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneers Organization...

Source