Children are most excited when they are to finish their final exams and the most awaiting time i.e. the summer vacation starts right from the next second of their last exam. In India, summer vacation varies. In northern India, school ends on May 1 and begins on July 1, while in southern India, school ends in the last week of March and begins in June. Some schools hold extra classes for 10th grade from May till June for students of classes preparing for Board exams. No doubt, one of the high points of a vacation is not waking up to an alarm clock, and this must be a welcome break for children as well as parents-you don't have to watch the clock, get them to go through their morning ablutions, breakfast, lunch boxes; you all get a break from the previous night's tension of uniforms and shoes in place, homework done, projects to be taken along, and all of the compulsions of term-time.
But you're right that two months spent lazing till noon in bed is not a particularly good idea. And it makes that much harder to get back to the school routine. During the summer holidays, it's easy to get caught up in the thrill of decreased responsibility.
These tips can aid you in having a productive, enjoyable, and regret-free summer vacation.
Wake up early: Nothing eats away at summer break like moping around beneath the covers. Decide the previous day when you will get out of bed, then make sure follow through.
Maintain good health and hygiene: Brush your teeth and bathe often. Make sure to use sunblock, and remember that the only healthy tan is spray-on! Summer is a great time to get in shape, or stay in shape. Consider joining a summer sport, or at the very least get outside and have fun every day.
Study: Particularly if you are a secondary or post-secondary student, studying remains essential even though the school year is in recess. Look over last year's notes, or do some research into what next year's courses have in store. When school resumes, you’ll be grateful that your academic knowledge and skills have not deteriorated.
Follow a routine: However loose, the structure will both motivate you and keep hours spent 'doing nothing' to a minimum. Join a volunteer group of some sort: You may have a library nearby or a club where you can spend some time in reading the News papers and periodicals and books you like. You will stay in contact with friends, have a great sense of accomplishment, stay active, and even help others!
Visit Places: Visiting places gives you knowledge. Spend time in observing things, learn the life style of people, their culture and world view.
Be part of the community: Be part of the community by participating common activities. Your church, temples and worshiping places may organize programmes, learn good things from anywhere. It will help you to be better in social communication.
Go to a camp and learn something new: If you have always loved volley ball, basketball or football, why not try swimming, rock climbing, or even art as a summer camp? If you love languages, why not try learning sign language? Learn to write, draw, bind books, make photo albums, knit ... the list goes on and on. Try something different that you know nothing whatsoever about, and you will gain a new skill and possibly find a lifelong love. Another upside is that you have a lot of time to practice and put your skill to use!
JEA