Prioritize classes that suit your child's interests
Having a child in 3rd grade, Ms. Nguyen Mai Huong (Ninh Kieu ward, Can Tho city) said that after the end of the school year, the family lets the child rest for about 2 weeks before finding summer classes. She prioritizes foreign language, STEM and some aptitude classes.
According to Ms. Huong, the selection criteria are reputable units, convenient pick-up and drop-off locations, and especially must be suitable for her child's preferences.
I hope my child will have more skills and experiences during the summer. Before registering, I always ask for advice on what my child likes to study to choose according to her wishes," Ms. Huong shared.
Also with the desire for his children to have a useful summer, Mr. Nguyen Hoai Tam (Ninh Kieu ward, Can Tho city) said that because both husband and wife are working, his children often stay at home with grandparents, making it difficult to avoid using phones or tablets for a long time.
The family registers their child to learn English and participate in experiential classes and life skills classes about 4 sessions/week. I only let my child learn more foreign languages, and the rest are experiential activities because he has learned quite a lot throughout the year, if he learns more knowledge, he will easily be stressed," Mr. Tam said.
Children should not be forced to study too much during the summer.
According to psychologist Ngo Thi Thanh Huyen - NHC Vietnam Center for Human Development and Psychology - registering summer classes for children stems from parents' good wishes. However, forcing children to attend too many summer classes or registering for courses that do not match children's preferences can cause many negative psychological impacts.
First of all, when a child is forced to study, they are very likely to develop a psychology of stress, pressure, and even fear of learning. Instead of being interested in receiving knowledge, children will study in a coping state, without initiative and joy of discovery.
Besides, after a long school year with many tests and exams, summer is inherently a time for children to rest and recover both physically and mentally. If they continue to be "running shows" between classes, children are very likely to fall into a state of overload.
When they have to study too much, study not according to their interests or abilities, they often just try to finish it and do not really absorb the knowledge. That makes the time and effort spent not bring much value," the expert analyzed.
To choose a suitable summer course, expert Ngo Thi Thanh Huyen noted that the first important thing is to start from the wishes, interests and abilities of the child themselves. Parents should discuss, listen and agree with their children before deciding to register, instead of imposing the wishes of adults.
Parents also need to carefully understand the organizing unit, teaching quality, teaching staff as well as the learning environment. In particular, safety factors need to be put first, especially in hot weather conditions and when children have to travel frequently during the summer," the expert noted.
More importantly, an effective summer course is not a course that helps children learn the most, but a place that helps them be more confident, healthier and find joy in learning. When children learn with excitement and passion, they will form a spirit of self-study and lifelong learning ability. That is the greatest value that a summer course should bring.
