Remember how you used to spend your month-and-a-half long summer vacations – attending swimming classes in the morning, watching chhutti chhutti on Doordarshan at noon and playing Gallery with friends by day-end. Alas, neither is the world so laidback now, nor are your children.
Kids today want to make the most of this extended break and pack their vacation with as many activity classes as possible. Keeping up with the demand, many government and private institutions are offering hobby classes for kids of various age groups during this time. Metrolife brings you a wide cross-section; choose what suits your kid best.
The National Museum of Natural History conducts some really adventurous summer workshops for children. This time, for kids of 9-13 years, they are holding clay modelling classes, and for those 13-16, they are conducting talks and seminars on environmental issues. These include ‘Protecting trees in cities’ and ‘Preserving the tiger.’ They will also be taking the kids to biodiversity parks like Aravalli and related institutions like Nehru Planetarium. Classes start from May 17 at Rs 300 per kid.
If your kid has an inclination for performing arts, Akshara Theatre on Baba Kharak Singh Marg is the best place for her/him. Akshara is conducting classes in theatre, music, modern and classical dance, art, craft, even zumba fitness, football and yoga. These will be under the tutelage of renowned theatre-artists Jalabala Vaidya, Gopal Sharman and Anasuya Vaidya.
Classes are slated to start May 20 and a five-week workshop will cost you Rs 6500.Books are a child’s best friend, and if you fervently believe in the adage, Oxford Bookstore’s summer workshops in CP will interest you. The bookstore has lined up ‘Story-telling and rhymes’ classes for 2-8 year-olds, ‘Create your own graphic novel’ classes for 14 years and above and calligraphy classes for 12-18 year olds. Besides, photography workshops by Photosynthesis will be held as well. Classes start from tomorrow on varying charges.Films enthuse kids to no end and if your child wants to know more about the process of filmmaking, get him or her registered with Cinedarbaar.
It is organizing a summer film camp from June 3-14 at the Iran Culture House where kids will be taught acting, story writing, story-boarding, directing, editing and shooting. The team work is also sure to teach them some leadership skills. Charges: Up to 10 years – Rs 4000, and kids 11-17 years – Rs 6750.Finally, if your kid is interested in sharpening his mind, go for 64 Squares Chess Academy’s chess classes. Instructor KC Joshi is teaching all the tricks from French Defence to Stonewall Attack — moves which help increase concentration, improve calculation and imagination. Classes will start at Epicentre Gurgaon from May 20 and cost Rs 2200.
