Everyone needs a break from their monotonous routine and children need it more than us. With holidays around the corner, the top-most thing in every parent’s mind is how to engage their kid during the summer vacation. Be it a work-from-home parent or an office-going one, everyone needs practical ideas on vacation activities for kids that are fun and help them in learning something new.
I am writing in few ideas which can engage kids and keep their young minds creatively occupied during vacations. These activities will boost their creativity and help them develop a deeper understanding and respect for the richness of Indian traditions and artistic heritage. You can easily find online classes for these activities at reasonable prices so kids can learn at their own pace in their preferred environment.
List of Activities/Workshops for Vacation
Indian Artwork
India has a rich artistic heritage and a diverse range of painting styles that vary across regions and historical periods. With online learning mode available, it has become much simpler to get good access to instructors who can help to give your child a quick start in exploring the art forms.
They can be exposed to various art forms during vacation and based on their interest, they can be motivated to excel in their chosen art form. The painting styles that can be learned are:
- Madhubani Painting – A 2500-year-old folk art form from the Mithila, these paintings are characterized by intricate and vibrant depictions of mythological themes, nature, and daily life. They often feature bold outlines, bright colors, and geometric patterns.
- Kerala Murals – Ancient and famous art from the state of Kerela that depicts the region’s culture and its diversity.
- Tanjore Painting – This art form hails from the southern state of Tamil Nadu and is known for its rich colors, gold leaf embellishments, and use of precious and semi-precious stones. They often depict deities and religious scenes
- Warli Art – Hailing from Maharashtra and Gujarat, Warli paintings are executed in a distinctive tribal style. They primarily use simple geometric shapes like circles, triangles, and lines to depict scenes of everyday life, rituals, and nature.
- Pichwai Art- A traditional art form that emerged in the 17th Century at the Nathdwara temple in Rajasthan. They depict Lord Krishna in various ‘leelas’ with the moon, lotus blooms, peacocks, parrots, or cows; and are set in lush vegetation.
- Kalamkari – An art form with origins in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, it involves intricate designs and narrative scenes inspired by mythology, nature, and religious themes.
- Kangra Painting – With its origins in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh these paintings are characterized by delicate brushwork, soft colors, lyrical depictions of Radha-Krishna, and themes from Indian mythology.
Reference Link –
https://worldforumforartandculture.com/
Classical Dance Forms
India is known for its rich cultural heritage and diverse dance forms that offer holistic development experiences for kids, encompassing physical fitness, artistic expression, cultural appreciation, social skills, and emotional well-being.
Enlisting below are various dance forms that can provide a creative outlet to your child:
- Bharatanatyam: A classical dance form from Tamil Nadu that involves intricate footwork, expressive hand gestures, and facial expressions. It is an ideal dance form for kids to learn discipline, coordination, and grace.
- Kathak: A North Indian classical dance form that combines storytelling, rhythmic footwork, and graceful movements. It is known for its fast spins (chakras) and intricate footwork. Kathak can help children develop rhythm, coordination, and stage presence.
- Odissi: A classical dance form from the state of Odisha that features fluid movements, intricate footwork, and expressions inspired by temple sculptures. Odissi helps in developing flexibility, body control, and expressiveness.
- Kathakali: A highly stylized classical dance-drama form from Kerala. It involves elaborate makeup, costumes, and facial expressions to depict mythological stories. While the full dance form may be complex, kids can learn simplified versions of the movements and expressions.
- Manipuri: A classical dance form from Manipur, characterized by graceful movements, soft footwork, and delicate hand gestures. It is known for its beautiful costumes and themes from Vaishnavism. Manipuri dance helps in developing agility, balance, and coordination.
- Mohiniyattam: A classical dance form from Kerala that showcases graceful and fluid movements. It emphasizes facial expressions and storytelling. Mohiniyattam is suitable for kids as it helps in developing grace, poise, and body control.
Reference Link –
https://worldforumforartandculture.com/
https://www.natyasutraonline.com/
Vedic Mathematics
Maths has been one of the toughest subjects for school-going kids and they are hesitant to study it because of its abstract concepts. An interesting subject like Maths can be made simpler through Vedic Mathematics, which originates in Vedas, the sacred scriptures of Hinduism.
Vedic Mathematics provides a set of techniques and principles that simplify the complex mathematical operations, enabling kids to perform the complex calculations mentally and enhancing their computation speed.
Additionally, Vedic Mathematics techniques improves the mental agility of children thus laying a solid foundation for Maths that will be very helpful in their studies. So, if you are looking for a fun and engaging way to teach your children Maths then Vedic Mathematics is the way to go.
Reference Link –
https://www.chinfo.org/home/course/vedic-mathematics-course-online-mode/21
Yoga and Meditation
Many of us think that yoga and meditation are only meant for adults but we never realize that nowadays children often express stress due to various factors such as school pressures, social interactions, and extracurricular activities. The regular practice of yoga poses not only enhances flexibility, strength, coordination, and balance in kids but also improves their overall fitness level.
Additionally, Meditation encourages mindfulness, which involves paying attention to the present moment. By practicing concentration techniques and mindful awareness, children can develop better focus, attention span, and cognitive abilities.
This can be beneficial for academic performance as well as overall learning. Also, through breathing techniques and mindful awareness, kids learn to identify and cope with stress, anxiety, anger, and other challenging emotions. This cultivates emotional resilience and promotes a sense of calm and inner peace.
If you want the overall holistic development of your children then the cohesive workshops teaching yoga and meditation must be on your list.
Reference Link –
https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/search/course
https://isha.sadhguru.org/in/en/yoga-meditation/yoga-program-for-kids
Indian Culture
Culture is defined as a cumulative learning of society passed on from generation to generation. The language, food, clothing, beliefs, rituals, behavior, customs, architecture, and everything else that we gather from our society is culture. Over the last few decades, a new perspective has been built up which considers the Indian culture as old and uncool.
As an outcome, it is slowly fading out and our children have minimal awareness of what our culture signifies and they are losing connection with their roots. There is a famous saying that “Just as a sapling needs watering to blossom fully, young children need ‘sanskaras’ for nurturing human values”. Help your child to be culturally aware of Indian values this vacation and encourage them to appreciate and be proud of the rich heritage of India.
There are many workshops and classes available for children online where kids are taught moral stories from Indian scriptures and shlokas in a fun, entertaining and interactive way. Our kids need to learn, appreciate, and be proud of the magnificent Indian culture so help them choose the right learning path.
Reference Link –
https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/children-teens/sri-sri-sanskar-kendra
https://www.chinfo.org/home/courses?category=foundation-vedanta
Sanskrit Language
Sanskrit is an essential language to teach kids not only because it helps children to develop a strong linguistic foundation but also because it is deeply intertwined with the cultural and religious heritage of India. Numerous studies have demonstrated the beneficial impact of learning Sanskrit on cognitive abilities. The highly systematic and intricate nature of Sanskrit grammar demands logical thinking and meticulous attention.
Engaging with Sanskrit promotes memory retention, analytical aptitude, and overall cognitive development in children. When we teach Sanskrit to children, we play a vital role in preserving and promoting an ancient language and culture. Sanskrit’s endurance over thousands of years is a testament to its significance, and by passing on this knowledge to the younger generation, we ensure its continued relevance and longevity in the modern world.
Reference Link –
https://www.chinfo.org/home/courses?category=easy-sanskrit-level-1-online
