For children, summer is always a meaningful time as it offers a break from school to experience new things and create beautiful childhood memories. To ensure summer is not wasted, many parents plan trips for their children to explore nature, learn sports for health, or engage in household chores together to create memorable moments.

Children from the junior class of the Hoa Bac Ecological Agriculture and Community Tourism Cooperative enjoy running on the vast grass field. Photo: T.V.

Immersing in nature

Whenever she hears the cicadas chirping and sees the flamboyant flowers blooming, Truong Thi Hong Cuc, a resident of Cam Le District, plans summer activities, such as teaching how to ride a bike or play football, for her 9-year-old son, Nguyen Huu Quang Huy. This year, she wanted him to have childhood memories in the countryside of Hoa Bac, so she gifted him a chance to participate in the 'Junior Class' to return to nature, organised by the Hoa Bac Ecological Agriculture and Community Tourism Cooperative.

Mrs Cuc shared, "This summer, I decided to let my son study in Hoa Bac because it has everything from green forests and mountains to rivers and access to the culture and life of the Co Tu ethnic people. I am happy to see him and his friends experiencing summer in such a fresh environment, blending with nature. This is something children need but are missing in modern life".

During the three days at the junior class, Huy walked on embankments, enjoyed the endless green rice fields, smelled the burning incense of the fields, and swam in the local river. He also learned about different plants and fruits, how to plant and care for them, cooked herbal teas, and learned traditional Co Tu weaving techniques.

Mrs Cuc noticed that Huy became more independent, something he hadn't been before, which delighted her. "After finishing the class, Huy returned home excited and even promised to go again next summer. For me, this is a great joy, helping him accumulate knowledge and life skills for the future," she expressed.

In a similar vein, 35-year-old Bui Duc Vu, residing in Hoa Lien Commune, Hoa Vang District, also want his son to remember the sparkling river under the midday sun and feel the cool breeze carrying the scent of young corn from the river, rather than seeing the river through a screen. Since he grew up in the countryside, his childhood was filled with gardens and rice fields, and he loved the peaceful village scenery. Hence, he wanted his 8-year-old son, Bui Duc Anh to experience everything firsthand in the open, tranquil countryside each summer. 

Challenging new experiences

Every summer, Nguyen Van Diep, living in Thanh Khe District, focuses on improving his 13-year-old son Nguyen Nhat Thanh’s health and height, as well as avoiding gaming and phone usage. He enrolled Thanh in a basketball course at the BDC Basketball Centre. Trying something new during the summer, Diep was pleasantly surprised when Thanh developed a passion for basketball, competing and winning several city-based and national awards.

Mr Diep enthusiastically said, “After four years of playing basketball, Thanh grew from 1.4 meters to 1.76 meters, becoming energetic, strong, and healthy. He won a bronze medal in the national basketball tournament for junior high school pupils in 2023, a silver medal in the 2024 Phu Dong Sports Games for junior high school pupils in basketball category, and a bronze medal in the 2023 Hoa Binh U15 basketball tournament. Thanks to summer, I discovered his passion for sports, not just basketball but also swimming to prevent risks.”

Similarly, Mrs Nguyen Thi Bich Tho, residing in Lien Chieu District, mentioned that besides letting her daughter learn arts such as drawing and dancing, she also creates meaningful moments like cooking, cleaning, watering plants, and making toys from leaves, paper, and cardboard with her. She said summer is the ideal time for children, so she guide her daughter in suitable household chores, creating memories with her. As a kindergarten teacher, she always makes toys for her daughter and teaches her to cherish and take care of. After the summer, her daughter has many handmade toys like paper dolls and numbers made from paper.

“Whatever she wants to try, I join her. The interaction makes her enthusiastic and diligent. I believe that experiencing together, not just instructing, helps children learn quickly and remember longer,” Ms Tho added.

Maximising children's potential

Every summer, most parents want their children to learn new things, especially experiencing rural life. To meet this demand, Do Thi Huyen Tram, President of the Hoa Bac Ecological Agriculture and Community Tourism Cooperative, shared that from the beginning of summer, the cooperative plans to organise junior classes for 10 to15 children aged 7 to 15, with each learning activity guided by local and international experts, along with cooperative members. The children not only practice football, cycling, drawing, and playing traditional games but also cook, swim, hike, and interact with nature, learning teamwork and developing ideas through games.

“We put a lot of effort into each junior class activity, giving children a chance to understand their interests and local culture. I hope the junior class will be a place for diverse experiences, deep thoughts, and rich learning,” Ms. Tram said.

According to PhD Nguyen Truong Minh, lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, University of Economics-University of Da Nang, and founder of the BDC Basketball Centre, summer is when the centre increases teaching sessions to serve young learners. BDC aims not only to teach basketball skills but also to educate children about teamwork, confidence, and strength. The safe and friendly environment also ensures children can maximise their potential.

As life becomes more modern, children's summer experiences have significantly improved compared to previous generations. They have access to many things but also miss out on others. Ultimately, any experience helps children challenge themselves, discover their potential, and create the most beautiful childhood memories.

Reporting by TUONG VY- Translating by TRUC VY