Dear lovely young people!

You all must be thrilled as your summer vacation is around the corner. For some of you, summer vacation has already begun. Isn't it absolutely relieving to get a break from regular classes? And regular homework, tests, exams, etc.? Yes, I know it is. You must be really excited to enjoy your vacation to the fullest. And I earnestly wish you enjoy these days.

Here are some ideas on fun things to do during your summer vacation:

1. Read!

Reading is the best thing to do as it will not only help you learn new things but also help in utilising your time in a positive manner. Nowadays, we tend to remain glued to gadgets and reading takes a backseat. But please read as many books as you can. Reading helps in developing a fertile imagination and improves vocabulary too. Here are some newly released books you can pick: All-Time Favourite Nature Stories by Ruskin Bond, Sleeptime Tales with Eppy Explorer by Sonia Mehta, Trunk Call for Ajju by Anjana Nagabhushana, Strangus Derangus & Other Adventures of Little Shambu by Reena Ittyerah Puri.

2. Pursue your hobby

We all like doing certain things in our free time. Some of us like painting while others enjoy singing or dancing. Then there are others who like acting in plays or some who enjoy playing musical instruments. Some of us might enjoy cooking in our free time. Whatever your hobby might be, engage in it and try to excel in it. You can request your parents to enrol you in dance/drama workshops which are usually held during the summer vacation. It'll not only polish your skills but also keep you occupied in doing your favourite thing.

3. Spend time with family

When you go to school every day, you don't have a lot of time to interact with your family members. So now is your chance to spend time with them, be it your grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins, or extended family. Do little things for them. It's the little things that count. For example, help your grandmother/grandfather find her/his glasses, ask your mother/father if she/he needs any help with household chores, offer to help your sibling/cousin with his/her homework if needed, etc.

4. Make friends with Nature

The best thing to do during summer vacation is to plant as many saplings as you can. It'll not only make the planet a better place to live in but also keep you engaged in a positive activity. Take the help of elders around you if you don't know how to plant saplings. Spend time in your compound/balcony/garden observing the plants/flowers around you. You'll notice they have many visitors like bees and butterflies. Observe them from afar. You'll enjoy it. You can look up about them on the internet to learn more about their eating habits, behaviour pattern, etc.

5. Go on a trip if the weather permits!

Most families go on trips during summer vacation. Hill stations are the usually preferred destinations. However, please remember that monsoon makes the roads slippery and unsafe for travel as there's a risk of accidents. So please let your parents/elders decide whether it would be safe to go on a trip or not.

6. Take care of pets

Some of you might have pets. When you go to school every day, you might not be able to give time and attention to your pet. So now you can devote yourself fully in taking care of your pet, be it taking it for walks or feeding it or bathing it. You may also accompany the elders when they take the pet to a vet. It's important to keep our pets vaccinated and get their health checked from time to time.

7. Exercise/play

You might want to rest during your summer vacation which is absolutely understandable. But don't forget to do some physical activity daily at least for half an hour, be it going on a walk or doing yoga or running or playing a sport like badminton. It's very important to keep yourself active as a sedentary lifestyle leads to many diseases.

8. Socialise

Often I come across children who do not even want to answer when I ask them their name or any other basic information. Please do not exhibit such behaviour as it's rude. Try to socialise with friends and other people around you. It'll improve your communication skills and make you confident. It's very important to interact with others as we all live in society and can't avoid people. You can invite your friends/cousins or go to their place to socialise. And don't forget to reply to elders when they ask you something!

9. Help others

Always remember that doing small acts of kindness in your day-to-day interactions is very important. As much as possible, try to help others. It doesn't have to be something grand. Even small acts of kindness count, for example, sharing a chocolate, offering a lift if you're in your car and someone you know is walking down the road, etc. These acts make you a better person and make everyone around you happy.

10. Let loose!

Above all, do things that make you truly happy! It's your vacation and you have every right to enjoy it. You could sleep for a few more hours, watch your favourite cartoons/shows, and take things a bit easy. You can ask your parents to take you out for a movie or to a park, depending on whatever suits them. Do keep in mind that they might not be having a summer vacation at work, so do not get upset if they don't get time to take you out. There are many things you can do indoors like baking, painting, dancing, singing, etc.

Have fun! Happy holidays!