Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.  ~ John Lubbock

Dear parents,

What is your favourite season of the year?  I conducted a small survey among our students by asking them the same question and was stunned to know that a lot of them dislike summer.  Some of them say they would rather go to school and chat with their classmates while some grumble there is too much holiday homework to do.  Some even complain that they drag going to classes and activities forced upon them by parents but in which they have absolutely no interest.

Pathetic as it may sound, such notion seems to have become prevalent among young children these days.  Seemingly having no autonomy over their free time, they lack the motivation to learn a new sport, play a musical instrument or acquire new life skills when they should have a bit more time for themselves.

Such inertia is disheartening and worrying as childhood and teenage years should be filled with new experiences and inspirational memories that keep evoking young people to take on new challenges and strive for excellence, thereby achieving fulfilment in life.  Indeed, contrary to common perceptions, a lot of learning happens outside rather than inside the classroom.

In hindsight, I am truly grateful that there was no Internet when I was growing up so that like most other children, I roamed around and played with other children in the neighbourhood rather than sat alone at home.    One of my favourite activities was hanging out at the community library near my home.  When I was still in primary school, I looked forward to summer when I could spend hours in the library reading the general science series ‘I Wonder Why’ and translated or abridged works of Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, George Orwell and Aldous Huxley.  I then delved into the original works at my secondary school library, further developing my passion in English literature. 

In addition to reading extensively rather than cramming school textbooks or completing language exercises, I was able to flex my muscles and learn some new skills in summer.  Beneath the community library was a children and youth centre which offered a lot of training in arts and sports.  I was thrilled to win the best actor award and be named one of the best dancers in a summer camp.  From various coaches and trainers, I learned how to play table-tennis, swim, ride the canoe, pitch a tent, start a fire and do simple cooking in the wild, and be a leader, which I wouldn’t have been able to learn in the classroom.

More importantly, my parents allowed me to join all these activities for fun rather than for collecting prizes and certificates for secondary school admission interviews.  I took the initiative to join and bear the accountability to do my best in each of them.  Though sweating a lot and sometimes becoming exhausted, I was happy and fulfilled, and turned out to be more ready for the new school term in September. 

Do your children look forward to summer?  Can they choose what they would like to do?  Are they allowed to explore their talents and broaden their interests?  Or would they rather stay idle or engage in some mindless activities?  I hope you can help them make some wise choices.  Have a great summer!