How to make summer fun

Summer is here!

And its presence is strongly felt because of the El Niño phenomenon.

Still, this shouldn’t stop us from pursuing our summer passions… especially when it comes to our kid’s mental and physical growth.

How can we keep our restless and energetic children happy and productive during the summer? Here are some ideas I’d like to suggest as well as tips from my parent- friends.

The ABCs of summer fun and learning:

A for Art

Many noted veteran artists like Fernando Sena give art classes (Sena is mentor to famous contemporary artists like Elmer Borlongan and John Santos). Call him at 376-2196 or 0918-9519989.

Bright and Cheerful (Yu Ming) School also offers art classes. Contemporary artist Vincent Padilla will teach this summer. For details, call 717-0498.

Acting Workshops

Want your kids to be the next Broadway star? Prepare them this early and let them take acting workshops. Try Playshop at the Podium Mall (log on to www.trumpetsplayshop.com or call 636-2842). It also offers photography classes.

Pocketful of Kids Summerific programs are acting lab and multi dance ( jazz and hip-hop) It has music workshops and other essential classes like Mandarin for travelers (www.encoreinterarts.com).

B for Ballet

Multiple Intelligence International School offers ballet lessons, voice, piano, taekwondo, fencing, football, hip-hop and mad science (interesting!). For details, call 433-4949 or log on to www.mi-childsplace.com.ph

C is for Camping

Foster the love of nature in your kids by going camping! Kids who are nature smart will love this activity.

Culinary

At age three, I enrolled my daughter at the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA Katipunan). She was in fact, the youngest in the Introductory Baking Class. One would think that she was just saling pusa among a bunch of older children and pre-teens but they were surprised to know that Anya knew how to bake. She knew the ingredients, she knew how to knead flour, and mix the basic baking ingredients. For her, the flour dough was just like playing with clay. It was fun! I was there in the classes, too. It was a perfect bonding activity for me and my daughter. That is why this summer we are taking baking classes again at the CCA (log on to www.cca-manila.com).

L for Larong Pinoy

 Don’t forget the all Pinoy games! The classics: Patintero, piko, habulan, step-no, taguan-pung. They’re all part of my childhood. Gotta make my daughter try the piko this summer. I was so good at piko and Chinese garter when I was a little girl.

R for Reading

Galileo Enrichment Learning Program teaches Math and English. This was very helpful to enhance my daughter’s Math skills. Before, she wasn’t very interested in numbers. But after taking several classes under Galileo, she now likes Math. Very effective. Thanks, Teacher Arleen! (She teaches at the Galileo Katipunan Branch) For details, log on to www.galileoenrichment.com or call 898-1234.

S for Sports

Like Swimming.

Last summer, I enrolled my kid in her first ever swim lessons. She loves the water. She loves dipping in pools. But it was different when she took formal lessons. She was afraid. Especially when she was swallowing water. Needless to say, she didn’t learn to swim last summer. Well maybe we will try again this summer.

Badminton champ and national team assistant Ian Piencenaves, husband to my kumare and parentin.tv partner Estelle and dad to my godson Gregory, also gives badminton classes to kids. For details, call 0916-4790918.

I asked fellow parent Patricia Hizon (sportscaster, columnist, philanthropist) how we can get our kids to love sports and she twitted:

“We lead by example. Our boys see we’re passionate about it, and also we provide them with equipment and ample space to play various sports. It helps that we get to bring them to watch games so they get excited as they watch how a sport is properly played.” Thanks, Patricia!

V for Volunteerism

Charity not only begins at home but begins in childhood. Summer is the perfect time to expose your kids to the realities of life. Teach them a thing or two about helping others. Let them come with you when you do volunteer work in let’s say, Gawad Kalinga sites. Make them participate in the process of building a GK house and make them feel the Bayanihan spirit.

While we are at the subject of volunteerism and charity. I’m appealing to your generous hearts, dear readers, to help me raise P3-M for the liver transplant operation of 10-month-old Baby Aidan Mahiya who has billary atresia. Please e-mail me for your pledges. Make your summer more meaningful. Help me save the life of Baby Aidan before it’s too late. Thank you!

E-mail me at [email protected]

Follow me at @tinebabao and @parentin.

Special thanks to www.thestorkstudio.com for our family photo published in my previous column.