Day one is over, 59 to go. I am talking about the summer vacations that have just begun in the UAE. After the intense semester of examinations, projects, field trips and unending activity, suddenly the children have all the free time in the world and don’t know what to do with it. My teenage son, Dhruva, has been looking forward to this break for a long time, but I don’t feel quite the same way. I’ve spent much of last week browsing websites and planning summer activities for him so that he — and I — can stay sane.

Did my parents ever feel this way I wonder? We were a house full of children with three daughters and one son, and we were enough to keep ourselves entertained all through the quiet summer. I remember spending hours climbing trees and plucking mangoes with my siblings on warm, but breezy afternoons, while my tired mother took her siesta. I don’t recall ever being enrolled in a camp or an activity — I doubt if there were any available.

But times have changed and, thankfully, in our land of plenty, we have ample choices to pick from. For working parents, summer camps are a boon. Activities vary from ice-skating, cooking classes, swimming, yoga to art and craft, reading and creative writing. This makes our life easier in one way, yet it’s all about picking the right camp for your child.

“After a gruelling school schedule, I want my children to engage in physical activities such as indoor football, skating and dance. I think such activities, though not related to academics, add to the overall personality of the child”, said Kavita, mother of twin boys. Another friend in my neighbourhood believes in the opposite; she picks activities such as chess, after-school math and language classes for her children. She chooses to use the relaxed pace of the holidays to build skills that give her children a head start in the new year.

Of course, there are others who are going out of the country, thereby making this whole discussion about camps null and void. I do wish I could take off for these two months, but work commitments don’t allow that. At best, I manage two-three weeks, and I savour them.

I am looking forward to my short break towards the end of summer. After all, we all need downtime along with a little bit of structure to truly enjoy our holidays.

What do you plan to do this summer?