Summer activities foster children's comprehensive development

Youth Union organizations across Dong Nai City have provided more opportunities for children to participate in summer activities, fostering an environment that supports their comprehensive development by organizing academic review classes, life skills training, recreational activities, creative experiences, and cultural and artistic programs.

Children enthusiastically participate in activities and collect stickers to redeem gifts at the An Hoa Neighborhood Cultural House in Bien Hoa Ward.

Thanks to attending a summer class organized in her ward, Nguyen Ngoc Tuyet Nhung, a student in Class 2/1 at Tam Hiep A Primary School in Tam Hiep Ward, has had the opportunity to meet and play with friends during the summer.

Starting with summer academic review classes

Nguyen Ngoc Tuyet Nhung said that her father is a worker, while her mother sells bread and sticky rice in the mornings. Instead of attending extra classes or spending the summer resting and playing like many of her friends, she helps her mother sell bread and sticky rice to earn additional income. Her daily routine includes helping her mother sell and pack up in the morning, assisting her in picking vegetables and preparing ingredients for the following day in the afternoon, and spending most evenings at home watching television before going to bed. About half a month ago, the Youth Union of Dong Nai University, in coordination with the Tam Hiep Ward Youth Union, organized an evening English class near her home, and she asked her mother for permission to participate.

Since then, she has arrived at class early every day. According to Tuyet Nhung, the class is taught by female students from the Faculty of Foreign Languages at Dong Nai University, creating a relaxed classroom atmosphere. In addition to teaching English, they incorporate games that allow her to reinforce what she has learned while having fun. Attending the class has also given her the opportunity to meet many new friends, making her summer more meaningful.

Since the launch of the "Blue-shirted Tutor" evening classes, the An Hoa Neighborhood Cultural House (Bien Hoa Ward) has become more vibrant. Nguyen Hoang Yen Nhi, a student from the Faculty of Primary and Preschool Education at Dong Nai University and one of the volunteers responsible for the class in Bien Hoa Ward this summer, said the participants include children of different ages and varying academic abilities. Through the volunteer-led summer classes, the children study Mathematics, Vietnamese, and Natural Science. More importantly, they receive moral education to help them become kind and responsible individuals and are equipped with essential life skills.

Le Tuan Dat, 11, who lives in a rented room in An Hoa Neighborhood, Bien Hoa Ward, said the storytelling sessions are his favorite activity. The instructors use a computer connected to the internet and a projector to present animated versions of Vietnamese fairy tales. After watching, the children are encouraged to share their thoughts on the stories, while the instructors guide them in distinguishing between right and wrong. To reinforce both the content and the lessons conveyed, the children also role-play the characters during class.

Recreational and experiential activities

Alongside activities that allow children to learn while having fun, Youth Union organizations at all levels also organize recreational and experiential activities. Tran Thi Tham, Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Trang Dai Ward and Secretary of the Trang Dai Ward Youth Union, said that, under the direction of the Ward People's Committee, the Ward Youth Union recently organized Children's Festival with a wide range of lively activities, providing children with opportunities for recreation and new experiences.

The Ward Youth Union arranged activity spaces dedicated to creative science and digital transformation, folk games, life skills and child protection, children's art exhibitions, integration and foreign languages, and a culinary corner. Highlights included the 2026 Young Sprouts Festival with the theme "Trang Dai Children Say No to School Violence" and a drawing contest on drug prevention.

"Through these activities, we aim to provide children with more opportunities for summer recreation while raising awareness and equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to proactively prevent school violence, drug abuse, and other risks that may affect their development," said Tham.

Le Thao Nguyen, a student in Class 5/9 at Nguyen Thai Hoc Primary School (Trang Dai Ward), said she was delighted to participate in the Children's Festival held at the school where she has studied for the past five years. She and her friends took part in various activities, including folk games, book-related activities, art exhibitions, English activities, and culinary activities. She also joined the Young Pioneer communication team, focusing on school violence prevention. According to Thao Nguyen, the activities provided valuable lessons, helping her learn how to build positive friendships, strengthen solidarity, get along well with friends, avoid fighting, and refrain from behaviors that harm others, thereby contributing to reducing school violence.

Nguyen Tran Phuong Ha, Deputy Secretary of the City Youth Union, Chairwoman of the City Students’ Association, and Chairwoman of the City Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organization Council, said that during this year's "Green Summer" volunteer campaign, the City Youth Union established a "Protecting Young Sprouts" volunteer team comprising 15 members. From July 13 to August 7, the team is visiting several primary and secondary schools in communes and wards, including Xuan Loc, Xuan Hoa, Dak Nhau, Bom Bo, Loc Thanh, Tan Tien, Thanh Son, Phu Hoa, Trang Dai, and Bien Hoa.

At these locations, the "Protecting Young Sprouts" team organized communication sessions on knowledge and skills related to the prevention of abuse, accidents, injuries, drowning, and unsafe online behavior, helping children recognize and avoid risks to ensure their own safety. The team also organized experiential activities, folk games, group games, skits, and "Ring the Golden Bell" competitions, while presenting gifts and scholarships to disadvantaged children.

Through a wide range of practical, diverse, and age-appropriate activities, Youth Union organizations have created favorable conditions for children to study, play, and develop, contributing to their comprehensive development while ensuring they enjoy a meaningful summer.

Le Thao Nguyen, a student in Class 5/9 at Nguyen Thai Hoc Primary School in Trang Dai Ward, said that summer is a time for children to rest, play, and recharge in preparation for the new school year. She expressed her hope that authorities at all levels and relevant sectors would organize more recreational activities for children to participate in.

By Nga Son – Translated by Minh Hong, Minho