It's a bachcha party, alright

Clear skies, carpets of dry leaves everywhere you look and a sudden urge to sink your teeth into an indulgent sundae are a few things that point to the arrival of summer. And along with the nostalgic season, comes what most parents dread — summer vacations.

If you’re trying to come up with a plan to keep your little ones occupied over the holidays, the city’s got you covered. A slew of interesting workshops and camps will not only teach children new tricks but will also help develop their cognitive skills and creativity. Apart from the regular art, craft, music and dance classes, this year, kids can sign up for classes that are as domestic as cooking or as wild as surviving a night in the forest.

Does your child have a fascination for fighting crime? Then, we suggest you look up the CSI (Cool Science Investigation) camp by Gyanpro Educational Innovation. For children aged 11 to 13, this one sees participants solving mysteries designed by the organisers. “Kids will dig through mysterious footprints and other clues to solve murders,” explains Shwetha Hallubai of Gyanpro. “It helps develop cognitive skills and logical thinking,” she adds.

For those who’ve been bitten by the shutterbug, there’s the Young Photographer workshop by Toehold. The sessions cover the basics of digital photography and camera handling. Apart from working on their technical skills, this workshop will also train the child’s eye to find beauty in everyday objects. With a mix of indoor and outdoor classes, photographer Rajiv Shyamsunder will ensure kids will learn while having a fun time.

“When we were kids all we had were painting and music classes during summer. But our children have so many options. My daughter loves photography and she’s going to be signing up for a course over the holidays,” says Catherine Samuel, a mother of a 10-year- old.

Having found the need to do her bit for society, Anuradha Venkatraman, a renowned dancer and theatre artiste, is conducting an art, theatre and dance workshop for underprivileged kids. “We will introduce them to various art forms and we’ll work to create a performance which will be showcased in the end as a culmination,” says Venkatraman, adding that a host of other professional artistes will be roped in for the classes.

“It’s a great sign that there are so many different skills and interests that are open for kids. It’s a sign of a progressive society which greatly helps a child’s psychological and intellectual development,” says psychologist Swarnalatha Iyer, in conclusion.