PW invited parents of Mumbai to share ideas on how they make summer holidays meaningful for their children

“I often notice parents pouring almost all their energy into their academics and skill-building classes for children. That’s not the kind of childhood I want for my son Aum (class VIII). For us, vacations are sacred, opportunity to break free from rigid routines to restore balance between achievement and living! We try our best to unplug from digital screens and fill that time experiencing life slowly. We love exploring culturally rich places in depth, hiking, or just spend time playing board games at home, cooking together, doing household chores, making music, and having long, unhurried conversations! These simple things quietly build deep connections, life skills and emotional intelligence in ways no classroom ever can. Also visiting the US to spend time with extended family is always top of our minds” — Sonal Mehta, creative consultant

“For us, summer holidays provide an opportunity for learning beyond the classroom. Together with my sons — Arkaan (14) and Ayaan (10) — we create a balanced schedule that combines travel with engaging summer activities at home. Travelling exposes them to different cultures, cuisines and environments, making their learning experiences more memorable. We also encourage them to participate in summer camps that nurture creativity, physical fitness, life skills and independent thinking. These activities keep them actively engaged, build confidence and broaden their perspectives. This blend of exploration and informed learning ensures their holidays are enjoyable, productive and enriching” — Wali Chawdhari – Realtors, Mumbai

“Summer holidays are eagerly awaited, filled with fun, and relaxation. We make it a point to keep our children Vedanth and Vaibhav — both in class X, engaged in a variety of enriching activities. This year, they participated in a sports camp and continued their training in classical music, developing their talents and interests beyond academics. They also dedicated their weekends to community service initiatives, which instilled a sense of responsibility and social awareness in them. Moreover, the holidays provide a valuable opportunity for our family to reconnect with relatives and strengthen family bonds. We try to achieve a perfect balance of learning, service and quality family time” — Sandhya Sandeep Hegde, finance professional

“Summer holidays are always action packed with activities that help our children — Ved (17) and Arnav (11) — develop essential life skills.  Since they already attend sports and other extra-curricular classes during the academic year, the vacation is an opportunity for novel experiences. Visiting historical places helps them learn about diverse cultures that shape our beautiful country. They also spend time patiently tending to our kitchen garden. Since their grandparents live in another city, a few weeks are spent visiting our native place. My children also help out with household chores such as summer cleaning of the attics and preparing traditional summer snacks and pickles.” — Janhvi Gadgil, homemaker