Practicing skills through experiences

Every summer, a major concern for many parents is how to give their children a rewarding vacation, avoiding dependence on phones, televisions, or video games. From that need, many models of summer camps, skill classes, and experiential activities have become choices of interest for many families. This year, summer programs in Điện Biên focus on educating life skills, building independence, and adaptability for children. Among them, the “SSPORT Summer Camp 2026” organized by the Ssport Sports Education Academy attracts a large number of students.

With a day-boarding model, the program combines sports training and collective experiential activities. The children practice basketball with professional coaches, participate in team games, and learn communication skills, time management, and a spirit of discipline. The nutrition regimen is built suitably for the exercise intensity to help students develop both physically and mentally.

Lê Thế Trường An, the program manager, said: “What we aim for is to practice sports skills and form a positive lifestyle for the children, knowing how to be independent and overcome personal limits through collective activities.”

For many years, comprehensive skill summer camp models have become a familiar gathering place for teenagers every summer. As one of the pioneering units implementing this model locally, this year the Tâm Tuệ Life Skills Education and Talent Development Center continues to organize the “4T Summer Camp 2026” with the message “Independence - Self-discipline - Autonomy - Maturity”, bringing students an environment for practical experience, skill training, and self-discovery during the summer break. The program is rolled out in two phases in June with many outdoor experiential activities, picnic skills, community activities, and team games. No longer stiff lessons, children are placed in real-life situations to handle themselves under the guidance of teachers and camp counselors. From communication skills, teamwork, and self-care to accident prevention skills and behaving in the cyber environment, all are naturally integrated through experiential activities.

Chu Thị Bích Hảo from Điện Biên Phủ ward, who has a son in junior high school, shared: “I find current summer camp programs very practical. The children not only get to exercise and stay away from phones but also learn how to be independent, communicate, and get along with everyone. After each course, my child is more proactive in daily life, mature, and confident in expressing himself.”

Nurturing talents

Besides life skills, summer is a favorable time for children to discover and develop personal talents. From arts and sports to creative activities, many summer classes have opened up opportunities for children to try their hands at what they love. At the provincial Youth and Children’s Activity Center, the 2026 summer talent classes are enrolling with many subjects for children aged 5 and above. The program is organized from June 1 to August 25, divided into groups: Arts, sports, and advanced talent classes.

In the arts field, the children can participate in folk dance, modern dance, ballroom dance, yoga, Hmong flute, guitar, or aerobic fitness. Meanwhile, sports subjects such as badminton, pickleball, basketball, Taekwondo, Vovinam... continue to attract a large number of registering students. With a method combining learning and playing, it helps the children develop their strengths and practice perseverance, team spirit, and confidence in front of a group.

Tạ Văn Hiền, Deputy Director in charge of the provincial Youth and Children’s Activity Center, stated: “Every summer, the Center innovates its activity content to create a healthy and rewarding living environment for children. We hope the children can both have fun and have the opportunity to develop life skills, physical health, and artistic talents during the summer break. In addition to general classes, the Center maintains core arts and team ritual classes to foster students with outstanding talents to participate in movement activities and collective performances. Especially, many children in disadvantaged areas are provided with conditions to access cultural and sports activities suitable for their age.”

In many localities, summer playgrounds for children are organized diversely, such as: youth football tournaments, community reading classes, English clubs, or folk culture experiential activities. Playgrounds such as tug of war, bamboo dancing, tó má lẹ (a traditional ethnic game), or team activities continue to attract a large number of children participating, contributing to creating a vibrant and rewarding summer.

To make summer activities effective, many localities strengthen the coordination between families and schools in caring for and managing children; while paying attention to investing in more public playgrounds, libraries, sports areas, and community living spaces for children. From those practical activities, children have the opportunity to learn how to share, discover themselves and the world around them, nurture their dreams, and step by step form the essential skills for the future.