Engaging children needs creativity and active parenting

As schools and colleges across Oman close in a sweltering summer, keeping children engaged in a productive manner is going to be a key challenge.

Not only will the heat keep families indoors, but it also means that the number of activities available to them is limited.

This is where parents, adult siblings and extended family come into the picture.

There is sufficient research which suggests the human mind needs stimulation that comes from exposure to new ideas, skills and information.

But the challenge to developing these skills is not hard to find. Relentless exposure to multiple screens, endless loops of social media, and short videos of a variety of influencers all make it possible to spend hours on a screen without much outcome.

In fact, researchers have concluded that the more hours one spends on social media, the less a person is able to actually remember any of the content. This is apart from the trolling and negativity that is part of this discourse.

Nor is it obvious that parents are happy to allow children to passively absorb this lifestyle. The rise of participation in book festivals, art competitions and community engagement through social and cultural activities show that all stakeholders, whether parents, teachers, or educational institutions, acknowledge their role in creating opportunities for young learners to engage with their community in various ways.

Encouraging children to engage in any activity that they may be interested in is crucial to their development and growth. This is easier said than done, as it asks parents to be sufficiently involved with their children and actually act as role models for them.

There are some tips that parents can benefit from to keep children engaged, active and socialised while not making it seem as if it is a chore for either.

Keeping to a routine is seen to be important. This could be a uniquely summer routine – waking up a bit later, extra movie viewing time in the nights, or even a midday nap.

But keeping to an established routine without making it sound like a rule would allow children to adapt to it during a long summer break.

A summer camp for children is often a good idea as it encourages socialisation, establishes a routine for part of the day, and is a learning opportunity. However, that may not be practical for many due to access and affordability issues.

Engaging in a shared skill between a parent and child has no equivalent in terms of its outcomes. Whether it is building something in clay, wood, or paper, trying a new dish, or learning a new language, all of these activities help to bond children with each other and create valuable memories.

Whatever the activity, being a role model is the most important requirement for a parent. Children cannot be expected to engage in meaningful activities when they see their parents glued to a phone or just not being around. Emerging from the summer with a sense of shared achievements and joy is not only possible but necessary for the development of a child, and indeed society.