Summer workshops help children escape screens, explore creativity and discover new interests
For many, July brings traffic snarls, relentless rain and humid weather. For children, however, it marks one of the most eagerly awaited periods of the year, the summer vacation. It is a break from classrooms, homework and examinations, offering children the freedom to relax and recharge.
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But in today's digital age, summer holidays often come with another reality. Many children end up spending hours glued to mobile phones, tablets and televisions, scrolling through social media, watching videos or playing games. While technology has become an inseparable part of childhood, parents and educators increasingly worry that excessive screen time is replacing meaningful learning and real-world experiences.
Against this backdrop, summer vacation workshops have emerged as a welcome alternative. Across Guwahati, organisations, artists and educators conduct workshops on music, theatre, recitation, photography, storytelling, dance, puppetry, painting and various other creative fields. These programmes are no longer viewed merely as holiday activities; they are becoming spaces where children discover their interests, build confidence, develop life skills and interact with peers beyond the classroom.
To understand how effective these workshops are in shaping young minds, GPlus spoke to artists, organisers, educators and parents associated with summer programmes across the city.
One of the strongest arguments in favour of these workshops comes from the fact that they expose children to experiences that regular school education often cannot provide.
Assamese reciter Upam Saikia believes the real purpose of such workshops is not to create experts within a few weeks but to help children recognise their interests.
"Summer vacation workshops are organised in different parts of Assam every year, especially during the holidays. Children may not become masters of any art form during these workshops, but they certainly get an opportunity to discover what they enjoy and what they may want to pursue in the future. These workshops act as an encouragement for them," he said.
Saikia also highlighted a unique initiative being organised this year. A music and recitation workshop centred around five legendary Assamese personalities, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, Keshab Mahanta, Nabakanta Baruah, Rudra Baruah and Dilip Sharma is scheduled at Kamrup Academy Higher Secondary School in Guwahati as part of their birth centenary commemorations.
According to him, such programmes serve a larger purpose beyond skill development.
"The younger generation should know about these personalities and understand their immense contribution to Assam's culture. Throughout the year children remain occupied with school, tuition classes and academic pressure. This one month should become an open space where they can explore their creativity and interests."
While parents often question whether paid workshops are becoming commercial ventures, organisers insist that the value children receive extends far beyond the registration fee.
Theatre artist Dhiraj Kumar acknowledged that financial sustainability is necessary for any organisation but rejected the notion that workshops exist only as a source of income.
"Money is a necessity for everyone, but we are also teaching children something meaningful in return," he said.
According to Kumar, the biggest benefit is that workshops help children disconnect from excessive screen usage.
"Nowadays many children spend most of their time on mobile phones. If they participate in workshops, they stay away from screens for a while, improve their confidence, develop communication skills and gradually understand where their real interests lie."
His observation reflects a growing concern among parents and educators alike. As digital entertainment continues to dominate children's leisure time, structured creative activities provide an opportunity to restore balance between technology and personal development.
The changing family structure has also increased the relevance of such workshops.
Rajiv Kumar Saud, who has worked extensively with children, including specially abled children, explained that summer camps have become much more significant today than they were a generation ago.
"Earlier, children grew up in joint families where they had grandparents, cousins and relatives to spend time with. They played outdoors, interacted with neighbours and explored nature. Today many families are nuclear, parents remain busy with work and children often spend their free time with digital devices."
He believes workshops help fill that gap by providing children with a healthy social environment.
"When children participate in activities such as music, drama, storytelling or dance, they not only learn new skills but also experience teamwork, discipline and friendship. Almost every workshop concludes with a final performance or production, giving participants an opportunity to perform before an audience. That experience significantly boosts their confidence."
For working parents, these programmes offer another important advantage.
Anupa Lakhkar Goswami, a professor at Gauhati University and mother of two, says summer holidays can often become stressful for parents who continue working while schools remain closed. She said "Summer vacations are particularly challenging for working mothers. We have to balance professional responsibilities while ensuring children remain engaged at home."
For her, workshops have become much more than a childcare solution.
"They provide relief from constant screen exposure while allowing children to return home with new experiences every day. My children learnt old Assamese songs, photography and several other creative activities through these workshops. Their holidays became much more enjoyable than simply staying indoors."
Parents also appreciate the diversity of subjects now available. Unlike earlier years when most camps focused only on drawing or dance, today's workshops include photography, filmmaking, environmental awareness, cartooning, robotics, creative writing, puppetry and many other specialised fields.
One such initiative is being conducted by Anupam Nath, a photojournalist who designs workshops with a strong emphasis on skill development.
"We try to offer children something different. Instead of repeating common activities, we organise subject-specific sessions that may benefit them in the future."
This year, his workshop introduced children to puppetry along with activities such as mask-making, environmental awareness and cartooning.
Interestingly, mobile phones, which are often blamed for excessive screen addiction, have also been incorporated into learning.
"Children already spend a lot of time using mobile phones for games or entertainment. We try to show them another side of technology by teaching mobile photography. If they are going to use smartphones anyway, why not help them use them creatively?"
This approach reflects an important shift in educational thinking. Rather than treating technology as the enemy, many educators now believe children should learn how to use digital tools productively.
Among the various creative activities offered during summer camps, puppetry has emerged as an especially effective medium for emotional expression and communication.
Moushumi Bhattacharjee Chowdhury, Founder Director of EPRC and a faculty member teaching puppetry, believes summer camps create an ideal balance between learning and recreation.
"Summer vacation workshops offer children a structured yet playful environment where they can explore new skills, build social confidence and move away from passive screen time. These programmes encourage curiosity, teamwork and creative problem-solving while also supporting families during school holidays."
She explains that puppetry provides unique psychological benefits that go beyond performance.
"Puppets allow children to project their emotions onto characters. They experiment with voice, expressions and storytelling without feeling judged. Introverted or traumatised children often find it easier to express feelings such as fear, anger or happiness through a puppet than through direct conversation."
According to her, this makes puppetry not only an artistic activity but also an effective tool for emotional development.
A brief conversation with children attending these workshops reveals that they often value the experience for reasons adults may overlook.
"I made many new friends," said one participant after completing a theatre session.
"I didn't know photography could be so much fun," another student remarked while displaying pictures taken during a mobile photography class.
Such simple responses perhaps best capture the spirit of these programmes. For children, workshops are not merely about certificates or performances, they are about discovering something new, meeting people with similar interests and enjoying a meaningful holiday.
Education experts point out that the skills developed during such camps often extend beyond the specific art form being taught. Public speaking, teamwork, discipline, creative thinking, leadership, communication and problem-solving are qualities that children continue to benefit from long after the vacation ends.
In a city like Guwahati, where educational competition continues to intensify, summer workshops offer children a rare opportunity to learn without the pressure of marks or examinations. They create an environment where curiosity takes precedence over competition and participation becomes more important than perfection.
Not every child who joins a music class will become a singer, nor will every participant in a photography workshop pursue it professionally. Yet almost every child leaves with greater confidence, broader perspectives and memories that remain long after schools reopen.
As holidays increasingly compete with digital distractions, summer vacation workshops are proving to be much more than seasonal activities. They are becoming spaces where children reconnect with creativity, culture, friendships and themselves, making the summer break not only enjoyable but genuinely enriching.