In just a week, summer vacation in the Philippines will once again commence (for some, it started already). As parents, I am sure you find yourselves asking how to keep your child active this summer. We all know that enrolling our children in summer programs is not only to keep them busy but also to inculcate productivity and enrichment.
So moms and dads, what summer programs do you want your children to have? Do you have any ideas? If you ask me, I suggest, if budget allows, to let your children avail of summer programs that are geared towards the development of the entirety of their well-being. That means… summer programs that will help develop the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of your child. Of course, there is no one program that has it all. So, let me suggest a few ideas on how to keep your child active this summer by helping you pick out engaging programs.
- Physical Development
This one is easy. We all know that most summer programs that are available since time immemorial are more on physical development. There are a lot of sports camps or lessons available during summer. You can choose from different sports available such as basketball, tennis, and of course, the summer favorite, swimming. Each of these programs can contribute to the physical development of your child. It all increases stamina as well as keeping your child away from computers and gadgets. Summer programs related to sports usually runs for a few weeks and meets once, twice or thrice a week.
Last summer, my two eldest children learned aikido. They meet thrice a week. They enjoyed their time there. This summer they want to go swimming.
- Mental Development
Before, students taking summer classes are automatically stereotyped as academically delayed or challenged. People think that your child is having difficulties learning if they take summer classes or even tutorials during school days. But today, it is very much different. Students with their parent’s support take the time to get ahead in the game.
While I was teaching in Vietnam back in 2015, I realized that most students there take an afterschool class to learn more in subjects like Mathematics and English. Parents work very hard to afford these classes for their children. They believe that these afterschool classes can help their children get ahead in this competitive world. Countries like Japan and South Korea are also doing afterschool classes.
Here in the Philippines, afterschool classes are already happening. Though we don’t have a lot of learning institutions that provide afterschool classes on various subjects, but there are institutions like S.A.M. or Seriously Addictive Mathematics that provides afterschool classes or summer programs that teach Mathematics using a curriculum that is primarily modeled after the Singapore Mathematics program. Educational summer programs like this run for a few weeks and may be continued after summer.
But before we move on, let me tell you more about S.A.M. as they will be having a summer program that you might want to consider. Let me answer just three questions: why Singapore Mathematics, why S.A.M. or Seriously Addictive Mathematics, and what makes S.A.M. unique.
Why Singapore Mathematics?
I am sure most of you parents have heard about Singapore Math and how it is getting popular with teachers and schools here in the Philippines. Well, to provide you with a little background. Singapore (the country’s Ministry of Education) developed a curriculum in Mathematics that teaches concepts and skills that enhance a child’s confidence in Math. They have been using this approach for years.
They became popular when the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) released test scores showing Singapore at the top of the world three times in fourth and eighth-grade Mathematics. Since then, the US, who coined the word “Singapore Math,” started adopting this curriculum for early childhood learning. Other countries such as Canada, Israel, and the United Kingdom are adopting the curriculum as well.
For short, Singapore Math has been proven effective internationally. More and more countries are adopting it to ensure that their students (a.k.a. the future of their country’s tomorrow) will be solidly founded in Math.
Being a Math teacher, I appreciate the Singapore Math curriculum. If this was taught to me when I was younger, I bet I would have loved Math earlier. I only came to appreciate Math when I was in my 4th year in high school.
Why S.A.M.?
You may think that S.A.M. or Seriously Addictive Mathematics is just another institution or tutorial services but they are certainly not. They are very different from other Math centers. S.A.M.’s key objective in teaching Singapore Math is to help your child develop good thinking skills to solve problems. It is a continuous and complete Math enrichment program designed for students aging from 4 to 12 years old.
The S.A.M approach instills discipline, responsibility, and independent learning within your child. These life skills will benefit your child not only with Math but also in other school subjects as well. Learning with S.A.M. is fun and visually rich.
What makes Seriously Addictive Mathematics (S.A.M.) unique?
First and foremost, they DO NOT teach memorization through answering repetitive worksheets but they will help your child understand the fundamental concepts in solving Math problems and equations.
Second, they help build your child’s mathematical skills such as learning how to measure, analyze data, quantify things to name a few.
Third, they help your child understand the process of solving Math equations via applications and modeling and developing thinking skills and Heuristics (strategies to solve the problem when the solution is not obvious – this includes diagraming, making guesses through trial and error, acting it out, and reasoning).
Lastly, they are taught to make a connection and cultivate the ability to communicate how they answer.
By the way, please take note that the program is designed to fit whatever Math curriculum your child school is using.
To know more about Singapore Math or S.A.M., check out their website at http://seriouslyaddictivemaths.com.ph or call them at 0977-823-9910 today!
- Spiritual Development
I respect that everyone has a different take on this. But whatever religion you practice, I suggest you inquire if there are summer programs available at your local church. There are summer programs that allow children to learn the Word of God that teaches admirable virtues.
In our local church, we have a yearly “Vacation Bible School” or VBS. They learn about God through Bible stories, games, and crafts. It runs for a week.
As summer is nearly approaching, it is high time to call and inquire about the summer programs you and your child might be interested it. Knowing the schedules and prices on hand can help you set aside a budget and schedule the activities your kids will have this summer.
In a span of two months, with all these summer programs, your child will level up into a more well-rounded individual ready to get ahead in the world!
Good list!
Actually, I’m planning to enroll my kids to music classes.
Guitar lessons for my son, and the two ladies – violin and piano.
Sumakit ang ulo ko sa math! Haha! Na-curious ako sa S.A.M, though.
Thanks for sharing!
Music classes are also good. It enhances creativity in them. And if you have S.A.M. near you, I suggest you go and visit them. Have your child experience their trial classes. 🙂
WoW! Parang gusto ko yang SAM! Kaso ang layo.. sana mayroon din branch sa Bukidnon.. wala kasi kami matirhan sa cdo.. it would be expensive uhuhu magtitiis muna nalang kami sa basketball, swimming, art summer camp na available dito…
That’s the only problem if you are living far away. Maybe you want to open a franchise? That would be awesome right? 😉
Yes, keeping kids active with extra activities this summer is a much better way that staying at home watching tv and playing online games.. my son is into Karatedo this summer, actually it’s his 2 years in karatedo and a yellow belter already
I’m enrolling Gabby in dancing since she enjoys it. And I’ll bring her to the farm in Iloilo to enjoy rural life. There’s no SAM branch here in Bacolod but Gabby’s school also has program on Singaporean Math and their students perform very well in the big schools.
Will be in Bacolod soon, Marz. Hope to see you and your baby soon. Dancing is great, will they still have one in May?
wow nice to know that we have this in Philippines. At least we get kids to learn more advance techniques in math. luckily my husband is in business and finance, a personal tutor for our daughter. My family loves swimming during summer!
Your daughter is blessed to have a personal tutor with daddy. I am sure they are loving Math now. Yup, my children loves swimming too but this mom is like… naaahhh, not for me. Hehehe…
This blog post reflects much about the author :D. I see you got a little carried away with the Mental Development, haha! thanks for sharing SAM, so sad that the Philippines is nowhere near those countries topping the Math. I hope every Filipino child will have the opportunity to be helped in developing great thinking skills to solve problems.
I would personally go for Physical Activities to keep the kids busy during the summer though..it’s kind of refreshing for them doing something else other than studying. Swimming would be great.
The kids are going swimming lessons this summer. I saw an affordable program in CDO, maybe you would want your kids to enroll too?
I really don’t enroll my kids in summer classes unless they want to, because I figured they’re in school for 10 months already and could really use Summer vacation as just that, a vacation. 😛
Math has never liked me, I tried my hardest to love it, but in the end, it just wasn’t meant to be. 😛 I’m glad though that my children like Math the way I never did.
Hahaha… Well, as for me, music never liked me at all. As much as I wanted to sing, the tunes won’t go into the right places. 😀
Yup, if the kids want it, then go. If not, well, it would be a waste. Not very practical. Maybe you can try it as afterschool activities in the next school year. They might enjoy it then. 😉
This center looks interesting. As of now I’m looking for a summer activity for my son and I hope I can find a nice center that teaches Singaporean Math near us. I wish that S.A.M will have a branch here in Alabang or Bacoor Cavite.
These tips are really helpful for raise kids.My kid is still a preschooler.But,I send him for a phonics/reading program once a week.He loves his reading class.So,we continue it.This enrichment class helps him his work in preschool.At the same time,as we are in Singapore,I also bought some work books for preschoolers.Those are with activities that make the foundation for learning Math. 🙂
I’m curious about Singapore Math, I will enroll my daughter once she enters 1st Grade. For summer, we’ll just continue her ballet lessons, sayang naman yung uniform e
I let my kids choose their summer activities. My eldest is into basketball training and my youngest wants to learn how to play flute. She’s not yet enrolled for the flute session so I can still recommend her to try S.A.M. in case she’s interested then why not?