It's important for children to take part in social activities during their summer holidays. "Kids should have a break during the summer. They've worked hard during the school year and this is their time to relax, but they should continue communicating with their friends and meeting new people, " said Dr. Jin Han. He's a professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Spending time with friends and meeting new people by doing fun and educational activities such as music, arts and sports programs in summer help with their development. "If children spend a lot of time alone on their electronic equipment, then they will fail to communicate with others, " Han said. "In today's world, it's very easy for kids to stay indoors all day and keep in touch with others, but that is not a good way to connect with others. Face-to-face communication is necessary and important. Parents should restrict the time their children spend on electronic equipment. For example, the time they spend on their phones cannot be more than one hour a day. "
It's also important for children to spend quality time with their parents and sisters or brothers. "It's not the length of time, but the quality of time that families spend together that is really valuable, " Han said. "This type of communication is not something that you can get from anywhere else. It doesn't matter how old the child is, because family bonding (人与人之间的关系) experiences can happen at any time. "
Having children spend time with friends and families doesn't have to spend money in the wallet, either. For example, going to the neighborhood swimming pool or having a picnic is a great way to spend quality time together.
