A smart and refreshing holiday

Change is as good as a holiday, or so the saying goes. So it would be reasonable to expect a holiday that brings change to be even more refreshing. In this case a self-improvement holiday would be the ideal choice for children and teenagers during the school holidays as it may improve their lives and refresh their young minds.

Students often talk about visiting recreation places to refresh their minds after their busy daily schedule in the classroom. Indeed, panoramic locations are naturally refreshing, especially for children and teenagers who seek freedom and would like to experience something new.

Parents often plan a different type of holiday for their children. They opt for a unique interpretation of a holiday. Jidan, for example, a third grader attending a secondary school in Rawamangun, loves adventure and science. During the upcoming school holiday he intends to play sport and organize activities with his classmates.

"I will concentrate on two things: routine futsal training with my friends in the school hall and self-improvement through outbound-leadership activities!" said Jidan, who loves wearing fatigues.

With the World Cup starting next week, many teenagers and students are caught up in futsal fever and will be busy playing the game during the holidays

"We play futsal almost every week," enthused Jidan. However, as it is a long holiday and prior to the time that he must register for high school, Jidan and his futsal-mad friends are ready to focus on training and outbound activities conducted by Tommy Siawira at the Remaja Prestasi Camp.

The training teaches leadership skills just like for adults, such as in emotional and spiritual intelligence (ESQ), combined with outbound programs especially prepared for teenagers.

"My father suggested it for my holiday to enhance my personality and character," said Jidan, whose father works in the advertising business.

Filling your holiday with serious activities may sound a little unbelievable and another cause of headaches, but it isn't. Just ask Alija. Alija goes to Lazuardi Global Islamic School in Cinere, South Jakarta. He is serious about his hobby - robotics - and has been since fifth grade primary school. He has just finished an intensive two-day course on electronics and robotics on Jl. Ketapang, Central Jakarta.

"This time I won't spend my holidays in recreation places but improve my capability in assembling my robots as well as my knowledge about microcontrollers and PLC *digital computers*. For my own satisfaction I will also assemble a brand new robot," he said.

Anang's children are also equally unique. Anggi, 12, a first grader of secondary school, is a high achiever and on the school's olympiade team. During the holidays she plans to visit Observatorium Bosscha in Lembang, Bandung, which she has been wanting to do for some time. "It must be fantastic to view the stars and constellations through the huge telescope there," she said.

Different from the scientific Anggi, her elder sister Fitri, 15, would prefer a cultural holiday close to Jakarta, in Curug Agung, Depok Mulya. There she can enjoy a village atmosphere and see how ceramics are produced by Widjayanto, a graduate of the Bandung Institute of Technology, in his studio. The studio there is similar to the one he owns in Kuningan, Jakarta.

"At Widjayanto's studio we can learn how to make ceramics and enjoy the delicious food and snacks prepared by si Mbok," she said.

Lia, 13, a secondary school student in congested North Jakarta, has a different kind of holiday planned. She wants a fresh holiday, out of the trade area but still close to her home. She has selected a unique sensation in water activities at Sekolah Layar Nasional (National Sailing School) in East Lodan, Marine, Taman Impian Jaya, North Jakarta. So this holiday she will be sailing with the students of the sailing school.

"The experience will be fun and it will be quality time," she commented.

Indeed, the activities and choices are fantastic during this long holiday. And travel agents as well as related service providers are fully aware of the business potential. Now many parents realize that a holiday does not always mean spending time at recreation places. Talented children and students have different choices. For them, the holidays mean quality time pursuing their hobbies and interests.

Parents and everyone else should support such activities. Anang, for example, acknowledges that his children have serious hobbies and interests. "Each of my children has a different character and personality, so their choices are unique and different," said Anang, who is a telecommunication executive.

Nowadays parents need to fully understand their children's needs during the holidays, as should travel agents and related service providers. City children in Indonesia are developing almost in the same way as other children in the world, more so with Internet usage spreading so rapidly.

"We must also learn to be flexible parents," said Anang. "This is the right time to support our children's hobbies and interests. We must give them full support so that they can nurture their talents. Fortunately, these days there are many places and holiday programs that are dedicated to different kinds of holidays," he concluded.