How to Encourage children to Learn New Skills During holidays

As summer vacation approached, my 13-year-old daughter Ankita told me, “Mamma, I’ve been studying all year long. During the holidays, please don’t ask me to read. I want to enjoy my holidays.”

I understand that children need rest and enjoyment during holidays, but I also believe that it’s essential for them to learn new skills during their break.

Ankita is now going to 7th grade, and I think this is the right time for her to explore her interests and develop skills for her future career. Computer science is her favourite subject, and she dreams of starting her own company related to gaming. She achieved second place in a computer competition last year by creating a quiz game in Scratch.

Her passion and talent are evident, and I want to encourage her to pursue her goals.

I’ll support her in every way possible, whether through additional learning resources, mentorship, or exposure to real-world computer science. Together, we’ll nurture her dreams and help her achieve success.

Since my daughter is independent, I've found open communication and working together work better than just telling her what to do.

After much thought, I finally came up with an idea that worked for my daughter.
Here's what worked for us:


Negotiation, Not Dictatorship:

Rather than imposing my will, I suggested, ‘Baby, you have 14 hours a day. How about dedicating 6 of those hours to learning new skills that could help you become a computer engineer? The remaining time is yours to sleep, chat with friends, or enjoy your hobbies.’ She accepted this suggestion because it allowed her more time to play and relax.

Following Her Dreams: Choice and Ownership

Instead of telling her what to do, I let her choose. She’s taking charge of her learning. And it’s not just about skills—it’s also about believing in herself and going after her dreams.

Dreams as a Guide: Ankita, my daughter, really loves computers. She’s like a curious explorer, always looking for new ideas. She’s also great at writing stories. But her dream isn’t just about being a computer engineer; she wants to start her own game development company someday.

To help her, I’ve talked a lot about her journey. We discussed how learning to code is important. Together, we explored online tutorials and YouTube videos. Ankita found a coding language she likes, and she’s focusing on that.



Quality over Quantity: We agreed to have shorter, focused study sessions throughout the day, allowing for ample time for rest and fun in between, rather than studying for six continuous hours.

Open Communication: Ankita sometimes just wants to chat with her friends all day instead of focusing on her future goals. But don’t worry! We’ve come up with a summer vacation plan that allows her to have fun while still making progress toward her dreams.

As a parent managing summer vacation with your teenager, remember that open communication and collaboration matter. Involve your teen in decisions; you might be pleasantly surprised by their willingness to cooperate!

My daughter has this cool idea. She wants to create a video game. She wants it to be so immersive that players feel like they’re part of the game world. I’m not sure how practical her idea is, but I always encourage her. I tell her, “Wow, that’s amazing! But remember, you need to learn the right skills to make your dream come true.”

We know time is valuable. We don’t want to waste it. But when it comes to game development, we’re not sure what skills to focus on. Ankita decides what she wants to learn first. Right now, she’s learning Japanese on Duolingo. She thinks her future business partners might be Japanese because she loves anime. This inspired me to learn new languages on the app too!

She’s also working on her logical reasoning skills. Last year, in 6th grade, she learned to create games using Scratch. She even won second prize in a school competition for a game she designed. She wasn’t happy with the result, so I told her to keep trying.

We found great YouTube channels that offer tutorials on game development and graphics. WscubeTech, CareerRide, Intellipaat, and Brackeys are some of them. Udemy and Simplilearn offer relevant courses too. For academic courses, we like Magnetic Brains on YouTube. Their teaching style is easy to understand.



Ankita is smart, but she can be stubborn. I suggested dance classes, but she quit after a couple of months. She tried swimming, but that only lasted for 15 days. It can be frustrating, but I understand she wants to do things her way.

She often says, “My world, my rules,” and I respect that. As her mother and a psychology student, I support her and help her find her path. I use what I’ve learned in my studies to communicate with her. We’re both learning, but I’m confident we’ll find something she’s passionate about.

Every child is unique, right? So, understanding your child’s dreams and goals is key. Once you know what they aspire to be, you can find the right tools and resources to support them. As a parent, you’ve probably been in similar situations. Whether your child dreams of becoming a chef, musician, teacher, civil servant, artist, writer, athlete, or scientist, there’s a world of opportunities waiting for them during the summer break.

For instance:

• Chef: Why not explore cooking classes or online tutorials together? Whip up some delicious dishes side by side!

• Musician: Enroll them in music programs or even start a family band. Jam sessions, anyone?

• Teacher: Look into summer camp counselor roles or tutoring opportunities. Sharing knowledge is a beautiful thing.

• Civil Servant: Foster their communication and research skills through debate clubs or discussions on current events. Let them explore the world around them.

• Artist: Attend art classes or visit museums together. Immerse yourselves in creativity!

• Writer: Encourage creative writing – maybe through journaling or workshops. Words have power!

• Athlete: Explore sports camps or join local leagues. Active bodies, active minds!

• Scientist: Enroll them in science camps or set up fun experiments at home. Who knows what discoveries await?

Let’s chat!

Share your tips and tricks on how you’ve encouraged your teenagers to learn new skills over the summer break in the comments below!

During summer break, encourage your teenager to explore, learn, and find a balance between leisure and education. This will help them take steps toward achieving their aspirations, and you might learn something new too!”