More and more parents in China are sharing posts on social media about the money they spend on their children during summer vacations. While academic tutoring for first to ninth graders is restricted under the country's related policy to lessen the burden on young students, other educational programs are widely available. These include summer camps, educational tours at home and abroad, and art, music and sports courses. But many parents are now complaining about the rising costs of the summer vacation.

While the school year is primarily dedicated to group learning, summer vacations offer children the opportunity to tap into their own specialties. Ideally, children should be able to choose programs that align with their personal goals and talents. But parents must be cautious not to overload their children with too many classes, as this could lead children to rebel.

Moreover, families need to select summer programs they can financially sustain. Competing with others over the quantity or type of extracurricular activities can exacerbate parental anxiety, in turn potentially affecting their children.

Zhang Chenghao (Rednet.cn): During the sweltering summer months, few students feel like attending classes. As for parents, high tuition fees constitute a big portion of their daily expenses. If these classes help their children excel, parents will feel justified in their investment. If not, they may regret the expenditure and even experience anxiety. Tutoring institutions and travel companies seem to be the only consistent winners here.

Summer vacations are meant to allow children to relax, immerse themselves in nature, mingle with friends and whatnot. Meanwhile, they can spend more time with their family. Those born in the 1970s and 1980s fondly recall summers free from structured learning, filled instead with catching cicadas in the woods, playing with peers in alleys, fishing in creeks, etc.

But today, when some parents see other children enrolled in summer courses, they worry that their own children will fall behind if they don't follow suit, spurring them to enroll their (usually resistant) offspring in summer classes.

While excelling at school is important, children's mental health and happiness are equally important. Instead of pressuring them into participating in educational programs over the summer break, parents should try to spend more quality time with their children over the summer holiday, nurturing the parent-child relationship.

Liang Yong (Hengyang Daily): Summer vacations are supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable, but more and more parents are turning them into a "third semester," filling them with numerous cash-burning activities that place academic and psychological pressure on children.

While extracurricular activities and developing personal interests are beneficial for children's growth, parents must select projects that are financially feasible and genuinely interest their children. Such engagement can unlock their hidden potential and serve as a confidence booster. But forcing children to take classes or tours without considering individual differences and needs can be detrimental, leading to fatigue and even anxiety in children.

Cramming a child's summer with educational activities not only increases financial strains and academic burdens, but also disregards their interests and limits. The question remains: How should summer vacations be spent? Should they be packed with endless activities arranged by parents, or should they provide a chance for children to explore, discover and create?

It's time for parents to rethink their educational philosophies, paying more attention to their children's mental wellbeing and respecting their real interests and choices. Plus, offering more free or low-cost summer programs and resources could enrich children's holiday experiences while alleviating financial pressures on families. BR