In my article last week, I explained the harms of summer vacation for students, not from the vacation itself but from the wrong practices during it, which include staying up late, sleeping during the day, addiction to electronic games and visual entertainment, especially the mobile screen and its endless clips. I emphasized that the problem of poor investment of the vacation will lead to health, psychological, and physical harms for students, and they will return to school with a disappointing mentality. Since chronic sleep deprivation in adolescents is associated with poor sleep quality, it is an influential factor in learning, attention, and psychological and physical development. Therefore, the first gift parents give their children in the summer is not a new phone, but a balanced schedule that protects them from slipping into a lifestyle that wastes time and energy. Although many parents complain about their children's reluctance to summer programs, sometimes the mistake lies in the type of activity offered, not the idea itself. Adolescents are not looking for long lectures, or a copy of school or anything resembling school in one way or another, but rather challenge, achievement, and a sense of independence. Among the most successful activities for this age group, for example, is swimming, which is available in most cities through clubs and private pools at reasonable fees. It combines fitness, discipline, and acquiring a lifelong skill. Similarly, martial arts such as karate, taekwondo, judo, and boxing are eagerly embraced by boys and young men. These sports not only develop physical strength but also enhance discipline, self-control, and self-confidence. Also, archery and precision sports (where available in a regulated and safe manner) attract many boys due to the challenge and concentration they involve. Recently, the field of programming and robotics has spread, and we now have many centers offering short courses in programming, game design, robotics, and 3D printing. This is an opportunity to turn passion for technology from consumption to production, and it sometimes plants the seed of passion for programming and cybersecurity, which are very important fields in today's job market. To excel in them, it is not enough for a student to study them at university; they must be passionate about them and make them part of their interest and desire. If they start early, their abilities after university learning will be better than many of their peers. Professional photography and content creation are no longer just a craft or profession; many young people want to learn and master them because they are the most important tool to support their use of social media platforms and present content that attracts more views and subscriptions, which achieves self-fulfillment for youth. Thus, instead of the phone being just a consumption tool, it can become a means to learn photography, editing, preparing short reports, or mini-documentaries. Moreover, it can serve the young person's entire family in multiple ways and even transfer expertise to them. There are also manual work, light carpentry, and home maintenance, which attract many adolescents because they involve practical, vital projects through which they produce a product they can see.

One successful idea is for each student to emerge from the vacation with one tangible project. It does not have to be a huge project; it suffices that the student can say at the end of the summer: I have read five books, learned to swim, created a simple website, learned professional photography, lost five kilograms of excess weight, or mastered English to a certain level. Having a clear goal makes the vacation meaningful and gets the student out of the confined space of a room in front of a gaming screen or addiction to the living room couch watching endless mobile clips. The role of parents here is pivotal and important. A common mistake is for parents to demand from their children what they do not apply to themselves. If parents spend long hours on phones, it is difficult to convince the child to leave their phone and engage in hobbies and skill development. It is better for the whole family to turn into an active environment during the summer. I suggest, for example, a daily group reading hour, family sports several times a week (walking in a walking path followed by going to a café to enjoy and reward oneself for the exercise), visiting a library, exhibition, museum, or a short trip to a historical or natural site, or encouraging scientific and cultural discussions at home. The key in all this is smart incentives. They must be present in all these suggested activities and initiatives, as they are more effective than direct orders and play a major role in children's persistence in what they are directed to. For example, you can agree on a financial reward upon completing a training course, a special trip upon achieving a specific goal, buying a device or tool related to the new hobby, or granting them more independence in exchange for commitment to the program. The important thing is that the reward is tied to real achievement, not just formal attendance. Also, it is not required that the entire summer be learning. The student needs rest, fun, and social gatherings. If 50% of the time is distributed between healthy sleep, physical activity, hobbies, family visits, and light learning, and 50% for digital entertainment and games, that would be the lesser of two evils. No doubt, success in raising the first percentage to 60% or 70% will have great benefits for students, but it is important that this be with the student's consent, desire, and appropriate motivation.

Summer vacation is not a void between two school years, but a precious space for character formation. A student who learns a new skill, reads a good book, engages in regular exercise, and maintains sleep and health returns to school having gained much more than they lost from homework and tests. This is the summer that makes a difference, not the summer that ends leaving only a long record of screen hours.