Summer vacation is a time for exploration, fun, and creating memories that last a lifetime. As the sun sets on another summer, we want to hear about the amazing things you’ve experienced!

Did you travel to a far-off destination and discover new cultures or welcome a new member into your family? Did you attend a music festival and dance the night away under the stars or attend a life-changing summer camp? Or perhaps you learned a new skill or mastered a new language.

Perhaps you spent quality time with family and friends, having barbecues in the backyard. Maybe you volunteered for a worthy cause and made a difference in your community. Or you might have pursued a passion project, like writing a novel or painting a masterpiece.

We believe that every summer has its own unique stories and adventures. By sharing your experiences, you not only get to relive those precious moments but also inspire others to make the most of their summers.

Jingkids invites you to tell us about the coolest thing you did this summer.

Send your stories and photos to us via email at minayan@beijing-kids.com or via WeChat at Wilhelmina87.

Let’s celebrate the summer of 2024 together and keep the spirit of adventure alive!

Images: Pexels

A few weeks ago, online learning began in one form or another at just about every school across China. While it’s nice to get back to some sort of normalcy, and get your kids on some sort of routine, questions still loom regarding the wider implications of Covid-19’s affect on the semester.

Namely, given the inherent limitations of e-learning, how will schools make up for lost class time when students return to campus?

Although each school in the international community follows one or more of a myriad curriculums, they’re all required to meet certain unit goals before their students can officially move to the next grade.

To date, no school has gone on the record as having committed to a plan, however there are a number of tentative measures they are considering. Likewise, from all accounts, schools are considering these measures in an effort to keep the semester from dragging on into summer.

Some have made this information public, such as British School of Beijing, Sanlitun (BSB Sanlitun) and Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB), while others are a product of scuttlebutt making the rounds in WeChat groups.

Having said that though, most of the measures, no matter where they’re coming from, look relatively similar, and it’s safe to assume that the plans schools settle on, which may vary depending on institution, will include some version of the following.

• Extending the school day by one hour, on one or more days a week
• Adjusting the time allotted to different subjects
• Holding classes on intermittent Saturdays
• Shortening longer holidays such as Tomb Sweeping and May Day
• Canceling field trips and other extracurricular events

It should be noted that this is not an exhaustive list, and only represents a few of the ideas being tossed around.

As schools continue working with their communities to find the most agreeable solution for everyone involved, we will continue to post the news on our School Updates blog.

For the time being, tell us in the comments section which measures you’d support and why!

Photos: Pixabay

My husband and I just returned from a two night/three day road trip down England’s south coast without our baby son, Kai. We left him with his grandparents and headed off together. It has been my experience that a couple should, if possible, get time away from their kids together, even if its just a few hours. Routines, especially breastfeeding, can make this hard, but I believe it’s important to try.

Why? Just hopping in the car like it was no big deal and driving off, literally into the sunset, felt amazing. We felt light and young again! It totally refreshed me – like I hit a “reset” button deep within me.

Hanging out with my gorgeous husband for three days straight was a priceless gift. We laughed so much. We were like teenagers again. We giggled. We kissed. Re-connecting with him felt so good, and has given me an unexpected boost in energy. I wasn’t expecting it to feel as nice as it did. Love is why we are together in the first place. Raising a young child, you go through a lot, and so it was good to reconnect and make time for love and laughter.

As much as we enjoyed couple time, our trip cemented in our heads how precious, beautiful, and special our little bundle of giggles is to us. We are a family now, and we missed him. Within the first few hours of our trip we stopped for a meal at a small bistro on the water as the sun set. Serendipitously, we were seated next to another young couple and their little baby. We couldn’t help starting up a conversation with them and telling them about Kai. The trend continued: that night we realized we had mentioned Kai to everyone we met that day. As much as we enjoyed the independence and freedom the trip gave us, it also brought a realization that baby Kai is so much a part of us now. We will never be individuals again; and it’s something we couldn’t be happier about.

Theresa Pauline is a yoga teacher, social entrepreneur, momma, wife, and beijingkids contributor. You can find out more about her at www.taozitreeyoga.com

Photos: Courtesy of Theresa Pauline

School’s out! Some schools are out for summer vacation already, while others will be by the end of the month. You can see masses of people at the airport starting today, as well as celebrations galore marking the end of another school year. Congratulations to graduates! So long and best wishes to those departing Beijing! And to the rest, have a great holiday and we’ll see you in August!

But continuing on as we leave…

Plenty of summer camps are around for those choosing to remain in Beijing. See earlier postings of camps by clicking here and here. At Dulwich College Beijing Riviera and Legend Garden campuses there are camps ranging from football and drama to Chinese language and camps for little ones. Contact dcp@dulwich-beijing.cn for information. Jia You will also run their popular soccer camps for children ages 6-13. Camps run from the end of June until mid-August.

Another option if you’ll be in Beijing this summer is offering your time to enrich a poor child’s life. The New Life Centre is a residential learning center for underprivileged children that could use your volunteer help – including from children! Perhaps you can work together as a family or with a group of friends by calling Ginny at 139 1177 9630 (visit www.wix.com/thenewlifecentre/thenewlifecentre to learn more about the center).

The Canadian International School of Beijing introduces a Montessori curriculum for children ages 18 months-6 years in a new Shunyi location this fall! Taking over the MSB River Garden Campus, there will be three age groups of classes available: infant/toddler (18 months-3 years); primary program (3-5 years); and pre-elementary program (5-6 years). For more information about the CISB Shunyi Campus programs, visit the admissions office on the 2nd floor conference room inside the River Garden clubhouse from 9am-noon Monday-Friday, or contact Laurianne Gidrol at 8046 6191 or admissions_shunyi@cis-beijing.com. You can also visit the CISB website at www.cisb.com.cn.

INN will once again host its coffee morning at the Pinnacle Plaza Starbucks on Thursday, June 21 from 10am-noon. Come meet new neighbors and visit with old friends next week!

It’s your Shunyi Correspondent’s birthday today, and although my kids love it, it’s a touch bittersweet. This time of year is always when we bid farewell to good friends — never easy to do — and hope that we will see them again. In the meantime, my family will be traveling back home this summer, and like many of you will enjoy several weeks with extended family, returning in the fall with great stories of summer escapades. Wishing you a very happy summer vacation!