Summer education costs should cool down

The end of summer vacation may come as a relief to many parents because they had been struggling to pay for their children's vacation activities as the rising trend of students engaging in more diverse and specialized activities has driven up costs.

The root of the problem lies in the tendency of students (with parents' encouragement in many cases) to blindly pursue activities that their peers engage in. This is because many parents mistakenly believe that higher costs equate better opportunities for their children. Many parents even believe the newest or most "innovative" programs, often branded "smart" or "intelligent", are inherently better.

More importantly, some parents overlook the fact that every child is unique, and has different interests and needs. They wrongly believe in a one-size-fits-all approach, and assume that what applies to school also applies to summer activities. Then there is peer pressure. The fear of their children falling behind if they don't participate in certain activities prompts parents to push their children to take part in every possible activity, which increases their financial burden.

The situation is exacerbated by the shift of many travel and educational program organizers from nonprofit to commercial models, where the focus is on making more profits than on imparting education. Although the demand for such programs has surged, the benefits don't necessarily match the costs.

In reality, extracurricular activities, including travel and training, are not necessities. So families should evaluate their own resources before making their children participate in every activity. Often, spending less on activities and understanding the personal needs of children by talking to them about their interests will be more beneficial to the children's growth.

Additionally, making their children take part in activities that would enhance their knowledge, make them more worldly wise and teach them life skills might even help them earn some money, which could cover the cost of their summer activities and ease the burden of the parents.

Families should choose summer activities for their children according to their financial condition. Parents should identify the genuine needs of their children, and understand which activities they are truly interested in, and what will boost their individual strength and help them achieve their long-term goals. For instance, if gaining social experience is a priority, part-time work or volunteering could be as, if not more, valuable to children as expensive programs.

Establishing clear goals can assist children in navigating their educational and personal development in collaboration with them. For students with limited social experience, summer job-training programs can provide them with valuable learning experience and even make them financially independent.

The sense of financial responsibility is equally important. Students need to understand their family's financial condition. Learning to manage expenses is essential to achieve success in life.

Parents should choose activities for their children which offer genuine benefits rather than those that are costly. Well-planned, meaningful activities often provide more value than high-cost, superficial programs.

Teenage is a time when children tend to spend more without thinking about how difficult it is to earn money. But it is also a time when many children realize how important it is to lessen their reliance on their parents for money and become more self-sufficient.

So parents should teach their children how to manage money and explore different sources of income, which would help the children in the long run. They could start by setting a budget for discretionary spending, allowing their children to make their own choices but within the budget, and teaching them how to decide which expenses are necessary, which can be postponed, and which are unnecessary. Such an approach will help children develop a healthy attitude toward money, and better understand their responsibilities toward the family. This may encourage some to even learn to save and generate additional income.

It is incumbent upon parents to find a balance between meeting their children's needs during the summer vacation and setting reasonable limits. This balance will not only help lighten their financial burden, but also boost their children's personal growth and help them develop responsible financial habits.

The author is a senior researcher at the National Institute of Education Sciences. The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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