Brain gym activities for summer

Music, dance and storytelling are part of what will be taught at Bala Vihar’s camp for special children.

Summer camp for special children was held at Bala Vihar in Chennai. Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

After searching for summer camps in the neighbourhood, Kolathur resident M. Ravi registered for a five-day programme at Kilpauk though it meant travelling far.

“I wanted a place where my hyperactive son could unleash his energy in a useful way,” says the parent of the four-year-old who plans to take leave to make his child attend the camp.

There are a number of summer camps happening in the city but finding a suitable one for children with special needs can be a challenge.

Bala Vihar, a home for the mentally-challenged and a unit of the Guild of Service, is conducting a five-day summer camp from May 4 for special children.

Yoga, brain gym exercises, traditional games, story telling, music and dance are some of the planned activities that will serve as therapy for the children.

“Unlike our regular programmes at the centre, this will be an intensive session. We also plan to introduce some of the programmes in the curriculum later,” says Uma Rajkumar, honorary secretary, Bala Vihar, Kilpauk, adding that this is the first time they are conducting a summer camp. Such camps are essential for children with learning disabilities because they tend to forget what they have learnt, after a break, says M. Malathi, psychologist.

The voluntary organisation is expecting nearly 25 children at the camp, which will have experts from various fields handling the sessions.

Bala Vihar currently has 134 children at its residential school and 54 at its day care centre.