Rains are here in full swing in Mumbai and across India. While the monsoons can be a big relief from the scorching heat wave that had hit the country a few days ago, it also brings with it certain limitations. The heavy traffic on the road due to waterlogging, the rise of viral infections, unexpected time of the rainfall etc, keep us indoors most of the time.
The new academic year has begun for most schools such as St. Mary’s High School, Kalyan. Students are excited to be reunited with their school friends and share their summer vacation stories. However, what does one do when schools remain closed due to heavy rainfall? What does one do during forced holidays such as the one observed last week?
Below are some ideas that can keep you engaged, help you have fun and utilise your time effectively-
- Cook- At- Home party– Treat your parents and your friends with some easy to make delicacies. Cooking is an art and monsoon comes with its own share of cravings – to eat something hot and fresh. Since eating outcomes with a risk of infections during this season, make use of the time at home to dish out some hot grilled sandwiches, pasta, cutlets etc. Caution- Leave the frying to the elders!
- Antakshari– We used to play this famous musical game all the time as kids. Back in the days when there used to be frequent power cuts, a game of Antakshari was a saviour. It gets the whole family together and is highly enjoyable.
- Board Games– Ditch the video games and grab some interesting board games such as Snakes and Ladders, Ludo, Business. Get your friends together to play these fun games.
- Write Letters/ Greeting Cards– The art of writing letters has gone obsolete with the advent of the e-mail. So grab a pen and paper and jot down your thoughts and updates for your friends and cousins. Go to the post- office and post it when the weather is better. The receiver will be thrilled to get your letter or Greeting Card.
- Revamp your old T–Shirt– Grab some fabric paints and get hold of a boring plain T-shirt to convert it into something funky! You can write some quirky quotes or make some tantric designs. They are sure to grab the attention of your friends when you wear it. Plus its hand- made. That brings extra brownie points for you.
- Rock Art– For this, all you need to get is some big, smooth stones or rocks of different shapes and sizes and paint them with some acrylic paints. Paint some beautiful designs or motivational sayings such as ‘Don’t Quit!’ or ‘You Got This’. Gift them to your Parents as a Paper Weight. They will love it!
- Donate Something– Look into your wardrobe and you will find many clothes and items which are unutilised. Fetch the clothes that you keep hoarding but never use and donate it to the less fortunate. You may also find some bedsheets and blankets that are old but will be of great help to the needy, especially during the rains. This will bring you immense satisfaction along with the added advantage of cleaning up your house.
St. Mary’s, the best English medium school in Kalyan, motivates children to show their creativity and make the most of their childhood. Hope you use some of the ideas mentioned above to make the monsoons a fruitful and enjoyable season.