Keeping kids busy

After checking the school calendar, I realized that for some schools only a full week is left before vacation time comes for the children.

This means that we parents have to start thinking of things for the children to do. What's hard in these times when both parents are forced to go and earn a living, the school becomes a place where we can leave our kids and be at peace for several hours in the day knowing that they are properly taken care of.

Aside from academics, sports is also part of the school activities that our kids get involved in although in some schools, the sports program is not exactly something that is worth taking a second look at.

Now that the kids are not in school, working parents or those who have gone back to school hoping to give their children a better life, have to find activities that the young ones can engage in to keep them busy.

If you haven't talked to your child yet as to what they would want to learn this school break, better start doing it now. Give them a chance to make some decisions, but of course make them also realize the limitations that you will set.

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In relation to last Thursday's column, we received e-mail from our teammate in the Queen City United Football Club Team B, Gregg 'Goryo' Balsicas III.

Here is part of his e-mail:

I've read your column and became interested. I have 9 year-old son, who loves to play football. I did not rush him in because I want him to experience what a child is - to play with our silingan, practice bisikleta and all those child's play. But almost every Saturday night, knowing that I will be in practice the day after, Sunday in San Carlos Talamban mangulit gyud na siya nako nga mokuyog. Sometimes I give in but most of the time, di gyud na siya kakuyog.

I hope you can find for me some football clinics that are affordable this summer. The ones wherein my kid can really get something out of it and would love to go back the next summer since this is his first time.

I'm sure many parents share the sentiments of Gregg. I too am looking for a good summer football clinic for my son and am geared at sending him back to his first coach, Glenn Ramos.

There are many other training programs that would be offered for all sorts of sports, so parents can choose which they would deem is best for their kids.

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The 2006 season of Formula-1 officially starts tomorrow with the Bahrain Grand Prix.

After Fernando Alonso's big year in 2005, one of the biggest questions that lingers in the F-1 community is whether Ferrari's Michael Schumacher can still score big like the past few years before Renault's Alonso ended his reign.

Can Schumi still do it? I guess he can, but that is if the team can also deliver by giving him a car that can finish the race.

In the world of motor racing, no matter how much a driver would want to finish a race, his determination and will power are not enough to take him through the checkered flag. The machine plays the biggest role.

Formula-1 racing is probably one of the few motorsports that I enjoy watching. So fans, load up on those TV food as we welcome the F-1 season.