Whether you have a budding Maggie Cheung ready to bust out of kindergarten and onto the stage, a child who could do with building their confidence and social skills, or just one of those kids with oodles of energy, drama classes are always a good idea. Faust International Youth Theatre runs a summer programme for children aged 3-15 teaching traditional theatre, musical theatre and creative writing across Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories. For children who enjoy the taster, drama classes run throughout term time too.

Discover more at faustworld.com

Lifelong Labs in Central equips kids from six upwards with practical modern skills they may actually need one day, including YouTube production, urban digital photography, filmmaking, social entrepreneurship, fashion design and music production. In groups of only four, each participant will receive plenty of support and a chance to shine. Hurry, though: several August camps have already sold out.

Discover more at lifelonglabs.org

It’s a rare youngster who isn’t excited by the opportunity to get their hands messy and create wacky kitchen concoctions. From pickling vegetables to baking a rainbow sourdough loaf to brewing kombucha, Foodcraft offers a range of cooking workshops that go beyond the usual cupcake decorating.

Discover more at foodcraft.hk

Little ones can unleash their creative minds in a safe setting and not worry about the mess they’re making at one of the Banana Art Club holiday camp classes, which are held via Zoom as well as in-person at the company’s Causeway Bay and Discovery Bay bases. Children aged three and upwards can choose from painting, drawing, sculpture, calligraphy and more in colourful classes that prioritise fun.

Discover more at bananaartclub.com

Hotel staycations: blissful for adults but often boring for kids. However, for families booked to stay this month, Rosewood Hong Kong has launched its Kids Camp for children between five and ten, offering a range of activities befitting an ultra-luxury hotel. With a timetable that includes Zumba, time capsule making, terrarium workshops, inline skating, volcano science and movie nights, grown-ups won’t feel guilty putting on that robe and sipping champagne.

Discover more at rosewoodhotels.com

See also: Summer 2021: The Best Hong Kong Staycations To Book

Charismatic youth pastor and musician Matt Snelgrove channels Jack Black’s rock-loving teacher in the film School of Rock with The Living Room, a music school for budding young performers in Sai Kung. As well as year-round music lessons and band training, during school holidays Snelgrove runs The Rock School, three-day camps where children aged 7-16 learn basic music theory, and how to play in a band, then write their own song and perform a concert for parents.

Discover more at thelivingroom.hk

Leave it to the English Schools Foundation to keep children engaged during the summer with
a programme that mixes classroom-based learning with sports and time spent outdoors. Until the end of the month, kids aged five to ten can attend full-day camps, where the morning session is devoted to a fun-based learning approach to subjects like science and Spanish, while the afternoon is all about sports.

Discover more at esf.org.hk

Keep the kids out of trouble by giving them the opportunity to challenge themselves. Active Kids has a summer camp timetable designed for children aged 3-17, featuring a diverse array of exciting activities such as robotics and coding, arts and craft, cooking, chess, science and fashion design held at venues across the city.

Discover more at activekidshk.com

For families with children aged 4-12, Island Shangri-La has a summer camp that shows off the best of Hong Kong. From Thursdays to Sundays until the end of August, the Shangri-La Family Summer Camp is a four-day staycation that combines a luxurious hotel stay with an outdoor programme which includes trips to a Hakka village, art jamming, night hiking, nature bingo, picnicking and nature appreciation.

Discover more at familybyshangrila-hk.com 

Prestigious education group Qurio’s mission is to inspire curiosity for lifelong learning that extends beyond a child’s academic success. As well as a rich term-time programme of skill-based learning, the organisation also runs a summer programme for children aged 3-12 at its high-tech Kowloon Bay centre. For three hours a day across five days, children attend workshops designed to boost their Chinese and English proficiency in courses such as cultural appreciation, Stem and coding, art, and social-emotional learning.

Discover more at qurioed.com

The Hong Kong Children’s Discovery Museum in Tsuen Wan combines play with learning for a fun day out filled with adventure and intrigue.

See also: The Best Extracurricular Activities And Classes In Hong Kong In 2021