We all know that Shanghai's summer can be a sweat-soaked, sticky season, when all you want to do is grab an icy, hulking chunk of watermelon or an ice cold drink and flake out in the draft of the nearest fan – but our kids don't let this stop them! As your kids vie for attention, entertainment, activities, classes and more, we take a look at the range of summer classes and activity options for children in Shanghai. Hopefully this will give you some time back to just relax and breathe while the kids are at summer camp or swim class.

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Just a few blocks South of Xintiandi, in the Kingsport Gym, there is a swimming pool on the fourth floor. It's not the largest pool we've seen but it offers a great space for swimming classes. The class runs in eight-week slots: two classes a week for 100 RMB per classing, meaning 1600 RMB in total for the eight-week course.

Sanyuan Swim is not the type of place where parents and their children can have fun together in the pool, but rather a chance for the kids to really learn to swim as their teacher guides and instructs them while parents sit at the side. The teachers are very good with the kids and they make it enjoyable, giving parents ease of mind while bestowing new skills upon their kids.

Sanyuan SwimView In Map

Add: 4/F, Kingsport Gym, 616 Madang Lu, Fuxing Park near Xujiahui Lu, Shanghai
地址：上海市马当路616号4楼近徐家汇路
Tel: 139 0161 8577
Email: sanyuanswim@hotmail.com

Tiny Tots is an international kindergarten in the former French Concession holding summer camps for tots aged from 20 months to seven years. Kids can choose from football, ballet, arts and crafts, swimming and more. The teachers are foreign and the sessions are held over five weeks for either a half day or full day.

Price: 9,500 RMB for half-day, 15,500 RMB for full day; 5 week session
Website: www.tinytots.com.cn
Contact email: info@tinytots.com
Tel: 021 6431 3788

3) Active Kidz
Active Kidz is holding a wide range of children's summer camps, classes and activity sessions for all ages. The activities are generally held at the Puxi campus of the British International School Shanghai and are usually one week long. They offer swimming, football, tennis and more. They can be a little pricey (the swimming cost over 2000 RMB for a one week course), however.

Contact email: activekidz@gmail.com
Website: www.activekidz.org

4) Mom CentralView In Map
Mom Central is a library that is open to foreign passport-holders. For a low price of 300 RMB (plus 200 RMB deposit) for an annual membership, kids can take out two books at a time, choosing from a huge variety of English books. Mom Central also offers a range of play groups and classes, such as play dates for various age groups, as well as creative arts classes in August, dance classes and more from September.

Add: Suite 2105, 327 Wuding Lu, Jingan District, Shanghai
地址: 上海市静安区武定路327号2105室
Opening hours: Mon-Fri, 09:00-17:00
Tel: 52930113 / 52930119
Website: http://www.momcentralshanghai.weebly.com

The Community Center on Jinxiu Road is very far away for Puxi-based expats, but close to other compounds such as Tomson Golf Club. They are holding 45 minute dance classes for 10 to 15 year olds, including Jazz and Latin, starting at 4:45pm, Monday and Wednesday every week.

Add: 2/F, Community Center Shanghai, 418 Jinxiu Lu, Pudong District, Shanghai
地址：上海浦东新区锦绣东路418弄云间绿大地会所二楼
Price: 1050 RMB, regular; 1150 RMB, walk-in  ? 
Tel: 021 3382 1770, 021 5030 3313
Contact email: pudongclass@communitycenter.cn

6) Cook in Shanghai cooking classesView In Map
Cook in Shanghai, held on Wulumuqi Road, aims to offer a fully comprehensive course, which not only teaches cooking but also offers holistic explanations of the entire process. The classes are focused on Chinese culture and how this has affected the foods grown and the cooking styles in Chinese cuisine.

The chef speaks Chinese while the translator explains in English. From 14:00 for around 3.5 hours, you can learn about your nearest fresh market and how to pick the best vegetables and bargain the best price, as well as how Chinese people really prepare and cook their favourite foods. Offering the chance to cook four dishes per session, they also give you recipe cards and offer the chance to meet new people who are also food lovers.

Add: Room 803, Building 3, 261 Wulumuqi Zhonglu, Shanghai
地址：上海市乌鲁木齐中路261号三号楼803屋
Tel: 186 217 82 428 (Helen)
Website: http://www.cookinshanghai.com

7) Chinese classes at Mandarin InnView In Map
If your weekly routine is making it difficult for your children to get immersed in Chinese language, then why not try some after school classes? Native Chinese teachers teach children Chinese reading, writing and speaking, listening with creative and interactive activities that they claim makes the learning fun and interesting. Children as young as 6 and teens up to 19 are welcomed there and the teachers aim to motivate all age groups. Classes start at 4:30pm and last 90 minutes, on Mondays and Wednesdays. Mandarin Inn is located in the former French Concession.

Add: Mandarin Inn Chinese Language & Culture Center, 1F, Building 1280, 1276 Huaihai Zhonglu (near Huating Lu), Xuhui District, Shanghai
地址:上海市徐汇区淮海中路1280号一层汉吟语言文化交流中心
Tel: 021 5403 8115
Price: 1,660 RMB for a six week course plus 180 RMB registration fee.
Website: http://www.mandarininn.cn

The Nest Creative Children's House View In Map

The Nest Creative Children's House has summer camps for children age 18 months to 6 years. They offer water and outdoor play, arts, crafts and other fun events through July and August. The sessions are almost full day, starting at 9 and finishing at 3pm, Monday through Friday. You can sign up for a month or a two-week slot. Prices range from 1,300 RMB to 5,200 RMB.

Add: No. 6, Lane 270 Wuyuan Lu, Xuhui District, Shanghai
地址：上海市徐汇区五原路270弄6号
Tel: 021 5103 4102
Contact email: thenest2008@hotmail.com

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Keywords: Summer acitivies for kids Shanghai summer classes for children Shanghai how to keep kids busy Shanghai