Healthy Activities

Age-Appropriate Responsibilities For Your Child

As your child grows older, you will find that they are ready to take on more responsibilities. Not every kid wants to be a teenager and get their driver’s license, but some kids have the maturity to handle this new set of tasks. It is important that parents are able to recognize when their child is ready to take on new challenges. The earlier you introduce these responsibilities, the better prepared they will be for adulthood later in life. There are a variety of ways to test your child’s readiness for more adult responsibilities.  Understanding what type of activities they enjoy, what kind of hobbies appeal to them, and what chores or projects they might want to tackle can help you determine if now is the right time for them to take on more grown-up tasks. Whether your child is as young as five or as old as fifteen, there are plenty of ways you can help them develop into a more mature individual while also keeping them happy.    Establish a Morning Routine for Your Child   As kids get older, it becomes increasingly important to have a morning routine. Kids need structure and guidance in their lives, and a morning routine can provide both. By establishing a regular morning routine for your child, you can help them feel more in control and more prepared for the day ahead. Doing so will also help to reduce the likelihood of them missing school. When kids are more prepared and have a sense of what comes next, they are less likely to miss school due to oversleeping or forgetting something they needed to bring with them.  A morning routine should include time for exercise and eating healthy food, time for studying, time for cleaning up around the house, time for making their own breakfast or packing a lunch, time for doing a few chores around the house, and time for spending time with the family before leaving for school or daycare. Doing these things will help your kids feel more prepared and less stressed throughout the day, which in turn will make them less likely to misbehave or act out.   Encourage Them to Develop Their Skills Through Hobbies or Games   One way you can help your child develop more maturity is to encourage them to pursue a hobby or game that they enjoy. Hobbies can help kids to grow their skills and prepare them for future careers or hobbies that they might want to pursue later in life. Discussing hobbies with your child can also help you to better understand what they are interested in so that you can help them prepare for future interests. Depending on your child’s interests, you can help them to develop skills and become more mature by encouraging them to pursue a hobby or game.    Let them Decorate Their Own Room and Have Some Say in What Goes Where   Kids who are old enough to start cleaning their own rooms should also have the opportunity to have some say in how their rooms are decorated. Doing so will help your child to get more involved in their own lives and feel more responsible for their space. You can also help them to learn how to utilize organizational skills by suggesting ways to better store their belongings.  This can help them to feel more in control of their space and prevent them from becoming overwhelmed. If your child is interested in design and decorating, you can let them have more say in what goes in their room and how it is decorated. Doing so will help them to feel more prepared for their own future homes and less likely to want to redecorate as soon as they move out.   Help Your Child Learn How to Care for Animals by Taking Care of Your Pets Together   Another way to help your child develop more maturity is to help them to learn how to take care of animals. This can be done by taking care of your pets together and helping them to learn to feed, walk, and groom your pets. Doing so will help your child to better understand how to care for animals and give them skills and experience that will come in handy when they have their own pets in the future.  Taking care of your pets with your child will help them to feel more prepared for owning their own pets. It will also help to develop their organizational skills and enhance their problem-solving skills by figuring out how best to feed, walk, and groom your pets.   Introduce Weekly Chores that Help the Family Function   It is important to do chores as a family. It is also important that your child learns to do them as well. To help your child gain more maturity and feel more responsible for their actions, you can assign them weekly chores that help to keep the house clean and functional. Doing this will also help to establish a sense of responsibility in your child, which will be helpful as they get older.  When assigning weekly chores to your child, you should make sure that they are within their ability to do them. If they are too difficult, they will not be helpful and they will become frustrating chores that they struggle to complete.    Introduce Environmental Awareness Through Weekly Tasks That Focus on The Environment   Another way to help your child develop more maturity is to assign tasks and duties that focus on being environmentally conscious. Doing so will help to prepare your child for future jobs and careers that may involve protecting the environment. It will also help to develop your child’s organizational skills and give them a sense of responsibility from a young age.  Some ideas for environmentally-focused tasks and duties include cleaning up litter in your neighborhood, recycling, planting a garden, or taking care of an indoor plant. You can also use this opportunity to help your child learn about different types of plants and how they grow.   Help Them Earn their Own Allowance and Build a Financial Vocabulary   One way to help your child develop more maturity is by helping them to earn their own allowance. You can do this by helping them to get a job and then giving them a portion of their pay to put into a savings account. Doing so will help your child to better understand the value of money, feel rewarded for their efforts, and get used to having to budget their earnings.  When you help your child to earn their allowance, you can also help them to learn a financial vocabulary. You can discuss things like budgeting, interest rates, and compound interest so that they are better prepared to manage their earnings and savings when they are older.   Make them put some of their earned money into a savings account    Another way to help your child develop more maturity is to help them to put money into a savings account. You can do this by having them put a portion of their earnings into a savings account each time they get paid. Doing so will help them to better understand the value of saving money now before it is too late for them to do so. Kids who learn how to save money early in life are more likely to have a better financial future.   Conclusion   These days, being a child is difficult. Kids nowadays are more connected than ever because of the digital era, which gives them access to a never-ending supply of knowledge and experiences. They can instantly learn everything they want to know and engage in real-time communication with anyone anywhere in the world. But all of these positive developments come with a downside, too. Kids are exposed to adult content and concepts much sooner than previous generations ever could have imagined. And while this exposure is beneficial in some contexts, it can also be detrimental if kids aren’t equipped with the right tools to handle it responsibly. Visit kidsactivitypage.com for more information, tips, and advice to help your children develop essential skills and habits, more mature.

Things to Do to Engage Your Kids Outside of School

If you want your children to do well in school, then they’ll need to be stimulated outside the classroom as well. Most parents, of course, are already busy enough with work and simply raising their kids, but there are some simple activities that they can get involved in to help their children stay focused and persistent in school.   Here are some of the ways you can contribute to your child’s performance by thinking outside the classroom.   Exercise and Sports The more you can get your kids to keep moving, the better shape their minds and bodies will be in. Regular exercise can reduce their depression and sharpen their focus in school. In addition, playing a sport gives them more confidence and helps them socialize with other kids their age. This will make a difference when they’re working on in-class assignments and school projects.   School and Homework Discussions A parent doesn’t need to hover over their child’s shoulder, but they should stay informed about what their child is doing. Take some time every day to talk to your child about what they’re learning in class and any troubles they might be having. Something as simple as helping them on their homework can be a great way to motivate them in school, as well as a good time to bond with your child emotionally. If they see you’re interested in their education, they’ll become more interested, too.   Art and Imagination While a lot of schoolwork is about reasoning and memorization, there’s also a creative side that needs to be explored, like when your child needs to come up with an idea for a report or a project. If your child has a creative talent, find a way to explore that. Consider regular weekly activities like painting classes or piano lessons. Even writing down their thoughts in a journal can be a useful exercise for their imagination.   Film, TV, and Video Games What your kids watch and do in their time after school can have an impact on how well they do in class. The occasional odd or violent cartoon or movie might be fine, but if your child cares more about what they see on TV instead of what they’re learning in school, then it’s time to adjust priorities. Find programs that would interest your child while still linking into what they’re learning at school. Maybe download a few shows or video games with educational content online.   Image:  Nicola since 1972 on Flickr

Encouraging your Child to Think More Critically

We all want to boast about how smart our kids are or how well they do in class, but when it comes to actually encouraging your children, some parents are at a loss. There are plenty of books and DVDs and seminars on child development, but few easy answers.   While these aren’t easy answers, they are 5 tips that you can use to stimulate your child’s mind.   1. Explore the world with your child. Kids need to be shown what’s out in the larger world so that they can be curious about exploring it on their own. Find events and plan trips that might give your kids something to latch onto, like a day at the zoo, a trip to a cool new museum exhibit, a night at the theater, or any number of parks and fairs for them to run around.   2. Allow for downtime every day. It’s easy for parents to think that a child needs to have every moment of their day planned out and scheduled for lots of wholesome activities. However, while so much soccer practice and piano lessons might be good for their reflexes, it may leave them exhausted for homework and other thinking activities. Make sure that your child has some unscheduled time during the day where they can just unwind and reflect on what they’ve absorbed.   3. Talk to your children about what you’re doing. Parents don’t always have to be mysterious to their kids. When they’re young, you can talk about what you’re doing and explain things to them, whether it’s about an office project you’re working, the laundry you’re folding, or the model airplane you’re building. As they get older, keep your children in the loop about your life. They’ll feel more included in the family and be better prepared to deal with challenging situations.   4. Read with your child. Besides being a nice quiet activity, getting your child to read more means that they’ll spend less time in front of the TV or playing repetitive video games. Reading is good for stimulating not just your child’s mind, but their imagination, too. If you think it helps, why not keep up a strong reading habit yourself? Perhaps there’s a book series that both you and your child might enjoy reading and chatting about.   5. Set a good example yourself. If you want your child to learn good behavior and good habits, then you need to set and follow those same habits yourself. What parents do (more than what they say) leaves a huge impression on a child’s mind. For example, if you’re curious about something, then do some research and let your child see you doing research. If you’re want your kids to be more diligent about reading and homework, let them see you be just as focused with your own paperwork.   Image:  chefranden on flickr

How to Stimulate Your Child's Mind

A good parent isn’t just concerned about their kids’ health and safety, but about their minds, too. They want to know that their children are good learners and are open to all that the world has to offer. For that, kids need stimulation to develop their brains as they grow.   Here are 5 ways for you to give your kids the stimulation they need.   Books: Reading is a good habit for kids to develop, especially when it makes a huge difference in how well they’ll perform in class and later on in life. The hard part, of couse, is getting them to start reading. As a parent, you can encourage them by reading to them at an early age. Find books on subjects that interest your child and encourage them to read whenever they need something quiet to do.   Games: Playing games helps your child develop a number of useful skills. Word problems and crossword puzzles are good for stimulating their memory and spatial reasoning skills. Video games can be educational, too, giving kids the chance to explore new subjects in an interactive environment and hone their hand-eye coordination.   Trips: Some parents already think that a trip to the museum will be just what their kids need to make them better learners. A museum isn’t a bad place to take your child, but the point is to think about what they can get out of it. Is there an exhibit or a show on something that they like? For example, if your child is more interested in learning about polar bears, then a trip to the zoo might be in order. Use those interests to form the basis for your trips and family outings.   Questions: All children have an instinct to turn to their parents whenever they don’t understand something. While parents should be able to field most questions, they can do their kids a service by asking them questions in turn. Asking questions like “What do you think would happen if…?” helps them work problems out on their own, as well as encourages them to think critically about the world.   Humor: We don’t always think about it, but laughter is a great tool for helping us learn. After all, don’t we always remember the funniest jokes? Most kids naturally gravitate toward TV shows and movies that make them laugh. Encourage their habit by suggesting shows and movies you think they’d like. Maybe sit down and watch with them. If you’re able to laugh with your child, you’ll form a stronger bond with them and they’ll have a stronger foundation for thinking about and exploring the world.   Image credit:  Colin_K on Flickr

Sample Workout Routine for Kids

It’s important to get kids moving and keep them active, but how do you make them exercise without it feeling like a workout? Keep the activities fun and imaginative. Try this simple routine to get your kids moving.   First things first: To keep the workout fun, make it seem like a game. Try playing jump or dive. When doing an exercise, anyone can call out either jump or dive at any point during the activity. If someone says jump, then everyone must stop what they’re doing and leap off the ground as high and as hard as they can. If someone says dive, everyone has to dive down into a plank, which is when you get in a push up position but with elbows bent so that your forearms are flat against the floor and straighten out your back, held for 20 seconds. Afterwards, you get right back into the exercise.   Now that we know the rules, we can get started. The first exercise is to set up an obstacle course in your backyard. Use, cones, ropes, balls, hula hoops; anything and everything you can find in your garage to create a fun adventure. Make it challenging but not too tough. Each station presents a new task and should work a different part of the body. Kids should run through the obstacle course as fast as they can. You can time it if you want, but don’t put any weight on the scores. It should be fun, not a competition.   Next, it’s time for yoga poses. One that you can try is to have the kids sit on their heels with their hands on their thighs and straighten their bodies as tall as possible. Another is to have the kids lie on their stomachs, then simultaneously, they should lift their upper bodies so their resting on the palms of their hands by the sides of their waists and bending their knees so that their knees touch the backs of their heads. Yoga is great because it will also stretch out those muscles the kids are working during their other exercises.   It’s time for a dance party. Turn on some music. Get up and get moving. This part of the routine should be very freestyle. It doesn’t have to be perfect form, your kids just need to move.   Finish it off with a game of hopscotch.   This routine will keep your kids active, and it will also get them outdoors. Image by MiraVena Yoga on Flickr Creative Commons.

Tips for Getting Your Kids to be Active

The importance of physical activity Active kids will see benefits in both physical and mental health. Physical activity helps kids to develop fine motor skills, coordination, and strong bones and muscles. Other positive physical effects of activity include weight control, better sleep, and decreased risk of health problems. Mentally, the endorphins gained from exercise will keep your kids feeling good. They will often be more alert and attentive in school. Exercise can also help with a child’s self-esteem.   So, there are many reasons why kids should exercise, but some kids just aren’t athletes. That’s okay. As a parent, it is your job to help your kids find alternative ways of staying active. You can lead an active, healthy lifestyle without being the star of the football team. Here’s how:   Provide options and opportunities Kids need to have plenty of different options for physical activity. If your kid is not an athlete, don’t make him or her try out for the soccer team. Try swimming or martial arts, some other activity that will get your kids moving. They don’t have to be a part of a team or league; they just need to stay active. It can come in any shape or form, so get creative.   Make sure your kids have plenty of opportunities to be active by providing them with the equipment they will need and taking the time to get them to the park or the local rec center. MAke sure they are spending time in places where they can be active.   Focus on fun Kids shouldn’t feel pressured when taking part in physical activity. It’s not about who wins the game. This is about your child’s health. Activities and games should be engaging and fun. The focus should be on enjoying the activity. Praise your child for doing something successfully. Encourage kids to keep trying. A positive experience with physical activity will make your kids want to keep doing it.   Be a good role model You can’t expect your kids to lead an active and healthy lifestyle if you don’t do the same. Engage in regular physical activity. Make sure your kids can see you being active instead of vegging out on the couch. Play with your kids. Have a family activity night where you go for a walk or shoot hoops in the backyard. Be active with your kids, and they will want to be active with you.   Starting kids on an active lifestyle at a young age will help promote lifelong healthy habits. Image by Sofie Jensen on Flickr Creative Commons.

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