Sep
1
Play Who You Are
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Understanding your kid’s distinct “play style” helps you create experiences that foster learning, imagination and fun.
By Christopher Byrne
Of course you know every kid is different in looks, temperament, abilities, and so forth. Yet in this mass-market culture, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that those differences extend to the unique ways in which each kid plays. While conventional wisdom might say that “every kids wants a [fill in the most-hyped toy, shoe or electronic product here],” that’s simply not the case. In fact, kids have play styles as unique as their fingerprints. Understanding that will not only help you foster a great play environment that introduces new experiences but also give you ideas for gifts and shared activities.
A child’s play style encompasses four components of play—social, mental, imaginative and physical. Virtually every play activity has these elements to a greater or lesser degree, and children respond to them accordingly. By talking with your child, consulting with his or her teachers and observing activities your child naturally embraces, you can begin to determine which are the more dominant elements in his or her unique play personality.
For example, a child who is predominantly social and mental is going to enjoy playing board games more than a child who is primarily imaginative and physical. That child is much more likely to be happier in a tree house creating a pirate adventure, alone or with one friend. A child who is predominantly physical and social is likely to gravitate toward team sports. Age, gender and social and family structures will have an impact on how these styles, but in working with and observing kids, researchers and caregivers interviewed on the topic have found that kids are remarkably consistent in their play. Read more
Aug
1
All Aboard!
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Catch a wave for fun family fitness.
By Jill Weiner
While vacationing in Costa Rica last summer, the Condie family tried surfing on a whim. They had already been boogie boarding and snorkeling and were psyched for a new aquatic adventure.
“It was awesome—it’s more fun to surf with your family than to play soccer with your friends,” says Rain, age eight. “We’re going back this summer to do it again,” adds Vance, her father.
Surfing is a workout for the mind, body and spirit. And, according to the Journal of Sports Medicine, people who practice water safety and respect the ocean experience fewer injuries while surfing than they would while playing soccer.
“Kids are made for surfing—they’re light, flexible and buoyant,” says Jay Wright, surfing enthusiast and co-owner of Peak Performance, a private training facility in New York City. Wright says surfing offers an amazing workout. Laying flat on a board and paddling out works the upper body and core muscles—“It’s incredible for conditioning”—and standing on a board and catching waves helps kids and adults develop agility, balance, coordination and confidence. Read more
Jul
1
Getting Kids Moving
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Pushing schools to pump up physical education
By Susan McGinnis
Spring is on the way, and that means students at Jefferson Elementary School in Blaine, Minnesota, will soon be taking a hike. Starting the first week of April, Jefferson Elementary holds weekly “run-walks” on school grounds. It’s a time for students, staff and parents to get together and get into shape.
“We expect 400 to 500 students this spring,” says principal Kimberly Pavlovich, “Mrs. Pav” to her students. That’s more than half the school’s total enrollment.
A runner herself, Pavlovich was frustrated by the shortage of physical education (PE) classes at her school. “So, three years ago, I offered to run with the fourth and fifth graders, figuring about 20 would join. The response was so overwhelming, we switched to a run-walk and opened it to everyone!” Read more
Jun
1
Move It!
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How play and movement can help your family manage stress.
By Mary Shields Talalay
On one particularly ambitious day, I purchased a big-girl bed and a new potty chair for my two-year-old daughter. I imagined her loving these new items, especially since they were both pink—her favorite color. Just the opposite happened. That night, I was awakened three times by a child who normally sleeps through the night. I soon realized that I had introduced too much change into her life all at once. She was stressed out.
It’s easy for us to fall into the trap of viewing a child’s world through adult eyes. And though we can usually identify our own sources of stress, we’re not always so successful in identifying what stresses our children.
The word “stress” may have a negative connotation, but it isn’t always a bad thing. “Stress is our body’s way of coping with changes,” says psychologist Dr. Susan Bartell. “It only becomes a negative thing when too many changes occur at once or we haven’t developed the skills to cope with the changes yet.” Read more
May
1
Conscious Camping
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Just a few days in the outdoors can instill your kids with a lifetime of love for nature. To help their hiking boots leave zero footprint, learn the essentials of eco-friendly camping.
By Elizabeth Barker
For today’s perpetually plugged-in kids, camping offers the rare thrill of tuning into the wild wonders of the natural world. It’s also an ideal opportunity for you to teach your children about caring for the planet and preserving its most precious assets. So before you embark on an outdoor excursion this summer, make sure you’re prepared to tread lightly on those park or campground trails.
“In order to make the most environmentally conscious choices while you’re camping, you need to know the rules and regulations of wherever you’re going,” says David Yacubian, director of risk management for Yosemite National Institutes. To find out the best way to handle tasks like dishwashing and waste disposal at your destination, check the website or call the staff as you’re planning your trip. “In some parks where there’s plenty of wood, for example, it’s appropriate to build a campfire,” says Britt Carlson, spokesperson for the North American Association for Environmental Education. “But in other places, there might not be enough wood available, or a campfire might leave a huge scar on the land.”
And when you’re deciding where to camp, first explore the sites closest to home. “If you camp locally rather than driving somewhere far from where you live, it’s going to make a smaller impact,” Carlson points out. But no matter where you end up pitching your tent, aim to stay forest-friendly with these green guidelines. Read more
Apr
1
Go the Distance
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Training for triathlons can be fun for the whole family.
By Kirsten Henri
You’ve probably heard of Ironman, the grueling annual triathlon for world-class athletes, but did you know there’s an IronKids, the annual triathlon series for the seven- to 14-year-old set?
You might be surprised to learn that there are triathlons designed for children as young as seven. The kid’s events are much shorter than the adult versions. IronKids’ seven-to-ten-year-old division, for example, includes a 100-meter swim, a 5k bike and a 1k run.
These events are designed to get kids active and excited about physical fitness. USA Triathlon (USAT), the governing body of the sport, sanctions kid’s races in several divisions, from youth (seven to 15) to junior (15 to 19). Kids are encouraged not to win but to finish—in fact, IronKids slogan is “Every Finisher Is a Winner”—and every participant gets a prize.
Many parents find that training for triathlons with their kids is the most enjoyable, and healthiest, way to spend time as a family. An additional incentive: events often double as fundraisers for different charities. Read more
