 As summer winds down, your family will soon be getting ready for the school year and everything that will entail. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little bit more fun while the summer sun is still going strong. Today, we’re talking about how to have a bit more summer sun before the school year starts.
Plan a Mini Vacation If you have some time and money to spare, the best way to celebrate the end of summer is to plan a mini weekend vacation before the school year starts. Think about the places that you can go with a short drive from your home. Perhaps a trip to a lake or to a new city. If you can score cheap plane tickets, maybe you can even head to the beach for the weekend. Last-minute tickets are hard to find, but not impossible. Plan a Staycation If you don’t have the ability to leave or just don’t want to, then taking a staycation might be a better option. Plan a trip through your own town as if you are here visiting as a tourist. Go to the museum and into town to shop. Take a minute to go to the local park and find a place to swim! When you live in a town for a long time, it can be easy to forget how many things there are to do. Movie Night Under the Stars It’s time to find a projector and a white sheet. Though projectors used to cost an arm and a leg, they can not be gotten for a low price at the local Walmart. Find a projector and get a white sheet that you can hand on the back of your home. Use an inflatable kiddie pool with pillows to create the perfect place to lay. Grab all of your favorite movies and TV shows and spend the night watching movies outside. If you want, sleep under the stars right in your own backyard! Spend a Day Hiking If your family is more into taking a trip to see nature, a Saturday hiking could be just what you need to finish the summer off right. Find a hiking trail you haven’t done before and taking your family for a trip. Remember, you should always wear appropriate clothing and pack both food and water. Also, make sure to bring some first aid so that you can take care of any issues that may arise. Window Shopping One fun option that doesn’t cost money is window shopping. Take a day to go to all your favorite shops and try on clothes. Take photos, grab lunch, and have fun. However, remember not to spend money! Though fun, window shopping is hard if you find something you like. An option to solve this would be to set a budget so that you know you have some money to spend and strive to keep yourself under it. Though fun, summer will come to an end. Making the last of it count before school starts back up is a great way to bond with your family before the stress of the school year kicks in. What do you plan to do this summer? If you are still looking for a preschool option when school starts back up, give Bodies in Motion a shout.
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 Enrolling your child into fitness classes or sports classes is no easy choice. You have to worry about picking the right one, getting the gear, signing papers, and even the age that you should do all of that at. Today, we’re going to help you a bit by talking about at what age children can join fitness classes.
It Depends on the Sport or Subject. The first thing that you should think about is what sport your child will be doing? Each sport has different requirements for age and mental ability. For example, children just a few months old can begin to learn how to swim. On the other hand, a true track or cross country team won’t start until your child is at least middle school age. This age difference is mainly dependent on how a child would handle each sport. Children can do both karate and gymnastics as young as three or four. Football and soccer will start later after the children have gained an understanding of team sports and playing together. In addition to age, you should also think about the mentality and abilities of your specific child. What is Your Child’s Mindset? Next, think about the mental age of your specific child. If your child has an advanced understanding of playing as a team, starting tykes soccer at three or four won’t be a bad idea. On the other hand, starting rock climbing at five might not be a good idea if your child isn’t very good with heights or tough challenges. Is It Healthy for Him or Her? Another thought should be on the health of the sport. Long-distance running isn’t recommended as a sport until the child is older and their bones are more fully formed. Many of these recommendations will be based on joining the programs with competitive intentions. That means children can still learn the sport informally and be safe; however, rigorous training won’t be ideal until older. For example, competitive swimming shouldn’t be taken until your child is at least four years old, according to The American Academy of Pediatrics. However, if you want to get into water safety and readiness, then children as young as six months will be fine. Do You Have Time Outside of physical preparedness, comes your family situation. If you don’t have a lot of time in your life, starting a sport might be something to put off. You don’t want to cause stress with a sport. Remember, meetings and competitions will take time on weekends and weekdays. In addition, the financial cost of sports can be high. There are a few things that you should ask yourself and your family before signing up.
Does the Child Want to? While you should always encourage your child to do new things, you should also be sure your kids aren’t miserable. By making sure they are happy, you can start them out on a healthy track in life. If you force your child into a sport that they hate, they could form adversity to fitness classes and sports teams. Think about a diverse range of activities that your child could do. Each season, try something new until they find something they love and want to stick with. A few examples include karate, rock climbing, swimming, basketball, football, soccer, track, and cross country. Just remember to talk to a doctor about what they are ready for.  As a parent, you have to work to pay the bills for your family. You might not be able to be around your child as much as you or they may like, including after school. After all, in many cases, your child's school will end at two or three while you might not get off work until five or six. If your child is young, they can't stay at home by themselves. Rather than just leaving a babysitter at home, why not send them to after school care?
Children Need More Than an Eye When you leave your child at home with a babysitter, then there is a high chance that they will spend their time relaxing or watching TV until you get home. If they have homework, then the babysitter can help them. In addition, they might be able to play with neighborhood friends. However, what's missing is hand-on experiences, structure play, extra learning, and time enrichment. While children might be alright at home, they aren't living their full potential. A child at afterschool care gets everything their mind needs to keep growing and having fun until you get home at night. They will be able to do their homework, go on field trips, play with others, and take part in activities that would otherwise be unavailable to them. Children Have Varying Needs In addition to needing more than just an eye to watch then, each child has unique needs based on their development and age. At home, there is a chance that nothing will happen and they will be left to their own devices. At after school care, thought will be put into each day of activities by the teachers and program directors. The teachers and directors will take into account the age and abilities of each child so that they can get the most out of their time each day. If you have a five-year-old, working with legos to build a massive car might be too advanced. By the same token, a ten-year-old should not be coloring simple pictures. A teacher will know this and can make sure that each child will get what they need each day. What Should You Look For in After School Care? When you look for after school care, you should keep a few things in mind. In addition to this list, make sure to think about your own needs and circumstances.
Overall, after school programs are a great way to make sure that your child is getting everything they need to grow into a strong and independent adult. As they reach an age where they can stay at home alone, be sure that they have learned how to take care of the home and their responsibilities. If you are looking for an afterschool care option in the Boise, Idaho area, check out Bodies in Motion today!  Fall is the perfect time of year to run a new race, whether it’s a new 5k or new marathons. With a few months left, you still have plenty of time to get in better shape before the deadlines start approaching as well. Running is a great way to cross-train, lose fat, and have fun with your family. Today we’re going to talk about the top races that are coming up in Boise in the fall!
USA Endurance Events: Jack & Jill’s Downhill Marathon & Half Marathon As a USATF Boston Qualifying Race that drops over 4000’ throughout the race, you know you can this is a personal record course. What’s better, avid runners will be able to use the time they get from this downhill race on both the 2020 and 2021 Boston Marathons. The race starts at an elevation of 6753’ in Bogus Basin and ends at an elevation of 2683’ at Ann Morrison Park in Boise, Idaho with an almost all downhill slide. Their website has a great graph showing the elevation based on the mile that can help you plan and visualize. With a race date of September 15th, you still have plenty of time run your next or your first marathon. City of Trees Marathon and Half Marathon If September seems a bit too close for a full marathon, why not try this October 13th option. Rather than a straight race, this circular race will start and finish at Parkcenter Park in Boise. As with the previous race, this is a Boston Marathon Qualifier that uses chips for the best timing. As an October race, you can expect fall foliage to accompany your run the length of the course. The course takes place mostly under the tree canopy on the Boise Greenbelt. Due to the location, you can expect a flat and fast river-side course. Zeitgeist Half Marathon If you’re looking for something that can mix fun and fitness, this race is perfect. Taking place on November 2nd, it’s 13.1-mile length is lines with aid stations and beautiful sights. The loop course is paved and changes 1,181 feet in elevation over three hills. If you run, you will get a long sleeve shirt as well as a finishing medal. In addition, you can expect a post-race party with hot and cold food as well as awards and live band. Unlike most post-race menus, this event aims to have a full menu anyone will love. Examples include garden pasta, scalloped potatoes, mushroom soup and chicken tortilla soup, bagels and cream cheese, and micro-brewed beer. The YMCA Halloween Run For those not looking to run 13 or 26 miles, a fun and short option is available. The YMCA is hosting a 5k and Monster Mile on the 26th of October at 4:30 and 6:00 in the afternoon. As previous, the course will take place on the Boise Greenbelt offering a fast and flat run or walk for you and your family. As a Halloween run, this race is more fun than fitness. Glow Sticks and costumes are encouraged, and there will even be a pre-race costume contest! Register online to save money and ensure that you get an entry into this spooky event!  When the school year rolls around, your child must go from having free time throughout the day to going back to a routine schedule. This transition, if not prepared for, can be very challenging for everyone in the family. Today, we're going to talk about how you can prepare ahead of time for the transition from summer to the school year.
Institute a meal schedule First, you need to ensure that your child is eating all of his or her meals at the same time each day. Eating each meal at the same time will help create the feeling of a schedule and make transitioning to a more rigorous schedule simpler. You should also ensure that each meal is healthy and that any snacks that are being eaten throughout the day are nutritious and well proportioned. Institute a bedtime Even if you have a high schooler, bedtime is an important part of their life. Ensuring that they are going to bed at a reasonable time each night will help the transition to wake up early in the morning. Keep in mind that different ages will determine how much sleep each child needs and when. Older children, such as teens will need eight to 9 hours of sleep starting later than a younger child. Think about a summer class If you have time at the end of the year, you might think about a summer tutoring session or boot camp. This session will help your child get back into the learning mindset. Each summer, a child is said to lose part of what they learned the previous school year and what's called the summer slide. Having a tutoring session shortly before summer starts cannot only get them in the correct mind frame, but it can also help them catch back up and remember what they have forgotten. Go School Shopping Before school starts, you need to make sure that you have everything you need for the classes. Sometimes, you'll be able to get lists ahead of time. Other times you'll know what you need, and you can obtain it without a list. Going on a school shopping session can get your child ready to go back to school both material-wise and mentally. This is because your child will be able to see the materials being bought and shift their mind to the coming season. Drive by the school This stuff is a special importance for children going to new schools, whether it's a change in school or graduation from elementary to middle or middle to high. Driving by the school will help them see where they're going to be, visualize their future. If they're new, it can also help dispel any worries or scary thoughts about being the new kid. Train If your child is in any of the sports of the school, they are probably supposed to be training over the summer. This is common for sports like football, soccer, and cross country. However, most children don't do their required exercises over the summer. Getting them started back into their exercise routine will help their minds cycle back into the school year while also preparing their bodies for the sports season to come. Preparing your child for the upcoming school year doesn't have to be complicated. Taking small steps to get them in the right mindset will make the transition easier for both you and your child. Helping them by instituting a bedtime and a set meal schedule will create a routine. Taking them by the school and going school shopping will push their mind towards the new school year. Ensuring that they're doing their exercises will help them get ready for the upcoming sports season. If you're still looking for a place to send your child, Bodies in Motion offers preschool as well as after school for older children.  As school time draws near, you must plan on what your child will be doing after-school. If they are young, then after-school care might be a necessity. While you could hire someone to take care of them at home, a better option might be to look into after-school care in your area.
Today, we’re going to look into the vital considerations that you should take into account when looking at after-school care. These questions will ensure that you are ready and have chosen the best program possible for your children and their needs.
Thinking about all these factors will ensure that you are getting the best after-school care possible for your family and your child. If you are looking for an option, Bodies in Motion offers after-school care for those looking in the Boise area.  Bodies in Motion is dedicated to helping kids keep their bodies moving. However, we also have a passion for helping out the parents as well. As many parents know, keeping your kids active is a good workout itself. Today, we're going into why that's the case. We're going to talk about the different ways that keeping your kid in shape will help you stay in shape as well.
Reason: You'll Be Joining Them Perhaps the most obvious is that when your child wants to do something active, you might be swept up in that activity as well. This is particularly the case when you have an older child that likes to hike, run, or do outdoor family activities that involve you taking them or joining them somewhere. Implementation Option: Ask to Join If you don't have to move to keep your child active, perhaps they play sports in school, maybe you can ask them for a lesson? If they are in cross country, ask them if you can join them on a slow day. If they play baseball, ask them to play out in the yard. This is an excellent opportunity to bond while also getting out there and getting in shape with your son or daughter. Reason: They Need to Eat Healthily If your child is in competitive sports, then you know all about the importance of regular exercise and a healthy diet. If your child is eating pizza all day, then chances are their coach will say something. As such, you can become used to eating a healthier diet. After all, having snacks and pizza in the house when someone can't eat it is a recipe for disaster. Implementation Option: Think About A Healthier Diet If your family thinks they could do better in the nutrition department, then work together to determine what's best for everyone. Talk to your child's coaches and doctors as well as your own. You'll be giving your child a boost as well as yourself. Reason: Your Speed Running your Errands If you're taking your child to martial arts every week, then chances are you have an hour to kill each week. Many parents use that time to go grocery shopping and run their errands. Each one of those parents is a killer speed walker. With only an hour to spare, you'll become great at getting somewhere and getting what you need fast. Implementation Option: Join them for an Hour of Fitness If you want to boost your activity level or if you generally wait for them to finish, then think about joining them with an hour of your fitness. Drop your child off in gym clothes and go for a run at the local park or in the parking lot. Remember, talk to a professional and make sure you have the right gear before you start a new fitness routine. Reason: Children Take Work Even if your child isn't old enough to play sports, there's a high chance that he or she is keeping you more active. Having a baby or toddler requires constant movement and motion. In addition, their need for fresh air and walks will keep you off your bottom for much longer than the average person. Implementation Option: Take Your Child to Parks If you've been feeling stuck at home, then try taking your child to a park. Parks are an excellent way for you to get moving and stand for long periods while your child has fun with people their age. Bring young children in a stroller so that you can walk while they nap or look at nature.  It's widely understood that kids are selfish. It's through no fault of their own, it's normal. However, teaching kids to be a part of the community is vital to ensuring they grow into mature and understanding adults. Helping the city is a great way for your child to experience what it's like to belong to a group. In addition, it gives them a chance to understand how to be helpful rather than selfish. Today, we're going to talk about how you can get your child involved in the community at any age.
Volunteering Volunteering is the perfect way to get your child involved in the community. Children who volunteer will be exposed to many different parts of life and many kinds of people that live together. For example, taking your kid to volunteer each weekend at the local animal shelter can give them an understanding of what it's like to care for something else. Also, it will allow them to see what people do for the community each day. Starting small is the best way to ensure a strong passion for volunteering. Young children might only be able to help pass out medals at a 5K while older children could spend the whole day planting trees. If you're starting with a new organization, it's best to call ahead to see their policies on volunteering children. In many cases, they will have an age limit as well as requirements, for example, that you come along. Recreational Sports Many towns have recreational sports teams that can help your child socialize with people that they may not see at school. Also, recreational sports often have events that bring in more of the community. This could be a fundraiser like a car wash or a tournament like Little League. As a bonus, if you choose to go with this option, there's a high chance that you will have to go with the first as well. Many recreational sports teams have a volunteer portion of being a part of the team. This could be cleaning the park or helping with a local, related event. Related: Sports Classes If you don't have or want to take part in any sports teams, why not try a sports class. Bodies in Motion offers karate classes for children all over Boise. This is a great way to get children meeting other kids and people from around the community. However, the advantage here is a professional teacher and lessons that any child could use from mindset and meditation to self-defence and fitness. Start a Business While children can't operate a business in the same way as an adult, they can get their entrepreneurial feet wet. Think about getting your child interested in making a little money by interacting with the community. Age-appropriate business activities can be harder to come by for younger children, but as they age, the options become endless. Some things to think about are dog walking, house sitting, lemonade stand, paracord bracelets, or drawings at local craft fairs. Who knows, maybe they'll find their passion early in life. Join a Friends of the Park/Friends of the Library Day Many parks and other publicly funded locations will have a friends day. This is a day where everyone comes out to the site to clean, volunteer, help, and improve the facility or park. Some parks will create new trails or enhance old ones. Libraries will often sort old books and sell them for discounted prices. These programs can be harder to find, but a google search or an ask around could get you the information you're looking for. Involving your child in the community will enable them to see what's it's like to be part of something. It's important that the younger a child is, the more self-centred they are. It's a byproduct of being the center of everyone's world as a baby! However, children are also great at helping others. Teaching them young will allow for a life of involvement and kindness.  As school bridges the horizon, children going into preschool are about to have their lives changed forever. Preparing them for this change will involve lots of work on bedtimes, bathrooms, and sitting still. It doesn't have to be all that bad. We've created a bucket list to ensure that while your new preschooler might be going into a thirteen or more year-long ordeal, they have the best end to the school free days of their lives possible.
1. Eat Dessert (or Breakfast) for Dinner Children love a treat. Giving them a fun dinner option like ice cream or cake isn't something you can offer on a school night. However, as the summer comes to an end, you can give them something so that they can relax and enjoy time with their family. 2. Have a Photoshoot It's the end of a phase of life for your young baby, and you have the perfect summer glow. It's time for a photoshoot. Make sure to get some traditional poses as well as some candid shots playing games and having fun. Use these to start a scrapbook showing your child as they grow each summer. 3. Go on a Scavenger Hunt Whether you've created a scavenger hunt before or not, this is a simple one that requires almost no prep time at all. While you'll have to be a bit more creative for younger children that can read, there are plenty of options on Pinterest that will keep your child having fun and learning while they're at it. 4. Chalk up the Driveway If you have a paved driveway, it's time to turn it into the biggest art piece that you're child's ever worked on. Don't just get regular chalk, get some sidewalk paint, exploding chalk, and even ice chalk to make sure they have options and enough to last them the whole day (and the whole driveway.) 5. Game Night It's easy to spend the nights reading social media and watching TV. However, installing the first of many games nights will help you have family time before your child has homework and friends to attend to. Don't forget the prizes! 6. Do The Thing! If you've had your eye on that amazing burger place, theme park, or mall, then go! The end of summer is the perfect time to go on an impromptu visit to something you've been thinking about for ages. If there's something that everyone's been talking about on social media, why not see what all the buzz is about? 7. Have a Water Fight These things are best done as a surprise. You're going to want to get a bunch of water balloons and water guns. Fill everything up and get it ready to go while your partner is away with the child. When they're on their way back, leave half of the supplies by the door and hide. You know what happens next! 8. Tye-dye a T-Shirt This outdoor activity will allow your child to make their clothing while the weather is still nice. Make sure that you have a wide selection of colors as well as gloves and a place to hang the clothes. Look up some ideas on Pinterest for patterns. If it comes out good, you might have picked your kid's first-day outfit. 9. Go on a Picnic This idea is something that gets harder as the school year starts, and the weather gets colder. You might go into your backyard, but it's sure to make dinner more fun. Don't forget the tunes and the games for after dinner! 10. Go to Live Music During the summer, live music is easy to find. A park, festival, or even a restaurant patio is a great way to get out and get dancing. However, remember that your child's ears are sensitive! Make sure to have ear protection or stay farther back in the crowd! |
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February 2024
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