With YouTube, TV, video games, and smartphones, 'it's important to make sure kids are getting unstructured playtime. Making this harder is the fast-paced and "unsafe" world we now live in. While you are, I might have played out on the street until the streetlights came on, 'that's no longer the norm. In years passed, running a few streets over at 10 to meet a friend was okay. Now? Not so much.
So how then, do we accomplish unstructured and unobserved playtime? In addition, 'what's so great about allowing kids to play without parents watching them all the time? Today we're going to talk about why kids should have unsupervised playtime and how you can encourage it? Why is Unstructured Play Good? According to Help Me Grow, "Unstructured play allows children the freedom to explore, create, and discover without predetermined rules or guidelines. 'It's been shown to foster cognitive development while boosting physical development and social and emotional development." In short, when you allow your kid to "just have fun," then you give them time to foster creativity and imagination, problem-solving skills, and social skills. In addition, letting them play by themselves or just with friends allows them to foster independence and creativity separate from the influence that you might carry. For example, when you were a child, did you play cops & robbers or house in the living room with your parents watching or outside with just your friends? How Much Unstructured Play is Good? According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, each child should get at least an hour per day to unwind, relax, and have some simple creative playtime. However, this number should be higher on weekends, and the younger the child is. Depending on the type of schooling you have, there is a chance that your elementary student is only getting 30 minutes of recess all day. Add homework after, and 'it's easy for kids not to get the time they need. How to Encourage Unstructured Play? Scale Back on Activities If it seems like you are spending all of your time taking your child to soccer, after school, school, swimming, and t-ball then it might be time to cut one or two from the schedule. We want our kids to experience as much as possible; however, sometimes planning less leads to experiencing more. Consider which of the extracurricular activities take the most time away from "free time" and if they are worth the time that you and your family put into them. If the rewards 'aren't worth the cost, let is go! Make Them Go Outside As a kid, you and I probably begged to go outside and disappear for most of the day. 'That's not always likely with kids now. Rather than let them stay inside, make them go outside. You can provide them with some outside toys but tell them to go out and have fun. Though they might resist at first, chances are, they will find out what made it so much fun for us years ago. If you are worried, give them a phone or walkie-talkie they can use to keep in contact. Let Them Create & Destroy Kids love to build and tear down blocks, crafts, and more. Give them a craft box, building block, legos, and other reusable toys that inspire creativity. By letting them build, mess up, tear up, and start over you let their imagination take life. Think about chalk, sticks, branches, and dirt if you want to get them outside and creating all at once. Get Messy Letting kids play in the mud, bring out every toy, and use paint can be daunting to people who love order. However, the disorder is where kids will thrive. You 'don't have to let them finger paint the wall; however, giving them the space to make a mess and be themselves will show them what they can do. If you need order in the house, set up an "art studio" in the garage on the back porch!
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One of our smaller known events is ax throwing. Our team of ax throwing experts guide participants through lessons and contests to see who can do the best and learned the fastest. In preparation for taking our ax-throwing class, this post will go into what you can expect, tips that will help, and things that you should not do when learning to throw an ax.
Dos and Don’ts of Axe Throwing Do: Have Fun Ax throwing is about learning a new skill and having fun on a date night or night out with friends and family. As such, you should work to have fun and enjoy your class. This isn’t a serious less that you will be tested on at the end. If you aren’t having fun, then we aren’t doing our job. Don’t: Come Drunk While ax-throwing is supposed to be fun and games, the reality is, you are wielding a weapon. As such, you should not come drunk or tipsy. Think about going out for drinks after learning how to throw axes. You can even bargain that the “winner” gets a free drink! Do: Wear Good Shoes While we don’t expect you to drop an ax, we don’t want you wearing strappy stilettos. Should you drop an ax, even it’s handle will result in a pretty good bruise when you have nothing protecting your foot. In addition, good shoes make the learning process easier. Don’t: Come Alone Our ax-throwing classes are meant for groups of six or more! Call ahead to book an appointment so that you know your triple date night is ready for action. Perfect for families, couples, and friends. What to Expect in Axe Throwing Classes Our ax-throwing classes take place on Fridays and Saturdays with groups of six or more. When you arrive at our ax-throwing class with your five friends, you will be given lessons by our expert. They will go over the correct posture as well as tips and tricks for throwing an ax perfectly. All guests throw within lanes that are enclosed by metal fencing so that you don’t have a chance of hurting other guests. Key Facts:
If you are interested in booking an ax-throwing class in Boise, Idaho with friends then Bodies in Motion is the place for you. Our classes will run you through the basics as well as tips and tricks to get better. Remember, you must be an adult, wearing closed-toed shoes, and with at least five of your friends. We have Friday and Saturday offerings throughout the year. When you think of a typical afternoon, you think of coming home and playing with your children. A typical night might involve more playing and getting them ready for sleep. However, parents night out allows for you to have a well-deserved date. Drop your kids off at the Bodies in Motion gym for a night of fun while you and your partner go out, run errands, or have a date at home.
When presented with this service, most parents ask, "what do I need to do or to have for parents night out?" Today, we're going into that as well as what you can expect when you let your child attend a parents night out at Bodies in Motion in Boise, Idaho. What Does Your Child Need for Parents Night Out? When you take your child to our parents night out, you'll drop them off at 5:00 pm and pick them back up at 9:00 pm. You don't have to pack anything for them! Dinner will be provided in the form of an all you can eat buffet. In addition, fun themes and games will have them running and playing all night long. Here is a look at our themes for the remainder of 2019!
If your child wants, dressing up to match the theme is allowed and encouraged. However, we understand if dressing like an elf isn't something that your ten-year-old wants to do with their evening. What Do You Need for Your Parents Night Out? After filling out the paperwork, there is nothing else you need to do! Now, it's all about what you want. Prepare for your night, whether that is a date, a movie, shopping, or just sitting at home in silence. Previously, we've talked about all the options you have when it comes to a parent's night out. However, here is a quick recap.
What Happens at Parent's Night Out? Each Parents Night Out event is packed with fun activities, crafts, and our all you can eat Newton's Cafe Flatbread buffet. When your child arrives, they'll join a group of kids near their age. They'll have four hours to explore our gym and take part in the activities that we've planned according to the night's theme. What Rules Are There? If you want your child to attend parent's night out, then you need to make sure they are potty trained and between the ages of 3 and 12. They should also be a great listener and kind to other children. To make the most out of each parent's night out, we need all of our wonderful kids to have a great time. If you are looking for a parent's night out, then contact us! We generally have one night a month. However, they fill up fast, so you have to book ahead of time. We are in Boise, Idaho, and our events run from 5 to 9 at night. As long as your child is between 3 and 12 and is potty trained, they can come! |
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February 2024
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