How the Outdoors Makes Your Kids Smarter
How important is it to get your kids to put down the controller/remote/tablet/smartphone? The folks over at Outside Magazine take a look at the research surrounding exercise and outdoor activity and how going outside benefits our children. Some of the highlights: Exercise helps us imprint…
7 Reasons to Play
From The Genius of Play, an initiative by the Toy Industry Association, here are 7 ways that playtime can benefit your child. Children with access to a variety of toys were found to reach higher levels of intellectual achievement, regardless of the children’s sex, race or…
Fun Olympic Activities for Kids
The Opening Ceremonies of the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics start on August 5, and the summer games are a great time to engage your children and get them excited about participating in sports. Get the kiddos in the Olympic spirit by hosting your own backyard sporting events. Trampoline…
Homemade sports drink for keeping kids hydrated
When it’s time to refuel after a hard day of summer play – and water just isn’t cutting it – you may be tempted to reach for a sugary sports drink to help your child replenish fluids and electrolytes like the professional athletes do. But…
Summer Playground Safety Tips
Texas has hit our toasty triple-digit temperatures again this summer, so it’s a good time to remind moms and dads to take a few extra precautions to keep play equipment safe and fun for the kiddos. Here are a few things to check before your…
Watching the Invictus Games with your Children
There are many benefits to watching sports with your children. Learning an appreciation for teamwork and sportsmanship is an important lesson for little ones. But the Invictus Games also teach your children about courage in the face of adversity and the importance of adaptive sports for…
Why your vitamin D is probably low and how to increase it
People aren’t getting enough vitamin D, and it’s a big problem. Growing up, we were told to drink our milk for bone-strengthening calcium and vitamin D. However doctors and dietitians are finding that in today’s sedentary, plugged-in-to-technology society, dietary vitamin D is not enough to…
How Play Benefits Adults As Well As Children
We’ve talked a lot about the many ways that play benefits children. It helps them develop better motor skills, lets them explore social skills and builds confidence. But kids aren’t the only ones who have a lot to gain from playtime. Play offers a wide…
Why Playing Outside In Winter Is Important
When it’s dark outside by the time you get home from work and temperatures begin to drop, our natural inclination is to go into hibernation mode. Camping out on the couch can quickly become a bad habit for the whole family during the winter months….
Children’s Right To Play
In 1989, the United Nations recognized that as part of a child’s essential human rights, he or she has the right “to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural…