How to get your children happy and active
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English: At play in Sutton Park. Parents and children in the adventure playground near the main entrance to the 2400-acre park. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
There are some kids who love the outdoors and enjoy activities and others who favour more of an artistic approach to life. And then there are those who prefer to sit in front of a PlayStation and do little else. Whatever holiday your child enjoys there are some great ways to get them experimenting with new things as well as getting a bit more happy and active.
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Do your research
There are so many different types of vacation on offer for kids these days from singing to cycling to rock climbing. Think about the type of vacation that your child would enjoy and how sociable they are normally. There is little point in sending a child off to a summer camp that they will detest and not integrate. Why not gather a selection of brochures and websites and suggest a few to your offspring. Are their friends going to a particular place? All of these things can help give your child a happier holiday.
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Find something they?re comfortable with
Everyone wants their son or daughter to come back from summer youth camp having done something new and to have more confidence and better interpersonal skills. Think carefully about what your child likes to do normally. If they enjoy cycling and walking then an activity based camp will have those facilities and more, and at least they know there is something they like doing. You may find that your daughter comes back having tried rock climbing and your son has been kayaking as a result of other things being available and looking like fun to try. If you push too hard the child will feel threatened and may end up having a miserable time.
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Think about group activity
If you have a child who is quite insular and not normally sociable, getting them involved in group activity is a good way to help them break the ice with others and potentially make new friends. There are lots of sporting and outdoor activity based holidays which appeal to some kids. Other children enjoy music and artistic activities. There are senior class trips to some great places where making music together and performing to an audience is the highlight of the vacation. This type of activity helps a child see how their talents mixed with those of another child can make something really creative in the musical arena.
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Consider the learning experience
There are so many skills a child will learn from going on vacation independently. These range from social skills to learning a new sport and increasing their levels of confidence. There are history lessons too from learning about places and people that shaped the nation to types of industry famous in an area. Kids also learn how to mix with others and how they fit into a group activity. Lessons in science and natural history are so much more enjoyable in the real world than in a classroom. Who knows, your child could return having ideas for a career and totally new interests, all gleaned on a vacation.
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There are many places to choose from all over the world and so many experiences that a child could benefit from. Choosing the right one needs a bit of thought so think about your child and don?t forget to include them in the final decision for a vacation they will thank you for on their return.
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Rachael Rowe is a freelance travel writer who got the bug to travel from a school trip many years ago.
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Source: http://www.amazus.org/2012/10/10/how-to-get-your-children-happy-and-active/
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