July 2016

Do you remember the days when your mom would send you outside to play and said don't come back until the street lights come on? Well, yes, a lot has changed since then. Although, many would agree it's not as safe to let your kids do outside exploring on their own, you can still bring those old memories back to life, but with parent supervision. There was something adventurous and mysterious about playing those childhood games outdoors and using that creative part of your brain. During the summer months, if your kid(s) are at home, I think it's important to get some vitamin D and get them outside. Included are some old school games I am bringing back to life!

1. Hop Skotch

Get some chalk from the dollar store and hop til you drop!

2. Musical Chairs

How fun is it to scramble for a seat with your favorite tunes?

3. Hide and Seek

Ready or not? Here I come? Those words will stick with you forever.

4. Jump Rope

Skipping. One in and one out. Get those heart rates up kid!

5. Clapping Games

Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack! These are songs every girl should know!

6. Climbing Trees

Boys will be boys! And who said girls can't keep up too?

7. Hula Hoop

Get those hips moving and see who can hula the longest!

What was your favorite childhood game growing up? How can you turn an old game into a new memory with you children today?

John Dewey wrote (Democracy and Education, 1916), “Education is not an affair of 'telling' and being told, but an active and constructive process.” This gave rise to the constructivist theory expanded by Lev Vygotsky (“Zone of Proximal Learning” from Thought and Language), who believed children learn best through collaborative, meaningful, problem-solving scenarios, rather than instruction. Put simply, it is active and participative. In real-life terms, collaborative children gain more knowledge that they can own, than they will ever learn on their own (Forsyth Family Magazine, 2014).

1. Playdates make a child feel like an individual.

You are sacrificing time for your child to interact and socialize with children that include things that benefit your child. This gives them time to do things that are developmentally appropriate for their age and caters to them.

2. Playdates help your child make a connection.

You know the feeling when you connect with someone and you just click? It's the same for your little one. When they have similar interests and enjoyable experiences, it makes for great friendships and a sense of belonging. When we're connected, whether at work, or at play, we thrive.

3. Playdates allow for parents to see how your child interacts with their peers.

As moms, sometimes we aren't always aware of what our kids really need to work on. When
you see your child one on one with their peers, you can really observe your kid in action. Problems sharing? Using their words to solve a problem? Working cooperatively? Yup. These are great times to help guide your child in action. And the great thing is to watch their progress. The more play date opportunities you give, the more time for growth.

4. Playdates allow for your children to experience other families.

All families are different. This is a great opportunity for your kids to see how other families interact and what morals they have. They may even get tickled by realizing how similar your families are!