Tweens 9-12

Discover how fencing helps kids build focus, confidence, discipline, and problem-solving skills while learning a fun and challenging new sport.

Fencing

How Fencing Teaches Kids to Think Move and Grow

Kids 5-8

Learn how to tell when your child’s schedule is too full, spot stress signals early, and use BeAKid to build a balanced week that still sparks joy.

Chess

How Many Activities Is Too Many For Kids? A Practical Guide For Real Families

Learn how to choose the right activities for kids based on age, interests, and developmental skills to support learning, confidence, and growth.

Art & Crafts

How to Choose Activities That Help Your Child Grow

This article discusses the top 10 fastest-growing activities projected for kids by 2025. These activities include a mix of traditional sports and innovative educational pursuits. Robotics and coding are expected to grow in popularity due to the increasing influence of technology, potentially setting kids up for future tech careers. Classic sports such as gymnastics and equestrian sports remain popular, with the latter predicted to reach a wider audience. Music production, driven by digital music and home recording, could offer a potential career path. Yoga and mindfulness activities are gaining attention for their mental health benefits. Virtual reality gaming promotes both physical activity and strategic thinking. Sustainable gardening is encouraged due to concerns over climate change. Cooking and baking are rising as they promote creativity and teach nutrition. Drone flying is becoming a trendy hobby as drone technology becomes more accessible.

STEM/STEAM

Top 10 Fastest-Growing Kids’ Activities in 2025

The article suggests a variety of local activities for kids to enjoy during the end of July. The suggested activities include taking part in events at community libraries, outdoor movie nights at local parks, visiting farmers markets for a fun and educational experience, joining specialized programs at nature or adventure parks, participating in summer programs at museums and art galleries, enjoying swimming and other activities at community pools, and participating in seasonal sports or games at local parks or community centres. These activities were recommended for their ability to keep kids entertained, active and safe, while they learn and make new friendships.

Beat the Heat: Exciting Local Kids' Summer Activities for the End of July

The article focuses on the role of community-based classes in childhood development. These classes, which can range from creative arts to martial arts, are more than just fun activities; they significantly contribute to a child's confidence, social skills, and independence. They provide a safe environment where children can discover their unique strengths and interests, thereby boosting their self-confidence and resilience. The relaxed atmosphere of these classes promotes social skills development like teamwork, cooperation, empathy, and appreciation for diversity. They also foster independence, as children get to make their own decisions, leading to increased self-reliance and accountability. Moreover, these classes offer parents a way to support their child's growth, identify their interests and talents, and ensure their well-being in a safe, supervised environment. The article concludes by emphasizing the holistic development offered by community classes, building confident, socially adept, and independent future leaders.

Uncovering Confidence: The Power of Local Classes in Childhood Development

A recent poll has shown broad bipartisan support in the US for increased funding for afterschool programs, with 91% of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 85% of Republicans in favour. Afterschool programs offer a safe, structured environment for children when their parents are at work, and offer a variety of activities that complement school curriculums. The programs are proven to boost academic performance, reduce risky behaviours, and promote health and social skills. Despite this, many children across the US do not have access to afterschool programs due to a lack of funding. The bipartisan support is seen as a commitment to prioritizing the educational and developmental needs of America's youth.

Afterschool Support That Crosses Party Lines

Farming offers various benefits to children beyond the obvious outcome of growing and harvesting crops. It teaches sustainability and environmental responsibility, as children learn about conserving resources, recycling waste, and maintaining biodiversity. Farming also encourages healthy eating habits by familiarizing children with different fruits, vegetables, and grains. It helps develop life skills like planning, problem-solving, and patience. Farming is also a good form of physical exercise and can improve mental well-being due to its calming nature. Furthermore, it offers children a chance to reconnect with nature and provides opportunities for experiential learning. In essence, farming cultivates a new generation of conscious, responsible, and healthy individuals.

Farming

The Many Benefits of Farming for Kids

Teens 13-18

The article discusses the benefits of mindfulness practices such as yoga, meditation, and social-emotional learning for young people. Yoga, besides being a physical exercise, can enhance concentration, stress management, self-esteem, and body image among children and teens. Meditation can promote calmness, emotional well-being, stress reduction, self-awareness, empathy, patience, and improved sleep. Social-emotional learning, supported by mindfulness techniques, improves emotional intelligence by helping youth understand and regulate their emotions, set goals, display empathy, maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. Additionally, mindfulness practices can foster resilience, equipping youth to cope with adversity and stress. The article concludes by stating that teaching mindfulness to young people can provide lifelong benefits, including improved mental health, emotional well-being, and overall happiness.

Yoga

The Power of Mindfulness for Youth: Yoga, Meditation, and Resilience-Building Techniques

Preschool 2-4

Dance can have numerous positive effects on children's physical, emotional, and social development. Physically, dance promotes fitness, agility, coordination, flexibility, strength, balance, and stamina. It can also combat childhood obesity and encourage an active lifestyle. Cognitively, dance enhances concentration, memory, and spatial understanding, which can improve academic performance. Emotionally and socially, dance allows children to express their feelings and interact with others, improving self-esteem, confidence, cooperation, and respect. Creatively, dance fosters innovation, imaginative thinking, and a love for the arts. It also teaches discipline, focus, and patience. Dance can relieve stress, reduce anxiety, and improve mood, even increasing happiness levels in children. Therefore, dance can benefit children in all areas of life beyond the dance floor.

Dance

What Dance Taught My Child Beyond the Studio

The article discusses how to create an efficient homework routine, contributing to the development of life skills like time management, problem-solving, and self-discipline, beyond just completing assignments. It suggests identifying the child's learning style and using it to design a homework routine. It also recommends establishing a consistent, flexible schedule that considers other responsibilities and activities. The article emphasizes creating a conducive, well-lit, quiet study environment, and making responsible use of technology to aid homework. Encouraging independence when solving problems, teaching prioritization of tasks, and incorporating breaks and rewards are also suggested. Regular communication with the child's teacher is crucial to address challenges timely. The article reminds that patience and consistency are necessary during the adjustment phase to a new homework routine.

Reading

A Guide to Successful Study Habits

Teaching history can be made interesting and engaging for kids through creative methods and activities. Storytelling, wherein historical events are transformed into captivating tales, can help children retain information and visualize past occurrences. Using multimedia like documentaries, films, podcasts, interactive websites and apps can enhance their understanding. Field trips to historical sites, museums, or monuments provide a tangible connection to the past. Role-playing historical events allows children to engage with history on a deeper psychological level. Encouraging children to create artwork based on historical events or periods can help them interpret history in a personal, imaginative way. Board games and online games based on historical events encourage active learning. Reading historical fiction and non-fiction books expose children to different perspectives. These techniques can instill a love for history and shape children's understanding of the world, helping them become knowledgeable and informed citizens.

Writing

Fun and Creative Techniques for Teaching Kids About History

Art and music programs in schools play a vital role in enhancing children's creativity, as well as cognitive, social, and emotional development. These programs have been shown to improve cognitive abilities, fostering innovative and critical thinking, and enhancing problem-solving skills. Engaging in creative activities also supports emotional development, helping children express feelings and manage stress. Furthermore, art and music can improve social skills, through collaborative projects that encourage communication, cooperation, and empathy. These programs also promote cultural awareness, exposing students to global cultures and traditions. Therefore, integrating art and music into education is essential, offering numerous benefits from fostering creativity to promoting social interaction and emotional well-being.

Ceramics

The Impact of Art and Music Programs on a Child's Creativity

Camps provide a unique environment for children to develop important social skills such as communication, teamwork, empathy, decision-making, self-confidence, and acceptance. They offer numerous opportunities for children to interact with diverse individuals, encouraging them to step out of their comfort zones and engage in meaningful conversations. The team-oriented activities foster cooperation, collaboration, and shared responsibility. Camps also allow children to make decisions and navigate challenges independently, enhancing their problem-solving skills and resilience. Additionally, role-playing activities enable children to understand different perspectives and handle conflicts healthily. In a judgement-free environment, children can appreciate their uniqueness and form strong friendships based on shared experiences and mutual support. Overall, camps equip children with essential social skills that will benefit them for life.

Archery

The Role of Camps in Developing Social Skills

The article outlines the benefits of cooking with children, namely building essential life skills and understanding nutrition, math, and science. It provides six fun and simple recipes to try with children including homemade pizza, pancakes, fruit skewers, sandwich art, rainbow salad, and cupcakes. Each activity is aimed at promoting different skills and introducing diverse foods. The article emphasizes that the end goal of cooking with children should not be about creating a perfect meal, but rather about enjoying the process and building their confidence.

Cooking

Stirring Up Fun: Exciting Recipes to Cook with Kids

The article provides a step-by-step guide on how to plan a memorable backyard camping adventure for kids. The suggested steps include choosing the right camping gear such as a tent, sleeping bags, and flashlights; planning a variety of games and activities such as scavenger hunts and flashlight tag; setting up the campsite, ensuring it's flat and free from rocks or roots; planning and preparing meals, which could include hot dogs and marshmallows for roasting; ensuring comfort and safety for all campers, including having a first aid kit nearby; and creating a camping atmosphere, perhaps by telling ghost stories around a campfire. The guide emphasizes that with the right planning, backyard camping can create lasting memories.

Charlotte Taylor