11 Benefits of Extracurricular Activities for Children

11 Benefits of Extracurricular Activities for Children

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Every autumn represents a shift in the schedule, inviting families to decide how they would like to spend their time. While there is plenty of value in unstructured play time outside of school, there is also the danger of screens occupying every spare minute of this idleness. We may also suspect our children are missing out on something greater if they aren’t enrolled in at least one extracurricular activity. Regardless of the particular activities your children gravitate toward, there are ample benefits for their personal development – including some that last a lifetime. 

Benefits of Extracurricular Activities for Kids

Expanded Social Network: Your children can develop friendships with like-minded children, beyond the typical school environment. Less formal environments make it easier for shy kids to communicate with others. Identification with a community of peers can give children a broader sense of family and belonging. Some of these communications can lead to leadership positions within the organization or future job opportunities.

Life Skill Development: Children can pick up a variety of life skills from extracurricular participation, including how to: work in a group; manage time and organize tasks; problem-solve and persevere; win and lose graciously; lead and disseminate information to others; exercise patience; think critically; and adapt to constructive criticism.  

Boosted Academic Performance: Texas A&M University found that extracurricular participation is associated with better reading and math engagement, grades, and achievement. Extracurriculars exercise brain areas involved in memory, creativity, and critical thinking.

Thrive on Meaningful Routine: Consistent, scheduled activities help children anticipate what will happen next in their world, which increases a sense of security, control, and confidence. Parental involvement in their children’s extracurricular world is a powerful way to engage young people in the community at large. Activities supported by parents create a similar intervention to parent-teacher conferences, spiritual services, and local volunteer work.

Positive Peer Pressure: Kids in clubs, sports, and activities throughout middle school experience positive pressure to make the best use of their spare time and are less likely to get involved in drugs or alcohol.

Willingness To Try New Things: Kids involved in extracurricular activities express healthy curiosity and a willingness to try new activities they may not be exposed to during the course of a normal school day or at home. Providing your children with a structured environment to learn, try new activities, and develop skills encourages your child to become a well-rounded adult.

Skill Development: Gaining proficiency in a particular interest builds a strong basis for confidence and self-esteem. Through exploration of a new field of study, kids not only learn a new skill, but cultivate passions and learn about themselves, too.

Discipline Kids on sports teams quickly lean that the rest of the group relies on their participation over the course of the season. Parents, coaches, teammates, and even teachers all reinforce the value of committing and sticking with an activity through the end. Children must exercise discipline to remain engaged week after week. 

Empathy: A cultural club can increase exposure to other cultures, boosting understanding and empathy. Volunteer opportunities and community service can also broaden one’s perspective of the world, while building connections that can last well into the future.   

Physical Health: Many extracurriculars are movement-based, whether dance, karate, gymnastics, nature clubs, or sports leagues. Research shows kids who exercise regularly are at lower risk for high cholesterol and blood pressure, low bone density, metabolic syndrome and obesity, sleeping difficulties, and depression. Participating in exercise activities helps kids reach the goal of getting 60+ minutes of moderate activity per day.  

Mental Health: Adolescents who participate in extracurricular activities spend less time on screens, demonstrating higher levels of life satisfaction and optimism, as well as lower incidence of anxiety and depression. Children with a negative attitude toward school become more engaged. The National Center for Education Statistics has found that participation in sports, clubs, and after-school classes correlates with improved attendance, academic performance, and the desire to pursue higher education.

Get Your Kids Involved at Shine

Shine offers a number of extracurricular activities to enrich your child’s life. Try one of these classes in the fall:

  • The Garden Project (Ages 3-5, 5-7, 8-10) – Explore art and nature at Bridge Gardens.
  • Little Lanterns (Ages 4-10) – Learn Mandarin Chinese through art, music, STEM, and cultural studies.
  • Listillos (Ages 2-10) – Learn Spanish through immersion in art, music, storytelling, motion, and games.
  • Stage Lights (Ages 3-5, 6-7, 8-10) – Bring stories to life through games, puppets, music, and theater.
  • Globe Trekkers (Ages 4-10) – Study international art, culture, music, flavors, and games.
  • Block Party (Ages 4-10) – Play with LEGOs, explore architecture, and think outside the box.

Check out our website for more fabulous class ideas or contact us to inquire about customized programming.

Ways To Promote Your Child’s Mental and Emotional Health Every Day

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While much of the world has gone back to normal, many of us are still painfully aware of the mental and emotional toll the COVID-19 pandemic had on our children. Hospitals have seen a 24% surge in mental health related emergency room visits for patients ages 5-11 over the last year. One in six US children will have a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder behavior diagnosed by eight years of age, according to the CDC.

The trends are troubling, but parents hold a lot of power to maintain a healthy, happy household. Beyond providing basic food, clothing, shelter, hygiene, nutrition, a good night’s sleep, and access to education, positive parenting involves routines, quality down-time, and carefully-chosen words.

Enjoy Dinner Together

With busy work, school, and sports schedules, it can be difficult to coordinate a time where everyone is available for dinner. It can be all too easy to switch on the television while eating or rush through the meal to get to another activity. However, the benefits of quality family dinner time are well-researched.

Kids who cook with their parents consume more fruits, vegetables, and healthy foods. Hands-on cooking activities help children develop skills, independence, problem-solving techniques, and self-confidence. You’re promoting fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity, while spending screen-free time together. 

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University compared teens who ate dinner with their parents less than twice a week with those who had family dinner 5-7 days a week. Eating with the family correlated with teens who were 4x less likely to smoke, 2.5x less likely to use drugs, and half as likely to drink alcohol. This group was more likely to achieve better grades and half as likely to require treatment for depression, anxiety, or other emotional problems.

At dinner time, ask your child about friends, social events, school learning, current events, and issues of concern. Play games like “I Spy” or try these fun family dinner conversation starters. After dinner, give your child an important role to play – whether it’s the dish-rinser, counter-wiper, table-cleaner, or floor-sweeper. After all, one 25-year study found that the biggest predictor for the success of young adults in their mid-20s was whether they participated in household chores in early childhood.

Play Games That Teach About Emotions

Children learn so much through play. Emotional regulation, social cues, and body management are all teachable through games. They may seem silly to you, but young children find them memorable and enjoyable.

  • Are you feeling more like a star fish or like a tornado? Managing internal energy stores is a big component of self-regulation. Help your child recognize their own energy levels by periodically asking this question throughout the day. Reinforce that your child can always try to use a calming skill or ask an adult for help when they’re feeling like a tornado. If you’re playing in the morning and your child is feeling peaceful as a starfish, you might say, “It sounds like a great time to snuggle and watch cartoons!” If your child is feeling like a tornado, you might say, “How many times can you run up and down the stairs in one minute?” or “How high can you bounce this ball to release that energy?”
  • What can you spy with your binocular eyes? On a trip to the playground, teach your child to slow down, observe, pick up on social cues, and choose how to behave. Hold your fingers like circles and pretend to peer through binoculars, while sharing details about what you see. “I see a girl who looks worried at the top of the slide,” you might say, or “I see there’s room on the swings.” When your child sees someone hurt or sad, there may be an opportunity for an intervention. If your child sees that the swings are occupied, perhaps the slide is a better alternative.
  • What would you like to do tonight? Start a tradition where, one night a week, your family takes turns planning a fun night. This could include which dinner to have, what movie to watch, what game to play, or what theme to celebrate. Create a score card of social-emotional skills like “Waiting my turn,” “Staying calm when doing something I don’t like,” “Trying something new,” “Sharing attention,” or “Using my words to share how I feel,” or “Making a thoughtful decision.” Have everyone rate themselves and talk about what is working well and what could use improvement.

Put Down Your Phone

According to researchers at Wharton and Drexel universities, it’s not the number of hours you spend with your children each day that predicts your child’s physical and emotional health; it’s how present you are. Your child knows when you’re stressed out, too busy, and mentally preoccupied.

Thirty minutes of focused, undistracted attention is better than 60 minutes of sitting with your child while surfing social media or checking work emails. When you need to respond to an urgent message, explain to your child why you’re on a device. You might say, “I need 15 minutes to send a few emails and then we’ll go outside and play soccer.” 

The question of what to do in this time spent together is subjective, but you might try:

  • Getting down on the floor and playing what your child loves, whether it’s dolls, Legos, or a tea party.
  • Play old-school favorites like Mr. Fox, Hide-and-Seek, Peek-a-Boo, or Red-Light Green-Light.
  • Have a dance party with upbeat music you and your child love. If you’ve got a party light, even better.
  • Go outside with your child. Hike, bike, kick the soccer ball, toss a football or frisbee, draw with chalk.
  • Play classic board games like Trouble, Clue Jr, Connect 4, Candyland, Life, or Guess Who.
  • Rough and tumble play – wrestling, building forts, pillow-fighting, and battling imaginary villains.
  • Start a family hobby like Yoga, Knitting, Scrapbooking, Science, Magic, or a Musical Instrument.
  • Grab a bowl of popcorn, a blanket, and a movie. Here’s a list of 100 movies to see before kids grow up.

Positivity and Praise

Positivity and praise sets a strong foundation for your child to develop self-love. Praise shouldn’t be dealt out lightly and you’ll want to choose your words wisely. Avoid comparing your child to others, praising innate good looks or talent, and praising achievement. Instead, praise the process and the things your child can control – like effort, persistence, patience, focus, listening skills, attention to detail, or attitude. 

Self-esteem begins at home. Build positivity and praise into each day:

  • Hug your child and say “I love you so much” to start the day off right.
  • Catch your child being good at least three times a day.
  • Praise people skills: “You’re such a good helper!” or “You were sharing so nicely.”
  • Praise effort: “Wow, you were so patient!” “You never gave up!” “You really tried your best.”
  • Be specific: “I love how you colored in the lines,” or “What a beautiful combination of colors you chose.”
  • Remark upon kind behaviors and say, “Let’s talk about what kind of person you chose to be right now.”
  • Tell someone else about something positive your child said or did – and let them overhear you.

Life won’t always be full of praiseworthy moments, but you can use words of encouragement to get through the most trying times. For instance, if your child is upset trying to tie shoelaces, you could say, “Ah, laces are so tricky! But I love how you’re sticking with it, even though it’s hard. You’ll get it if you keep practicing. Your fingers will get stronger and you’ll remember it better each time.” 

Check-In Before Bed Each Night

Set aside as much time as possible for evening rejuvenation. When your child resists with, “I have to go to bed now?!” gently remind, “No, I just want to spend some time with you.” Allow your child a little play time in a bubble bath. Prepare a small snack or drink to enjoy with a couple books. When that’s all through, you’re your child a good 10 or 15 minutes of your complete, undivided attention, along with a snuggle.

Try these conversation starters:

“What emotions did you feel today?” or “Is there anything you want to share that’s difficult to say?”

Simply asking “how are you” often fails to elicit the response we’re looking for – instead getting a “fine,” “okay,” or “good.” Similarly, asking “what’s wrong” is likely to get an abject “nothing” or an “I don’t know.” Framing the question to focus on emotions is more likely to conjure up stories from the day where your child felt proud, excited, worried, or frustrated. By asking about feelings, you’re showing your child it’s okay to trust and confide in you. You’re showing empathy. If your child does open up, listen without judgement. Resist the urge to “fix it” or give unsolicited advice. Try saying, “I’m so sorry you’re going through that. I am here for you. I love you.” Ask questions like, “What did you do?” or “Did you know I had a time where I felt like that too?”   

“What happened today that made you smile, laugh, or feel happy?” or “What were you grateful for?”

Avoid asking a “yes” or “no” question. This open-ended inquiry shows your child you care about his or her day. There may not always be an answer, but you’ll be glad you asked on those days where your child is brimming with joyful stories. It’s a great follow-up after talking about the more difficult parts of the day and a reminder that a few bad moments don’t necessarily make for a bad day or life. While half of what makes us happy is rooted in our DNA, another 40% comes from intentional activity – from taking the time to reflect and practice gratitude. If you are religious, you may consider weaving a prayer into your evening routine.    

Plan Something Special.

There’s a lot in this article to consider. We’re not advising that your drop all obligations and let the world revolve around your child. A few key moments over the course of the day can go a long way. Maybe you’ll just have short 10 minutes bursts or 30 minutes of uninterrupted time in a day to really give your all. The fact that you’ve read this far shows that you’re trying your best and you truly care about the wellbeing of your offspring.

Maybe you didn’t have as much time as you would have liked today, but you can always plan ahead. If you’re looking for additional ways to connect with your child and support mental health in the future, consider one of Shine’s fun camps, workshops, classes, virtual craft sessions, field trips, or parties. Our ongoing, year-round programming provides East End families with enriching experiences that build memories for years to come. Contact us for details about current availability.

Experience East End Gardens and Farms

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Shine’s “Pop-up Field Trip Thursdays” invite you and your child to take a trip to the best gardens and farms the East End has to offer to enjoy our local bounty. This has been one of our favorite pastimes for years now, as we cultivate deeper community relationships with the good people who produce our food. We believe gardening and farming experiences enrich the mind, body, and soul of children and adults alike. There are still spaces available if you’d like to join us.   

Gardening and Farming are Ideal Summer Activities for Children

Young children can practice a number of developing skills – from locomotion and muscle management as they ambulate around the dirt rows, to fine motor control as they grasp trowels and pick up seeds.

Research tells us children are more likely to eat healthy when they see how food is grown and prepared. Kids are also less likely to suffer from asthma and more likely to have healthy immune systems when they interact with farm microbiota.

The fresh air, moderate-to-high exercise, and sensory stimulation intrigue both mind and body. Learning the different names of foods and animals on the farm helps develop burgeoning literacy skills. For kids with attention deficits or hyperactivity disorders, regular green time has been shown to reduce adverse symptoms.

Kids love making mud pies, building stick forts, and having outdoor adventures, but all too often they’re glued to a screen. Engaging in nature play improves fitness, learning capacity, and social-emotional development. Free playing at a farm or garden setting promotes imagination, cooperation, and resilience.

New York’s East End is Blessed with Beautiful Gardens and Farms

A few of our favorite Thursday field trips include:

Amber Waves Farm

Kids enjoy participating in farm chores, walking through the chicken barn, taking a foraging hike, picnicking, story time, and puppet theater shows. They learn about composting, seed planting, natural crafting, and cooking. The farm itself grows over 350 vegetables, herbs, cut flowers, and grains.

Bridge Gardens

The Peconic Land Trust runs a great farm-to-table program at Bridge Gardens in the summer that teaches children about the plant life cycle and sustainable gardening through song, story, and fun take-home projects. This five-acre gem offers beautiful landscapes to walk through, complete with community gardens and art sculptures as well.

Madoo Conservancy

Madoo is about discovery and adventure. Children enjoy painting, crafting, storytelling, art exhibitions, music lessons, and picnicking in the gardens. The atmosphere is far from stuffy. Children are encouraged to run around until their hearts’ content. 

Longhouse Reserve

The Longhouse Reserve specializes in art and music programs for children. From the Yoko Ono chess board and the red garden, to dry woodlands and playful second lawn — the whimsical sculptures and well-cultivated spaces spark the imagination.

Ready To Get Out Into Nature?

Gather with like-minded friends for a Shine field trip. We work closely with each venue to create fun, age-appropriate activities that leave a lasting impact. Our enriching combination of art, culture, music, culinary, and fitness activities are beloved by families across the East End. Contact us for details on our next Thursday adventure.

Happy Summersgiving!

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Thanksgiving conjures up warm, cozy memories of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin pie, family, friends, and gratefulness. But who says this day has to come just once a year in chilly November? After all, many families now regularly celebrate “Christmas in July.”

Attorney Robert Solomon of Norwood, New Jersey came up with the idea of “Summersgiving” in 2009 to share his favorite holiday traditions with friends on the first Saturday after the summer solstice. “This is a celebration without obligation,” he told a local news outlet. “There’s no need to get anybody presents. There’s no obligation to attend. And you’re not obligated to have your uncle. This is about celebrating with your best friends, and eating your favorite food.”

The first Summersgiving included 15 guests. Word spread like wildfire and Solomon expects upwards of 75 guests these days. Summersgiving is now listed on the National Day Calendar website and has received mentions from at least 200 families on social media. People love summer weather, pools, and backyard parties — and they love the Thanksgiving feast. Lydia Korff of Miami, mother of a teenage son, explained, “For kids today, where there’s so much chaos going on in the world, it’s good to get together with family and friends and trach them the meaning of gratitude.”

It’s not too late to call a few friends for a potluck. Kick off your inaugural Summersgiving with these ideas…

What To Serve

Unlike Thanksgiving, there are no hard-and-fast rules for Summersgiving. The idea is – you’re not shackled to traditions, but feel free to incorporate what you love most. Many hosts opt to make the event a potluck, where everyone brings a dish, to reduce stress. Robert Solomon came from a family of chefs, so he was excited to introduce guests to culinary wonders such as: sweet potato mousse with marshmallow, Broccoli Supreme casserole, cornbread stuffing with Andouille sausage, and turkey roasted over charcoal on a rotisserie spit.

Turkey: What would Thanksgiving be without the turkey? You may opt to “give your turkey a tan” by grilling, deep-frying, or roasting it under a brand new galvanized garbage can. (Truly! Trash can turkey yields a smoky, moist, melt-in-your mouth bird in just two hours!)

Veggies: Roasted Brussels Sprouts are easy to throw on the grill with minimal effort. Adding blue cheese and bacon gives them a heavenly flavor. Corn on the cob is another easy option the kids will surely enjoy. Add cilantro, lime, and paprika if you want to jazz it up. For a healthy appetizer, give the kids avocado toasts with roasted red peppers on top. Here is the official recipe for Robert’s famous Broccoli Supreme.

Carbs: Cornbread stuffing offers a slightly different version for your summer feast. Potatoes are a very “Thanksgiving” side. Try grilled potato skewers that can be mashed plate-side or a sweet potato salad. Biscuits and gravy are a no-fuss accompaniment.

Desserts: Try pumpkin pie with a tropical twist and apple pie for tradition lovers. Luscious lemon bars are a light-tasting dessert catering to adult palates. Kids will enjoy grab-and-go chocolate chip cookie sticks and strawberry shortcakes. Grilled peaches with vanilla ice cream are another option if you’re barbecuing anyway.

Beverages: A few bottles of white wine like chardonnay or sauvignon blanc will pair nicely with turkey. Adults may also enjoy a festive, refreshing cranberry cocktail, while kids can enjoy their own alcohol-free cranberry spritzer.  Bring in summer vibes with pineapple punch. Be sure to have plenty of bottled water on hand.

How To Decorate

There’s no shortage of decorations available at Party City and Oriental Trading Post, but you don’t have to go crazy to make your yard look festive. Often, a party tent with a few fairy lights and paper lanterns changes the entire vibe and creates a definitive sense of “place.” You can’t go wrong with elegant white table covers and beautiful fresh-cut flowers centerpieces, creatively displayed in watering cans or hollowed-out pineapples.

Why do it all yourself? Spend a day preparing with the kids, while teaching them how to plan a special party. Here are some traditional Thanksgiving place-setting crafts for the kids to make – or you may want to try one of these summery crafts that double as party favors.

If you like dressing festive, you can order a Summersgiving shirt for next year or make your own design.

What To Do

Now that your family is no longer confined indoors, there’s a wealth of possibility for backyard fun:

  • Setup a game of cornhole, horseshoes, croquet, or carnival games for the kids.
  • Turn on the sprinkler, fill water balloons, or hop in the pool to get wet and wild.
  • Kids love messy and outdoors is the perfect place for Play Doh, paint, tie-dye, bubbles, and sand art.
  • Set up a summer scavenger hunt or a treasure hunt with a chest of Dollar Store toys at the end.
  • Build an obstacle course with cones, hula hoops, stepping stones, and balls.
  • Hang a pinata filled with goodies to hit blindfolded with a bat.
  • Have the kids put together this easy palm tree craft, adding note of gratitude for each leaf.

If you live in the East End of NYC, contact Shine to bring the fun. We’ll entertain all the little ones at your backyard party with a full, engaging program of music, art, sports, culinary, crafting, nature exploration, and more. We bring all the supplies and clean up afterward. Contact us for pricing and scheduling details.  

How To Remember It

As the saying goes, “The days drag, but the years fly by!” Don’t forget to capture the memories.

  • Take lots of pictures! Create a Google Photos Album for Summersgiving to share and look back on.
  • Get at least one big group photo of all your guests assembled together.
  • If you can, take a few short videos to record the sights and sounds. Interview people about their day.
  • Jot down your most precious memories in a Summersgiving journal.

Your Family’s Guide to Memorial Day Weekend in the Hamptons

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Memorial Day weekend is a time to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice made by the brave men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Many families observe this federal holiday with visits to grave sites, parades, and backyard gatherings. The three-day weekend invites families in the Hamptons to look for creative ways to spend their leisure time together. For East Enders, Memorial Day weekend also kicks off beach season, so you may want to consider celebrating with surf and sun.

Here are some of the best options for a Memorial Day weekend in the Hamptons 2021:

Jones Beach State Park

(2400 Ocean Parkway, Wantagh)

The legendary sand and sea, ocean boardwalk, and concession stands offer plenty of entertainment; but this weekend, you can check out their annual Air Show featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds from 10 am to 3 pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Capacity will be limited to 50%, so be sure to purchase your $10 advance parking pass if your family plans to attend. The WildPlay Adventure Park is also open from 10am – 8pm, featuring ziplines, wobbly bridges, and obstacle courses for ages 5+.

Hither Hills State Park  

(164 Old Montauk Highway, Montauk)

Families flock to Hither Hills State Park for a pleasant stretch of sandy ocean beach, along with hiking and biking trails, campgrounds, picnic tables, playing fields, fishing, and a playground. Don’t miss the unique Napeague Harbor “walking dunes” trail. Make it a trip and camp overnight in a tent, cabin, or camper; bathrooms and a changing area make it easier for those with littler ones.

Orient Beach State Park

(40000 Main Rd, Orient)

Rent kayaks or canoes from the Eagles Neck Paddling Company to paddle the calm, scenic Hallock’s Bay. Kids love the large playgrounds, but you can also walk the salt marsh to encounter herons, egrets, and osprey in their natural habitats. Visitors can swim, paddle-board, hike, bike, walk the nature trails, and picnic. Orient Beach is also a U.S. Light House Society Passport Stamp Location, which could be a fun scavenger hunt type activity for the kids.

Splish Splash

(2549 Splish Splash Drive, Calverton)

If the temperatures heat up, it’s worth the 40-minute drive to Splish Splash, which opens for the season Saturday, May 29th. The park recently added two new extreme slides, Bombs Away and Riptide Race, for older daredevils. The yellow submarine splash pad, Lazy River, Pirates Cove, Soak City, Octopus Pool, and Monsoon Lagoon are fun attractions for all ages.

Garden of Eve Farm

(4558 Sound Ave, Riverhead)

It’s not too late to catch the tail-end of Tulip Fest at Garden of Eve, just a 30 minute drive from The Hamptons in nearby Riverhead. Open from 11am – 4pm, you’ll enjoy a free hayride to the East End’s only u-pick tulip field – the perfect family photo opp! Tulips cost $1 per stem or $10 for a dozen. Farm animals on-site include chickens, ducks, turkeys, sheep, goat, pigs, and horses. Other attractions include: the Huge Hay Tower to climb, Bouncy Town, a tube slide, sandbox, pedal kart track (ages 2+), and a Play Castle with swings.

Party – at Your House!

If you’re having a backyard barbecue, consider booking Shine educators to keep the kids entertained. We’re also accepting new applicants for our summer workshops and camps, which combine art, culture, music, nature, and physical activity in unique East End locations. Contact us for details.

 

How To Help Your Child Cultivate a Love of the Great Outdoors

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Kids who spend time engaged in solitary activities outdoors have the strongest bonds with nature, according to researchers at North Carolina State University.

Parents are often concerned with signing their kids up for sports like soccer, t-ball, or tennis to get them active and out of the house. While highly structured activities benefit kids in their own way, they don’t necessarily foster a deep love of nature – the sort that builds confidence, responsibility, creativity, contemplation, attention span, energy, relationships with others, and a spirit of conservationism.

For the study, scientists surveyed 1,285 children ages 9-12 to identify what makes kids feel most comfortable outside. They found that kids had a variety of preferences, but what initiated a strong connection with nature or the desire to pursue a career in environmentalism was a more solitary activity in early childhood.

If you’re looking to foster a lover of the environment, consider introducing or encouraging one of the following pursuits identified in the study:

Fishing

Angling can be a great stress reliever. All kids can be taught to fish, but by six they have the skills necessary to be more autonomous. Location is key, as younger kids will want to see the fruits of their labor — the exciting flopping fish on the end of their lines! Consider a fully stocked lake, pond, or river listed on your state’s Department of Environmental Conservation website.

Try starting with an ultralight spinning pole with a four pound line, size 8-12 hook, a sinker, a bobber, and bait worms. This setup will be sufficient enough to reel in trout, bass, sunfish, and catfish. When you bring in a catch, take a moment to show the gills, scales, fins, and fish anatomy.

Look out for crawdads, tadpoles, minnows, turtles, and other creatures, sometimes turning over rocks or looking under logs. Turn your eyes up to scour for ospreys. Talk about how each animal plays an important role in the ecosystem and emphasize the importance of leaving no trace behind, picking up all litter.

A few hours is plenty long enough for kids with short attention spans. When they get tangled, let them use your pole as you fix it for them to minimize idle time. Bring plenty of sunscreen, snacks, drinks, sunglasses, changes of clothes, and patience. Heap on the praise and let kids make choices like which spot to fish, which special bait to use, or when to pause and look for critters.    

Hunting

You’ll know a child is ready to accompany a hunt if he or she is asking a lot of questions. Rather than simply answering questions to satiate the curious mind, take your child along. Kids as young as 10 can take beginner safety courses, while those 16+ will need their own hunting licenses. Rabbit and deer are good first game to hunt, as these animals provide a great meal for the family.

Load up on gear to make the activity more fun. Face paint, camouflage, muck boots, binoculars, hats, and hearing protection are essentials in helping your child have a sense of belonging on the trip. Bring lots of snacks like beef jerky and trail mix, as well as drinks. Consider preparing a tree stand or a ground blind in advance, so you have your own special spot staked out.  

Go early and break up the time with periods of walking around. Let your child pack a bag, use a compass, and blood track – which will all encourage independence, a reward in itself. Look for animals prints, deer rubbings on trees, scat, or other signs of wildlife. Talk about shot placement, aim, range landmarks, and other information to help your young hunter. Also take a moment to remark upon the sights, sounds, smells, and feels of the woods.    

Exploring

Hiking and camping are perfect activities for encouraging exploration of the natural surroundings beyond the backyard. Plan a day trip or holiday weekend to enjoy as a family. Choose a scenic location with ample wildlife, water features, and relatively flat walking paths. If you’re camping, consider venues with family-friendly amenities like ice cream trucks, kayak rentals, pools, and mini-golf.

This kid-friendly book will help your child spot different types of trees, birds, clouds, insects, animals, and flowers along the nature trail. A scavenger hunt game like Go Find It can also be great fun for little ones, encouraging them to find “something bumpy” or “something yellow,” for instance. Consider stepping back and allowing your kids to wander freely, within eye sight, to enjoy the thrill of solo exploration.   

Silent “sit spotting” is a type of meditation that can really help kids connect with their natural surroundings. Have your child find a place on the walk that feels special. Or, if you prefer, you might bring supplies to build a teepee to create a unique sense of place. Practice sitting crisscross-applesauce with eyes closed, asking your child to listen and let you know what sounds are all around. Then open your eyes and discuss what plants, insects, animals, clouds, shapes, textures, or colors you see. Listen to the birds. Touch the moss. Breathe in the dirt. You might consider tracking your observations day after day. Just five minutes daily is all it takes to experience the benefits of mindful meditation – like calmness, self-awareness, and happiness.  

Looking for more ways to get your child out into nature? Try one of Shine’s Hamptons camps or mini-camps geared toward ages 2-12. We’ll be at the LonghouseReserve, Children’s Museum of the East End, and more iconic East End locations this summer.

Benefits of Block Play – and How to Inspire a Lifelong Love of Construction

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From rudimentary wooden squares and rectangles to complex interlocking plastic Lego sets, block play is serious business for growing young minds. One of the great things about blocks is that they are a timeless toy that transcends all ages. In the words of playwright George Bernard Shaw, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” We invite you to consider the many benefits of block play and to get involved with your child.   

A Few Benefits of Block Play

There are countless advantages to block play, but spatial reasoning, math skills, and improved cognitive flexibility are among them.

  • Spatial Reasoning is vital to investigating and solving problems. Spatial intelligence is used heavily in architecture, art, astronomy, construction, engineering, plumbing, technology, science, and surgery. A study of 51 preschoolers found that those most interested in block construction and built more sophisticated structures also performed best on a standardized test of spatial intelligence.
  • Math skills improve when a child plays with blocks of different shapes, sizes, colors, and types. Researchers found that young children who were better at copying block structures performed better in early mathematics all the way through middle and high school. This is great news, whether your child is an aspiring financial analyst, computer programmer, medical scientist, actuary, data scientist, or math teacher.
  • Cognitive flexibility is the ability to switch between two different concepts or to consider multiple concepts at once – in other words, “multi-task.” The chance of being successful in life greatly increase with the amount of cognitive flexibility a person has. One study found that cognitive flexibility greatly improved among preschoolers subjected to structured and unstructured daily block play activities, regardless of socioeconomic status.

Beyond these perks, educators use blocks in the classroom to improve social emotional skills, cooperation, sharing, problem-solving and empathy.  

Ideas for Block Play at Any Age

Babies – Aim for soft blocks at this age, as everything goes into the mouth for exploration! These interactive Baby Einstein blocks feature different textures, a vibration effect, a mirror, and a variety of colorful pictures. Soft stacking blocks can provide endless hours of fun – even if you’re the one stacking and your baby’s the one toppling it down. 

Toddlers – At this age, anything goes! Simply provide a variety of blocks – wood, foam, plastic, or whatever you have. They love shape and color sorting, carrying and dumping the blocks, stacking up towers and knocking them down. By preschool, most kids will start to experiment with building bridges, castles, roadways, and more complicated structures, while developing elaborate storylines involving their toys as characters. Magna-Tiles are an investment that will grow with your child. We’ve also gotten years of use out of Bristle Blocks. Magnetic “Tangram” pattern blocks can be a fun way to explore how different shapes come together to form larger structures.

1st Grade – 2nd Grade – Use food to create edible structures. Marshmallows, apples, cheese, crackers, and gum drops all work great — with toothpicks to hold it all together. The JELL-O “Play and Eat” kits are another fun way to play with your food, while honing those construction skills. For the summer months, take the fun outdoors by collecting loose items in a tote and setting up a building zone; use mirrors, crates, tree stumps, boulders, knitting spools, pom poms, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, felt pieces, kitchen utensils, pots, recycled containers, plastic pipes, and more. Use PVC pipes to construct a simple playhouse for dolls, a pulley system for action figures, or a more elaborate structure the kids can actually play inside themselves.

3rd Grade – 4th Grade – At this time, kids are able to put together more elaborate LEGO sets matched to their interests, though some kids just prefer creating their own structures using open-ended Classic bricks. More time is spent in planning, arranging for symmetry, and adding detail work. Dramatic play involving an assortment of toys is still prevalent. Video games like Minecraft allow children the opportunity to explore block-like figures in a virtual environment they can control. Marble runs and erector sets can take block building to the next level. Circuit Cubes appeals to older kids, inviting them to build tanks, mechs, robots, and other vehicles using more sophisticated materials.

Block Play for NYC Kids

Shine invites you to join Block Party, a constructive arts class geared to ages 4-10. Over multiple sessions, little architects will expand on traditional designs using a variety of materials, including sugar cubes, marshmallows, toothpicks, tree blocks, and more. Sculptural art projects translate block play into creative applications of all we’ve learned. Contact us for details.

Additional Resources:

https://www.parentingscience.com/toy-blocks.html

https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/mar2015/ten-things-children-learn-block-play

https://babyyumyum.co.za/7-benefits-of-block-play/

https://blog.schoolspecialty.com/steam-challenges-for-block-play-in-early-childhood/

https://docs.msl.mt.gov/librariesweb/documents/Ready2Read/PlaySpace/pg_rrps_stagesinblockplay.pdf

https://www.theempowerededucatoronline.com/2017/08/block-play-ideas.html/

https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/best-structure-building-activities-kids/

 

Perfect Picnic Hacks for Parents

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“A picnic is more than eating a meal,” said cookbook author DeeDee Stovel. “It is a pleasurable state of mind.” The weather is warming up and quarantine fatigue is setting in hard. We’re all looking for ways to reconnect with our kids and make our weekends count. A picnic in the park is the perfect way to make a weekend afternoon feel more festive. Friday, April 23rd is National Picnic Day – so what better excuse? All it takes is a little planning and a little patience. Here are our best picnic hacks to ensure a smooth day trip.

Kid-Friendly Picnic Foods

  • Pre-grilled foods – try seasoned ribs, chicken skewers, eggplant, corn, and zucchini.
  • Side salads – skip mayo for Asian dressed coleslaw or mustard German potato salad.
  • Veggies – satisfy with mini carrots, sliced peppers, cherry tomato, and olives.
  • Snacks – grab hummus and crackers, tortilla chips, PB crackers, Goldfish, or pretzels.
  • Trail mix – fuel up with yogurt raisins, dried banana, cashews, cranberries, and seeds.
  • Meats – for carnivores, pack sliced or string cheese, pepperoni, and cocktail weenies.
  • Popsicles – but don’t forget to bring cupcake liners to serve as drip trays. Genius!
  • Watermelon/fruit kebabs – pre-chop and skewer to make it neater and more accessible.
  • Dessert – keep it simple with cherries, strawberries, brownie bites, and butter cookies.
  • Dirt cups – crush Oreos on the bottom, adding chocolate pudding and gummy worms.

Picnic Sandwich Secrets

Hate a soggy sandwich? So do we! Here are a few tips:

  • Make your sandwich as late as possible for optimal freshness.
  • Once the sandwich hits room temperature, eat within two hours.
  • Use ice packs and an insulated cooler to add a few hours of shelf life.
  • Pack watery ingredients like cucumber, tomato, and onion slices separate.
  • Avoid sandwich bags, which increase condensation. Wrap in foil.
  • Choose a robust bread, like rye, tortilla, pita, a hard roll, or baguette.

Want an easy, hassle-free experience? Central Park offers a baguettini sandwich, apple, bag of chips, cookie, and bottled water – a picnic basket to-go for $12.

Best NYC Picnic Spots

Not sure where to go? The options are vast, but consider:

Central Park’s “East Green” offers shady trees and ample room for fun. The East 72nd Street Playground is located nearby, with water features in the summer. The Conservatory Water offers model boat sailing, concessions, and restrooms. A short walk south to the Central Park Zoo rounds out the afternoon. 

It’s a busy spot, but Empire Fulton Ferry Park offer stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge. Arrive early to grab a picnic table with an umbrella. Nearby you’ll find Jane’s Carousel, the nautical-themed Main Street Playground, and restrooms.

In Long Island City, Queens, Socrates Sculpture Garden is a waterfront park hosting oversized sculptures to gaze upon, as well as ample shade and enclosed spaces for inquisitive youngsters to explore. Hallets Cove just north of the park offers free kayak rentals.

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park provides beautiful, well-kept grounds showcasing nature’s beauty with greenhouses and gardens. Hands-on programming for children and mansion tours offer optional entertainment.

Wading River’s Wildwood State Park overlooks Long Island Sound. Have a picnic within the park in the shady picnic table grove or down on the sand. There are showers, camping sites, fishing, hiking, and a playground for the kids. 

Themes for Picnics with Kids

Want to change it up from the humdrum old picnic of yesteryear? Try these creative twists:

  • Teddy bear picnic – Invite your child’s favorite stuffed animals along.
  • Puzzle picnic – Melissa & Doug offer wooden jigsaw puzzles to enjoy in the fresh air.
  • Dress-up picnic – Dress in costume for a a princess and/or super hero party.
  • Water party – bring water balloons, squirt guns, and bathing suits.

Picnic Games & Activities

  • Active games include cornhole, KanJam, ring toss, bocce, football, frisbee, or soccer.
  • Spend the afternoon painting rocks and hide them around the park for people to find.
  • Surely we all remember playing Tic Tac Toe, blowing bubbles, and chalk drawings.
  • Go through the alphabet with the “I’m going on a picnic” memory game.
  • UPicnic entertains up to five kids with bubbles, music, puppets, and games for a fee.

Picnic Reads

There’s magic in the air, reading outdoors. Bring a few picnic books along:

Must-Have Picnic Supplies

Sometimes one or two items make all the difference in the world:

  • Picnic basket – or up your picnic game with an oversized insulated bag.
  • Picnic blanket – or a tablecloth if you’ve got a table nearby.
  • Sunblock – or an umbrella to save you from the UV.
  • Baby wipes – for inevitably messy hands!
  • Music speaker – play Amazon’s Portable Sunshine, Grill & Chill, or Kids Birthday Party.
  • Frozen water bottles – as a space saving way to keep food cold and guests hydrated.
  • Talcum powder – sprinkle a border around your blanket to keep ants and bugs away.
  • Mesh food screens or a portable fan – to keep flying insects out of the food.
  • Waterproof shower curtain – if you’ve had bad luck in the past with soggy swamp grass.
  • A change of clothes – a backpack with an extra set of clothes can save much complaint.
  • Trash bag – leave no trace!

Looking for more ways to entertain the kids? Contact SHINE to learn about our classes, workshops, parties, and day camps in New York City and the Hamptons.

Youth Camps Are Safe, New Study Says

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Warmer weather has many New Yorkers looking forward to better times, including the ability to gather in small groups outdoors again. Spring Break is coming up for our kids, which means they’ll need child care and entertainment during school-free days. We’re pleased to report great news as to the safety of spring break and summer camps. Shine camps operated last summer without a single positive case reported. Beyond that, on a grander scale, new analysis confirms the almost nonexistent transmission rate when proper hygiene and distancing protocols are put in place.

Youth Camps Provide Opportunity for Safe Social Interaction

Last month, Duke University researchers published a new study in the journal Pediatrics, affirming the safety of summer camps. They analyzed data covering more than 6,500 children and staff members at 54 YMCA programs in North Carolina from March through August 2020.

Though overall regional community transmission rates were peaking at this time, researchers identified just 10 campers and nine workers with confirmed COVID-19 infections during that time. Out of the 19 infections, only two individuals were believed to have caught the virus there. All others were infected outside of camp. Symptomatic spread rate (with the presence of cough or fever) was 0.6% and asymptomatic spread risk was 0.07%, according to the study.

They added that the social and emotional benefits of the “in-person programming” camps provide further “outweigh any risk of transmission.” This past year has been difficult, but families can feel comfortable promoting the wellbeing of their children through camp settings this spring and summer.

COVID-19 Safety Measures Make a Difference, Experts Say

According to researchers, the low transmission rate can be attributable to measures like:

  • Offering outdoor activities, as well as indoor.
  • Minimizing groups to 10 kids per adult.
  • Pre-camp quarantining for overnight campers.
  • Conducting daily temperature checks and health questionnaires.
  • Enforcing hygiene measures like mask-wearing and hand-washing.
  • Encouraging social distancing of six feet or more whenever possible.
  • Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, play spaces, and materials daily.

All Shine camps and workshops follow NY State best practices and the latest CDC guidance. Visit this link for details on how we’ve been operating safely this past year.

Shine Spring and Summer Camp Registration in the Hamptons and NYC Are Now Open

We’ve been cooped up too long! Shine can keep your kids active, educated, entertained, and safe this spring with classes, workshops, and day-long programming at camps in the Hamptons and NYC.  Shine programming is run by experienced educators and geared toward ages 4-12, incorporating art, music, science, culture, foreign language, cooking, free-play, sports, theatre arts, games, as well as your child’s own unique interests.  

Our Spring mini-semester runs from Monday, April 5th through Friday, June 11th

Summer programming is also available Monday, July 5th to Friday, September 3rd. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, group sizes will be limited. Contact us for details.

Virtual Exhibits for Black History Month

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Black History Month encourages us to consider the many achievements of African-Americans throughout history. The commemoration dates back to a week-long event pioneered by scholar Carter G. Woodson, which transformed into a month-long celebration in 1970. If you feel comfortable wearing a mask, we encourage you to check out the Brooklyn Children Museum’s Black Future Festival this weekend. Otherwise, there are plenty of convenient and unique ways to dive into cultural history online, without leaving your home.  

Black History Month at the New York Public Library (NYPL)

NYPL offers a treasure trove of Black History Month activities for families, including:

  • Picture Books Reading List – Request a physical copy or e-book, or access online instantly, using Digital Books or Bookshare accounts. Featured books cover famous personalities like Martin Luther King Jr and Duke Ellington, but also everyday experiences like running a bookstore, coping with the grief of loss, and working cotton fields as a young child in California.
  • Be sure to check out the Schomberg Center’s curated list of “Black Liberation List for Young Readers,”accommodating physical copy requests and free checkout of e-books on Overdrive.
  • Watch NYPL Story Time – Librarians read their favorite books featuring black characters or written by African-American authors about the black experience. Stories include “Sulwe,” “Black Girl Magic,” and “My Rainy Day Rocket Ship.”
  • Black History Month Kids Events – Every day features different virtual events, from a chat and draw for ages 8-12 with black cartoonists and Black History Month Jeopardy, to read-aloud craft-alongs and book discussions.

Poe Park Visitor Center’s Black History Month Exposition

Poe Park Visitor Center is a community hub of art, literature, fitness, and community events in the Bronx. All exhibits have been moved online this year due to the ongoing pandemic:

  • Documentary photography: Michael Young; Trevon Blondet.
  • Mixed-media: Terrenceo Hammonds; Betty J. Murray; Gloria Zapata; Gregorio Velez.
  • Paintings: James Deliard; Josipa Kecman.
  • Wood prints: Joan Barnes.
  • Digital collage: Patrice J. Payne.

The New Museum’s Jordan Casteel Exhibit, “Within Reach”

Painter Jordan Casteel seeks to tell the stories of the overlooked people of color who bring the city to life, from Harlem street musicians and a little boy on a lap, to art students at Rutgers University and merch sellers. The virtual tour features 40 colorful, oversized portraits.

New York Botanical Garden’s Black History Month at Home

You’ll be missing the sweet smells of the blooms this year, but you can expect the same high-quality, family-friendly programming, such as:

  • A welcome message from NY State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey.
  • A performance, “Let Us Pull Together,” by the Harambee Dance Company.
  • A “Tree Time” read-aloud, education segment, and activity for children ages 4-8.

National Portrait Gallery’s Portraits of African-Americans

This comprehensive collection of famous faces is a national treasure, featuring brief bios and photographs, sketches, and paintings of everyone from Frederick Douglas and Jackie Robinson, to Shirley Chisholm and former President Barack Obama.

National Museum of African-American History & Culture’s Joyful Fridays

Though the NMAAHC is closed during the pandemic, they’re offering webinar-style Zoom classes featuring literature, discussion, and art, geared toward kids ages 4-8, taking inspiration from the Joyful ABC Activity Book series. On the 26th, they’ll be creating protest word paintings. Past activities include hat-making, portrait art, and sculpting from recycled materials.

We celebrate Black History Month as part of embracing a multicultural world and an important step in raising children who are wiser and kinder. If you liked this list, be sure to check out Shine’s “How To Raise a Culturally Sensitive Kid.” You will find a diverse and inclusive atmosphere at any of our upcoming classes, camps, parties, and workshops. We are open and operating under all the CDC and local COVID-19 protocols.

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