Showing posts with label fun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fun. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Five Reasons to Send your Kid to Camp!

Although it seems like this winter will never end, summer camp registration is right around the corner. Camp offers unique opportunities for learning and growth that go beyond what is available to kids at school. Whether it is overnight, day, or a specialty camp, here are five reasons you should sign your child up!

1. An ACTIVE Summer
During the school year, kids spend most of their days sitting behind a desk, so it is essential that summer is a time of action! Camp games and activities will get your child moving in an enjoyable and safe environment. The excitement and spirit of camp will also teach your child that an active lifestyle is tons of fun.

2. An OUTDOOR Adventure
Most of camp life takes place outside. Whether it is nature based activities, like hiking and campfires, or sports, like swimming and capture the flag, your child will be immersed in what the great outdoors has to offer. They will benefit from the fresh air and sunshine, while also gaining an appreciation for nature.

3. A LEARNING Opportunity
There are so many opportunities to try new things at camp. One day it may be archery, the next pottery, and the next boondoggle bracelet making! Your child will have a blast learning new skills and trying things they have never done before. Camp also provides the chance for your child to improve at their favourite sports and activities, like dance or basketball.

4. A CONFIDENCE Booster
Part of learning new things is having new successes. As your child racks up achievements throughout the summer, they will increase their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment. In addition, the independence that camp offers will further develop their confidence and self-sufficiency. They will go back to school in September knowing they can learn new skills, improve through practice, and rely on themselves – a teacher’s dream!

5. A SOCIAL Environment
Camp is a great place for kids to meet new people and form friendships. By placing them outside their familiar environment, camp enables kids to develop their social skills among all different types of people. They will also get the chance to look up to their counselors, enthusiastic young adults who can relate to them and be positive role models.

Written by: Shira Lurie, Dynamix Toronto lead facilitator

Dynamix: Team-building for Kids and Teens, since 2002.




Saturday, December 15, 2012

Game of the Month Holiday Edition - Solemn and Silent



Purpose: The purpose of this game is to integrate group members and work on self control skills.
Materials: Just the participants.
Description:
  • Members pair back to back. 
  • On the count of three, everyone must face their partner, look each other in the eyes, and then try to remain solemn and serious.  No speaking! 
  • The first to smile or laugh must sit down.
  • All who remain standing then take a new partner and the activity continues until only one person has not smiled or laughed.  (Second round of playing can involve two teams competing to outlast each other.)
  • If you get a pair at the end, who are both keeping a straight face, the rest of the group can act as hecklers to disrupt them.
Discussion/Reflection:
Good activity for breaking into activity groups.
At the end of the activity ask the group the following questions
  • Why do you think we did this activity?
  • What strategy did you have to complete this activity?
  • How did you COMMUNICATE with the group?

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

November Game of the Month: The Machine



Purpose: This activity brings out strong communication and cooperation skills.

Materials: Just a group of participants.

Description:
  • The object of this game is to create a machine out of a group of people (i.e. ceiling fan, hot air balloon, watch, etc.). 
  • You might want to split your group into two or three smaller groups.  
  • Each person is required to be accountable for one noise and one motion of the machine.  The group members should then put their motions and sounds together to create the machine.  
  • Give each group about 5 minutes to work together and prepare, and then have the groups present to everyone. 
  • Ask the other groups to guess what machine the group is.

Discussion/Reflection:
  • At the end of the activity ask groups some of the following questions
  • Why do you think we did this activity?
  • Why did you choose the machine you did?
  • If we were to do this challenge again what if anything would you do differently?


Tuesday, March 3, 2009

A fun, educational game...

posted by: Mitch Zeltzer

Here's a fun, educational game for you to play with your students/children. Enjoy!

GAME: Crazy Categories

Materials: 1 object/item (can be almost anything that you can pass around a circle)

Description: In this elimination-style game, the goal is to be the last player remaining. To begin the game you pick a category, for example: Cities. Once the round begins, the first player, the one holding the object must say a city, and then he/she must pass the object to the next player in the circle. The next player says a different city and passes the object along. A player is eliminated if he/she:

  • Repeats something that was already said
  • Hesitates too long
  • Says something that is incorrect (e.g. says a country instead of a city)

When a player is eliminated he/she backs out of the circle slightly, and he/she gets the honour of picking the next category.

Hint #1: With a little creativity, this game can be adapted to almost any subject! Use it for Geography, history, vocabulary words, or even just for fun with pop-culture topics!

Hint #2: If you have fun your student will also have fun!


HAVE FUN!!!
(That is the best way to learn after all!)