active kids

APPS to Keep Kids Mentally and Physically Fit

By Tanni Haas, Ph.D.

As schools are closing across the country, parents are looking Eat & Move-O-Matic If you want your kids to understand the consequences of their food choices, Eat &Move-OMatic is the right app for them. Created by the Learning Game Lab at New Mexico State Univerfor ways to keep their kids meaningfully engaged during sity, the app teaches kids to be aware of what they eat or drink. It lets them compare the calories in their food choices with the type and length of the long days at home. How time of physical activities like biking, running, or walking needed to burn of those calories. (App about encouraging your kids Available: Apple Appstore; Age range 9-18) to download some apps that Nature Melody can help them stay mentally If there’s one thing kids need to in order to lead healthy lives it’s a good night’s sleep, and physically fit? Here are some of the very best ones and the app Nature Melody can help them get that. It functions like an alarm clock and has more than 30 soothing, nature-inspired available, and the best part is sounds to wake your kids up slowly and gently in the morning. The app can be used in the that they’re all completely free. afternoon and evening, too, using the nap and a sleep timer function, for a stress-free end to Rock n Kids:Layout 1 4/27/20 1:45 PM Page 1 their day. (App Available at: Apple Appstore, Google Play; Age range: 5-18)

Rockin' at Home! Virtualmusicandmovement classesfor1-6years!Enrollnow! Allthefunandnoneofthe germs!Wiggleandgiggle withusfromthesafetyof yourhome!

NFL Play 60

If your kids love sports, especially football, but it’s hard to get them to do any actual exercise, NFL Play 60 is just the right app for them. Created by the NFL, in collaboration with the American Heart Association, the app lets kids pretend that they’re professional football players. But instead of simply making their on-screen avatars run and jump, they have to get off the couch and actually run, jump, catch and turn to make their avatars move. The app lets kids count the steps they’ve taken while playing the game. (App Available at: Apple Appstore, Google Play; Age range: 5-18)

Space Chef

If you want your kids to learn to eat well, encourage them to download Space Chef. Created by the Lawrence Hall of Science, maker of the Monster Heart Medic app, Space Chef teaches kids important facts about healthy foods. And it goes one important step further: it has more than 60 easy-to-make and kid-friendly recipes that encourage kids to eat healthily and to take responsibility for their own diets. (App Available: Apple Appstore; Age range: 5-12)

Super Stretch Yoga

Besides meditation, a great way for kids to relax their minds and bodies for optimal health is to practice yoga. Super Stretch Yoga, created by a well-known yoga instructor, Jessica Rosenberg, teaches kids yoga through video demonstrations by other kids, with a focus on breathing and movement. It’s narrated by a character named Super Stretch and features 12 different poses with different skill levels. Kids can use the built-in camera to take pictures of themselves doing the poses. (App Available at: Apple Appstore; Age range: 9-18)

Three Good Things: A Happiness Journal

It’s a well-known fact that mental health is impacted by a sense of well-being. If your kids need a little boost and happen to enjoy writing, encourage them to download Three Good Things: A Happiness Journal. The app helps kids think more positively by writing daily about three good experiences they’ve had. The app has a feature that lets kids upload and share their writings on social media. (App Available at: Apple Appstore; Age range: 5-18)

Active Kids Zone

Looking for a summer volleyball camp for your son or daughter ages Pre-K through 12th grade? The Great Lakes Center located at 579 N. Oakhurst Drive, Aurora, IL. 60502 will be running camps in late June and all of July. We will also be offering private, semi-private and group lessons this summer and fall. NEW this summer we will be offering a 5th - 8th grade league (more details to follow.) For more info call 630-898-6400 or visit www.greatlakescenter.com FB: Sports Performance Volleyball

Downers Grove Park District summer camps offer onsite adventures where kids will make memories that will last a lifetime! Adventure Camp offers a full-day experience for grades 1-5. Teen Trekkers will offer entertainment and activities for kids grades 6-8. Half-day camps are offered at Lyman Woods and the Downers Grove Museum where kids will discover the great outdoors or explore their historical side. Not ready for onsite camp this summer? Try our new StayCamp Kits! Choose from three kits featuring games, crafts, songs and stories that kids can enjoy at home. Learn more at dgparks.org.

We have adapted to bring Harper College’s InZone camp into your home this summer. With a wide selection of virtual classes available, kids can expand their art creativity, develop a website, become a master musician and even enhance their own cooking skills right at home. Make new friends and learn new skills, all while staying in your pajamas all day. How great is that?! InZone (ages 8-14) and InZone Junior Explorers (ages 6-8) will run online through August. Visit harpercollege.edu/inzone to view the online catalog and schedule your virtual summer of fun, with flexible programming schedules featuring morning and afternoon classes. Email inzone@ harpercollege.edu or call 847.925.6300 with your inquiries and questions. [See our ad on the Inside Front Cover.]

Rock ‘n’ Kids is rockin’ at home with virtual music and movement classes of Tot Rock and Kid Rock for 1-6 year olds! Registered participants will receive an email with that week’s private 30-minute virtual class, allowing families to participate on their own time. More information and registration available at www. rockitkids.com. SPECIAL OFFER: Use coupon code RNK20 for 20% off summer en-rollment! More information and registration available at www. rockitkids.com. Rock ‘n’ Kids has been enjoying children’s wiggles and giggles for 25 years!

Enjoy camp at home this summer with STAYCAMP KITS available for ages 2 to 12!

DOWNERS GROVE PARK DISTRICT SUMMER CAMPS FULL DAY • HALF DAY • TEENS • NATURE • HISTORY A safe and healthy onsite camp experience following new guidelines and procedures! NEW!! 2020 VISIT DGPARKS.ORG

WORLD CLASS VOLLEYBALL TRAINING

GREAT LAKES CENTER YOUTH ACADEMY Updated GLCYA Spring Session Now in August! Check website for details. NEW! HALF & FULL DAY CO-ED CAMPS AVAILABLE IN JULY & AUGUSTAVAILABLE IN JULY & AUGUST

Indoor air conditioned courts and coaches who specialize in training the youth and junior age athlete. in training the youth and junior age athlete.

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HALF DAY & FULL DAY CAMPS FULL DAY CAMPS AVAILABLE LOCATION: Great Lakes Center 579 N. Oakhurst Dr. Aurora, IL 60602

SPORTS PERFORMANCE VOLLEYBALL SPORTS PERFORMANCE VOLLEYBALL 97 AAU/JVA/USAV National Championships 786 Female alumni to play collegiate volleyball (1981-2019) 786 Female alumni to play collegiate volleyball (1981-2019) 258 Male alumni to play collegiate volleyball (1991–2019) 258 Male alumni to play collegiate volleyball (1991–2019) 355 Colleges attended by SPVB alumni 95# of times SPVB alums have been collegiate All Americans 6 SPVB Alums & Coaches in the Olympic Games