Great Futures Start Here

Learning Activities For Kids In Texas

23. June 2016 Administrator Kids Activities (0)
Activities that promote active learning are essential to improve the cognitive abilities in kids. As parents, you can consider making a schedule for your child in which you can incorporate fun learning activities that will help to enhance his cognitive skills. It is important to encourage your child not to spend too much time with electronic gadgets. Instead, you can enroll him in some learning/education program at a kids club in Texas.

Below is a list of some wonderful learning activities for your kids:

  • Leisure reading: Reading is a crucial part of learning and considered one of the important foundations for success in school. Therefore, it becomes all the more important to inculcate reading habits in your child. Provide varied reading material to your child so that he views it as a pleasurable activity. Set aside specific time for reading daily and make sure the subject interests your kid. You can even encourage activities that require reading such as planting a sapling (reading instructions) or treasure hunt.
  • Writing activities: Introducing writing activities in your child’s schedule is a great way to develop cognitive skills. It will help in school assignments and also explore his creativity. Writing is a great form of expression and kids can pen down their random thoughts. You can also encourage your child to draw a picture and then ask him to write a story on it. Games such as crossword puzzles and word games can be a fun way to develop the vocabulary that can be useful while writing.
  • Group discussions: Development of group discussion skills can help your child put forward his thoughts. You can encourage him to share opinions about any particular topic of his choice. Keep the topics simple, such as: what is the best way to organize a birthday party or how do you want to spend your next vacation. Informal group discussions are the best way for kids to imbibe communication skills.
  • Scrabble: Scrabble helps to build a strong vocabulary and encourages a child to create new words with the letters provided. Children find scrabble very exciting when they start to move up the scoreboard. Along with an improvement in spellings, scrabble helps a child to think faster and improve his analytical capabilities as well.
Get your child enrolled in the learning activities organized by Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas. For details, you can call at (254) 699 – 5808 or visit the club at 304 W Ave B, Killeen, TX – 76541.

Engaging Outdoor Activities For Kids In Texas

20. May 2016 Administrator Blog, Kids Activities (0)
Outdoor activities should be an intrinsic part of kids’ daily routine to keep them physically active. Apart from physical fitness, playing outdoors also improves brain functioning and strengthens the immunity of kids. The activities imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship and make them learn the importance of teamwork. Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas, a renowned kids club in Killeen, TX organizes a wide range of engaging outdoor activities for its members.

Below is a list of some outdoor activities organized by the club:

  • Football: The club offers various football leagues for kids of different age groups. The game helps children improve their agility and strength. It also boosts their cardiovascular health and hand-eye co-ordination.
  • Basketball: The club offers three basketball leagues for kids in 2nd grade, 3/4 grade and 5/6 grade. Basketball is a high-intensity workout that helps children improve metabolism and ankle stability. The sport increases their co-ordination, concentration and mental agility to dribble, pass and shoot the ball.
  • Swimming: This activity is beneficial in maintaining physical and mental fitness. Learning to swim can protect your child in case of any water related emergencies. In addition, swimming is a low impact activity that promotes cardiovascular health and improves stamina, joint flexibility, strength, balance as well as posture. You can get in touch with the kids club in Texas to get your child enrolled in a swimming program.
  • Cheerleading: This activity inculcates team spirit and coordination skills. The club organizes various cheerleading programs for kids of age 7-12 years. The sport increase physical endurance, boosts self-confidence and inculcates leadership qualities in the children.
  • Baseball: Enroll your child in a kids club where he is taught and encouraged to play baseball. Apart from learning teamwork as well as discipline, your child will also enhance physical strength and develop a better hand-eye co-ordination by playing baseball.
We, at Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas, offer as wide range of outdoor activities for kids aged 7 to 12 years. Our club has experienced coaches to provide the best training to the kids and help them hone their skills in the specific sport. To know more about the procedure to enroll your kids in any of the activities, you can call at (254) 699 – 5808 or visit the club at 304 W Ave B, Killeen, TX – 76541.

Ways To Encourage Kids To Play Outdoors

13. May 2016 Administrator Kids Activities (0)
In this electronic era, it is imperative that kids indulge in outdoor activities to improve their physical as well as mental fitness. One of the best ways is to get your child enrolled in a kids club so that he can join his favorite outdoor activity and become a pro at it. There are various other tactics that can help you motivate your kids to play outdoors. Some of these are:

  • Take out time for your kids: It is important that parents spare some time to engage in outdoor activities with their kids. You can take your kids to a nearby park, go swimming with them or even go for a walk. You should present yourself as a good role model who enjoys outdoor activities. This will encourage your children to go out more often and enjoy playing.
  • Utilize the outdoor spaces in your home: If you have a big home then you can use the outdoor space as an extension to the indoor area. This will provide your children a great environment when they cannot go outside to play. You can also encourage your kids to take their favorite toys in the porch or balcony so that they get a feeling of playing outdoors.
  • Involve children in outdoor water activities: Most of the kids love to play with water and this is one good way to persuade them to go outdoors and play. You can enroll your kid in swimming classes as it is a fun outdoor activity that also promotes fitness. 
  • Develop a routine: It is essential to set a schedule so that it becomes a daily habit for your kids to play outdoors. Take your children to parks and play areas so that they can explore their surroundings and enjoy spending time outdoors. Camping tours can also be a fun way for your child to go out and benefit from new experiences.
  • Assign a task to your kids: You can assign simple outdoor tasks such as picking up dead leaves from the garden, watering the plants or making a small bed in the family garden etc. to make outdoor time exciting for children. You should let them unleash their creativity and show it in making a mini garden of their own.
If you are looking for some fun outdoor activities in Killeen, TX, enroll your children at Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas. We offer various sports and recreational programs for kids of different age groups. For more information, you can call us at (254) 699 – 5808.

Tips To Boost Your Child's Self-Esteem

6. May 2016 Administrator Child Care (0)
Self-esteem is a crucial building block in the personality development of a child. Making children aware of their strengths and weaknesses is essential to provide them with a realistic view of the world. On the other hand, children with low self-esteem may end up giving in to negative pressures and face difficulty in finding solutions for their problems.

Below are some tips that can help in boosting the self-esteem of your child:

  • Instill a sense of self-worth: It is important that your child has a positive self-image and trusts his capabilities as well as skills. He must have the confidence to accomplish tasks. As a parent, you need to instill a sense of self-worth in your child so that he does not keep on finding faults within himself.
  • Compliment your child but don’t overdo it: It is important to praise your child whenever he does something commendable. However, you need to ensure that you don’t go overboard while showering praises on your child. The compliments should be genuine and not exaggerated as this can lead to an inflated ego.
  • Make your child join a club: A kids club can be a great platform for children to discover their hidden talents and improve social skills. A good  kids club in Killeen, TX can help to hone your kid’s talent and build his self-esteem. Interacting with kids from different backgrounds and varied interests gives the child a new perspective on life. You must encourage his talents and give him the confidence to improve upon his areas of interest. 
  • Reflect positive images to your child: It is vital that you reflect a positive image of your child so that he knows how important he is to you. Tell him often that you value his opinions and enjoy his company. This will make the child feel good about himself. 
  • Don’t demean your child in front of others: Saying negative things about your child’s behavior or habits in front of others can lower his self-esteem. Instead, you should always focus on his qualities and abilities that make you proud. This will raise his level of confidence and self-esteem.
The child care professionals at Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas aim at complete personality development of the members. For more information about the programs offered at the club, call at (254) 699 – 5808 or visit 304 W Ave B, Killeen, TX  76541.

Tips To Find The Right Summer Camp For Your Child

21. March 2016 Administrator Blog, Kids Activities (0)
Summer camps help kids learn new skills, become independent and make new friends. They also offer an opportunity to experience memorable moments that they can cherish lifelong. The camps can build their overall personality and is the best utilization of their free time during the summer break. After weighing all the options, parents must encourage their children to make the best of their time at the camp.

Following are some tips that may help the parents to choose the right summer camp for their kids:

  • Consider the interests of the child: It is best to sit down with the child and know what kind of activities he is looking forward to in his summer break. Depending on his interests and expectations, you should shortlist from the many options available. A camp that offers what a child will enjoy will help him learn faster.
  • Is the camp accredited by American Camp Association (ACA): ACA approves camps on the basis of over 300 must-comply factors related with safety, hygiene, staff to kids’ ratio etc. If the camp is accredited, you can rest assured about the safety and benefit of your child.
  • Type of camps: There are day camps and overnight stay-away camps. You should discuss with the child what he/she is comfortable in. Some camps focus on a single activity and others offer a variety of programs. 
  • Cost of the camp: The duration, activities and facilities are some such factors which parents must evaluate before making up your mind. The cost may vary according to the activities offered in the camp. You may also look for discounts offered like early bird reservations, referral or sibling discounts.
  • Location: Decide if you would like to keep kids closer to home or you are fine with sending them far away. For overnight camps, the location becomes an even important factor as the beauty of the place and comfort levels of the terrain may affect one’s choice.
  • Make all inquiries: You must not hesitate in making all the inquiries over a phone call before making any decision. It is recommended to ask the camp organizer about the composition of other students attending (age group, gender ratio etc.), the experience of the staff, activities planned for the camp, etc.
If you are looking for a fun and exciting summer camp for your kids, consider Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas. We organize residential summer break camp for middle school students. For details about registration, feel free to call at (254) 699 – 5808 or visit 304 W Ave B, Killeen, TX – 76541.

Sports And Recreation Activities For Kids In Central Texas

14. March 2016 Administrator Child Care, Kids Activities (0)
Sports and recreation activities are beneficial for the kids as it not only reduces the boredom but also improves their health. Participating in such activities enhances the self-esteem of the kids as whenever they get appreciation from their coaches, they feel encouraged which helps in building self-confidence. These activities help a child to become creative and give him a chance to meet new people.

Sports Activities:

  • Basketball:  The game helps in building strength and overall health of kids. It is a great source to channelize their energy in a productive way. Since shooting the ball in the basket requires a lot of physical and mental power, the sport helps in improving the concentration of the kids.
  • Cheerleading: The activity not only instills the spirit of team work but provides relaxation to the kids. They also learn coordination and leadership skills. Cheerleading enhances physical endurance and muscle flexibility among kids.
  • Football: This game involves a lot of running, so it is an effective way to build stamina. As the players have to take quick decisions on field, the game helps in improving their cognitive abilities as well. 
  • Swimming: It is a sports activity that builds endurance, muscle strength and improve cardiovascular fitness among kids. Swimming helps in improving posture and minimizes water related accidents. Obesity can also be reduced if the kids practice this activity regularly.  
Recreation activities:

Besides sports activities, kids can also participate in various recreational activities such as music, photography, drama, painting etc. These activities provide relaxation to mind and body. They also have a positive impact on academic performance of a child.

  • Music: Music therapy enhances communication and non-verbal skills of a child. It reduces anxiety and stress hormone levels. Kids involved in this activity usually have a higher concentration power.
  • Photography: The activity helps in improving visual skills and inculcates a sense of creativity in kids. They get a chance to be aware about latest camera technology. Learning this also allows them to communicate their ideas, thoughts and feelings. 
  • Drama: When a child performs in front of a huge audience, it gives a boost to his self-confidence. Drama programs help them in understanding their own emotions and expressing themselves in a better way. It is the best means to showcase your potential to rest of the world.    
We, at Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas, offer various sports and recreational activities for kids. For details about registration, you can call at (254) 699-5808 or visit 304 W Ave B, Killeen, TX – 76541.  

The Many Benefits Of Summer Camps For Kids

12. February 2016 Administrator Blog, Kids Activities (0)
Summer camps are an ideal learning experience for kids as they learn to live life to the fullest. Such camps also help in nourishing their souls and make them grow into better individuals. It is the responsibility of every parent to enroll their children in a summer camp because the benefits associated with such a camp are aplenty. Some of these are:

  • Ample physical activity: These days most of the children prefer playing games on the gadgets rather than venturing out in the open. A summer camp provides them an opportunity to get involved in various physical activities. They can perform fun activities such as running, swimming, hiking etc. This makes them physically fit and active.
  • Build self-confidence: Going to a camp helps in building their self-confidence by providing them with diverse opportunities to succeed. The activities they perform at a camp are entirely different from their regular school curriculum. This helps them explore various facets of their personality and boosts self-esteem.
  • Make friends for a lifetime: Children get the opportunity to make new friends during a camp. They get to relax without any social expectations and this encourages development of new bonds. All the fun camping activities such as singing, talking as well as playing helps children come closer and become the best of friends.
  • Gives a break from technology: Kids learn to get involved in the real world while staying in a camp. They hang out far away from the virtual world of Internet, computer, TV and smartphones. Encountering real life situations in the camp nurtures their creative juices and helps them discover their potential.
  • Increases independence: A camp is the perfect destination for kids to imbibe decision-making skills. They do not have their parents or teachers to guide at every step and this makes them become more independent. A camp provides kids with the freedom of making choices which enhances their personality.
  • Promotes flexibility: The setting and environment in a camp helps the children in becoming pros at bearing setbacks. They try and learn new things while enjoying in the camp. They face failure which helps them to learn how to endure disappointment. Camps help them conquer their fears and this is one of the greatest lessons to be learnt in life.
  • Imbibes social skills: A summer camp is a warm and close-knit community where children are required to respect and co-operate with each other. Staying together with other kids helps them discover the power of communication. They also learn to sort out their differences in an amicable way without creating any unpleasant situation.
We, at Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas, organize summer camp for middle school kids. For details about the registration process, call at (254) 699 – 5808 or visit 304 W Ave B, Killeen, TX – 76541.

Drama Lessons For Kids In Texas

5. February 2016 Administrator Kids Activities (0)
While everyday teaching focuses mostly on imparting reading and writing skills in children, it is equally important to turn them into good orators. Effective communication is a key aspect of being successful in life or expanding the social circle. Perhaps this is the reason why learning drama is crucial for the overall personality development of any child.

Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas offers drama lessons for kids of all age groups. As a parent, you must enroll your child to be a part of this fun learning activity. Drama has various benefits to offer:

  • Children learn newer ways of communication: When a child participates in dramatics, he gets to know different ways of expressing and communicating himself. The children are encouraged to express themselves verbally along with using their facial expressions and body language. Their speech also becomes fluent and lucid gradually, which increases their self-confidence.
  • Promotes imaginative skills: Drama helps in churning their creative juices, thereby making them explore their imagination. Kids are able to respond imaginatively and provide solutions to a range of make-believe problems. Kids also begin to see things from different perspectives and generate fresh ideas.
  • Kids make new friends: When children go to a drama class, they interact with so many other kids of similar age group. Knowing and interacting with new kids helps them to learn and grow in life.
  • Helps in understanding body language: When children perform in a drama class, they get to pick up subtle cues from the other person’s body language. They are also taught to maintain eye contact which helps in better interaction.
  • Prepares the kids for unseen situations: Most of the drama lessons include role-play where children are asked to act out situations which they might not have experienced before. This prepares them for the future where they might have to encounter something similar. For instance, children get equipped with the requisite communication skills to deal with different life situations.
  • Drama teaches empathy: Empathy is a virtue that needs to be cultivated during the growing years. One of the most important aspects of drama is that it teaches empathy. Drama requires children to be put into situations where they need to be involved physically, mentally and emotionally. This helps them in understanding emotions and experience how a person would feel if he is faced with a certain situation.
To enroll your kids in the drama lessons offered by Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas, call at (254) 699 – 5808 or visit 304 W Ave B, Killeen, TX – 76541.

Teach Your Kids To Be Digital Artists

20. January 2016 Administrator Blog, Kids Activities (0)
With the advent of technology, newer channels are being developed to express creativity and showcase it in front of the whole world. One of the most recent mediums that are becoming widely popular to display thoughts and experiences is ‘Digital Art’.

Digital art has various forms such as graphic design, videography, photo illustration, web page design, special effects etc. This field offers bright career prospects and therefore it is important that you encourage your kids to widen their interest in the digital arts arena. There are kids clubs in Texas that organize digital arts programs for kids to hone their talent.

There are a plethora of career options in digital arts. Your child can become an animator, a cartoonist, web designer, photographer, multimedia artist etc. The scope is endless and fresh career opportunities are being added every now and then. Parents and teachers can make the child a digital artist by supporting his inventiveness and creativity. Following is a list of some steps that you can consider:

  • Make your children join a kids club: A large number of kids clubs organize special workshops pertaining to Digital Art. They offer programs in subjects such as web page design, graphic designing, photo illustration etc. You should get your kids enrolled in one such club so that they can start utilizing their creative skills in the subject of Digital Arts.
  • Encourage your child to do drawing: During pre-school, you should encourage your kids to draw or paint and expand their imagination. Drawing is very helpful for the kids as it not only boosts their confidence but also improves their motor skills. It also makes them inclined towards digital arts when they grow up. The same thing is applicable for teachers who can push the child towards getting better at his art work.
  • Display your child’s art work: There are many online platforms where you can display and promote your child’s work of digital art. A number of websites have digital museums where digital art works of kids can be uploaded by the parents and teachers for everyone to view. Positive feedback will motivate your child to take up a career in this field.
  • Introduce your children to comics: Comics are a great way of introducing your children to storytelling and churning their creative juices. They help the kids develop visual literacy and aid them in understanding a story by joining visual elements. This is an intrinsic aspect of digital arts where you have to convey something through your designs and illustrations.
We, at Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas, offer various digital arts programs for kids of different age groups. For more information, call at (254) 699 – 5808 or visit 304 W Ave B, Killeen, TX – 76541.

Benefits Of Playing A Musical Instrument

6. January 2016 Administrator Kids Activities (0)
In today’s times, when children have various options in the name of recreation, it is essential that we channelize their interests and curiosity in the right direction. Music is a de-stressing skill which will not only help your child at the development stage but also aid him lifelong.

Here are some benefits of learning to play a musical instrument:

  • Builds discipline: Learning any musical instrument requires practice. Regular and dedicated practice is possible in a strict routine and kids thus, invariably learn to be more disciplined. They will also learn to value time and be patient as they will be given lessons which they need to practice at home. Perfecting an instrument is years of perseverance, which is a good lesson for growing children.
  • Cultivates good social behavior: If kids are learning in a group, they need to keep pace with their peers- slow down or build up their speed on the instrument as per the group’s pace. They also interact, share notes and learn from each other, hence picking up essential social skills.
  • Behavioral benefits: A child who is working on acquiring a skill will be smarter and more confident than his peers. The sense of achievement and constant practice will help the child in accepting criticism positively and becoming a better person.
  • Boosts self esteem: While they are learning an instrument, kids get both positive and negative feedback. It helps them to polish their art and when they overcome a difficult phase, they get immense boost to their self esteem. A constant urge to keep improving and then getting praised for it is good for any child’s confidence levels.
  • Opens up their mind to different cultures: Music is also a good way to expose children to world music. By knowing about various instruments that are specific to various cultures (Bongo in Cuba or Tabla from India), kids can learn about countries and people they may not have heard before.
  • Helps academically: Music is all about patterns, rhythms, beats and scales. As they learn more, they need to have a sharp memory to come out with right tunes or lyrics. Laws of physics are applied too in string instruments like violin or guitar as children learn to pluck the strings. Hence, broadly academics and music are somewhat connected.
  • Builds physical abilities: Coordination and motor skills are definitely being put to use while playing any instrument. Instruments like percussion or drums are meant for high energy kids as they require using both hands and feet. Coordination skills and mind-body synchronization are essential for any instrument hence kids become more physically active.
One way of developing the interest of your child in music instrument is to expose to them to one or two first and then see where their preference lies. Make them talk to the instructor so they feel comfortable and get to know of the benefits.

We, at Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas organize music camps for kids of all age-groups. The camp includes various activities like learning musical instruments, writing lyrics and writing music under the supervision of professional artists and poets. For more information, call us at (254) 699-5808.