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How to Develop Healthy Habits in Kids?

A child develops the majority of physical and mental skills while growing up. Therefore, it is imperative to nurture their growth with healthy habits, positivity & life-enriching experiences. Inculcating healthy habits in the early life course brings lifelong benefits.

But how can you encourage kids to develop healthy habits? Here are some ways to answer this question.

Wholesome Environment

Give a wholesome environment to your children. Nourish them with the warmth of family, solid relationships, a sense of inclusion, a positive home environment, and encouragement. Spend time with your children by engaging in activities like art & craft, reading, community service, hunt games, gardening, outdoor games, cleaning, etc. These activities will enhance their creative expression, cognitive skills, and socio-emotional skills while teaching them the essential elements of building relationships. It will also strengthen the parent-child relationship.

Balanced Nutrition


Encourage healthy eating habits & holistic living. Nutrient-dense foods offer all the elements vital for optimum growth. It helps to build high energy levels, strengthens the immune system, and promotes neurocognitive development. Involve children in meal planning, shopping for groceries, and cooking. To appeal to their visual senses, put together a colorful meal; loaded with nutrients.

Physical Activities

Indulging in exercise or some physical activity promotes physical and mental well-being. Outdoor or extra-curricular activities, dance, and sports are examples of recreational ways to elevate psychological health while promoting efficiency of mind (healthy habits), body (daily challenges), and soul (social recreation).

Innovative Programs

Expose your children to innovative programs & after-school clubs. With far-ranging benefits, these clubs organize activities to illuminate young minds with new skills, creativity, social support & rich experiences. Programs by Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas help youth become responsible & caring citizens. These programs also help children develop leadership skills and provide them opportunities for planning, decision-making, and club/community engagement. They instill the value of a healthy lifestyle and allow children to embrace reading and learning.

From over 25 sites across Central Texas, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas provide a world-class experience to help children reach their full potential. We are committed to providing a safe place for youth to learn and grow under adult professionals. The programs encourage kids to engage in life-enhancing programs and character development experiences.

Explore our comprehensive range of healthy lifestyle programs: All Stars, SMART Girls, The SMART Moves, Passport to Manhood, Junior Staff, Keystone Clubs, Million Members, Million Hours of Service, Torch Clubs, etc.

For more details on developing healthy habits in kids, visit Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas at 703 N 8th St. Killeen, TX – 76541. You can also browse through www.bgctx.org

Learning Opportunities at After-School Clubs in Killeen

After-School Clubs are instrumental in creating a healthy and productive environment for students. With far-ranging benefits, these clubs garner activities that assist in promoting child development. They help in illuminating young minds with new skills, creativity, rich experiences and positive outlook. Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas harbors activities that create diverse learning opportunities for kids in Killeen.

  • Career Exploration - After-school clubs help to assess skills and interests of students. Club staff or volunteers help teens build their job-search and job readiness skills. Resources like job search information, interactive activities, mentoring, job shadowing, and training opportunities help students in career exploration.  
  • Artistic Activities - Club members are encouraged to learn and practice black-and-white, color, digital and alternative process photography; drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, mixed media and sculpture. These activities offer learning opportunities to develop creative & expression skills.
  • Reading & Writing - After-school clubs offer high-yield learning activities which include leisure reading, writing activities, discussions with knowledgeable adults, homework help and tutoring. Dedicated youth development professionals and volunteers supervise each session and help youth members to become self-directed learners.
  • Brain Games - To strengthen cognitive skills after-school clubs offer brain games. For example, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas has introduced brain games like scrabble, learning through discovery, activities to enhance creative expression, group work, science themed activities and final project or production.
  • Character Development Activities - Character Development activities help students identify their own strengths and enhances their self-esteem, interpersonal skills, work ethic and sense of community responsibility. Dynamic sessions, participatory activities, field trips, discussions; activities to reinforce good character, leadership, positive behavior, resilience, decision making, analyzing media and peer influence are few highlights of character development activities and their benefits. 
  • Physical Activities - After-school clubs encourage students to stay physically fit, adopt healthy lifestyle and indulge in sports activities like football, basketball, dance, etc. They promote social interaction and recognition through organized sports programming for youth.
From over 25 sites in 8 communities across Central Texas, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas has been nurturing young minds with life-enhancing experiences & learning opportunities. After- school activities by BGCTX impart learning which goes beyond the walls of a classroom. The finely curated programs are packed with character & health development activities to encourage social, physical and learning proficiency.

So, enroll your children in Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas and give them the opportunity to explore their own potential. You can visit our Administration office located at 703 N 8th St. Killeen, TX – 76541. To know more about our clubs, visit www.bgctx.org or call at (254) 699 – 5808. 

Importance of Healthy Lifestyle in Mental Growth of Children

The early childhood years are highly crucial for mental, physical, intellectual & socio-emotional development. Multiple factors contribute to enhance the mental growth in children; one such important factor is maintaining healthy lifestyle. It significantly improves the mental caliber including cognitive potential and neural mechanism of learning. 

Here is an insight into how healthy lifestyle helps in mental growth of children:

  • Rich Nutrition - Encourage your children to consume food which provides high nutritional value. Nutrient-dense foods offer all the vital vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, etc. which are important for optimal functioning of the body and mind. It helps build high energy levels, strengthen the immune system and promote brain & neurocognitive development. Also, make sure children drink adequate amount of water per day.
  • Exercise - Indulging in exercise or some physical activity promotes physical as well as mental growth. Outdoor or extra-curricular activities, dance, sports, etc. are recreational ways to elevate the psychological health, memory & retention power, confidence, positive integration of thoughts and cognitive skills in children. 
  • Sound Sleep - Sound sleep is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. During sleep, our body relaxes and functions in a way which may help to stimulate motor skills, concentration, emotional regulation and overall mental health of children. Therefore, sleeping for approximately 9-10 hours is quite necessary for children. 
Founded in 1964, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas is an organization that has been curating clubs & programs to help young people enhance their social, physical and academic proficiency. Our programs are packed with activities which promote positive behaviors, good character & citizenship, healthy lifestyle, academia and help children grow into well rounded personalities. 

Healthy Lifestyle Programs For Children:

All Stars (Age 6-18): An organized league sport and fitness program for flag football, basketball and dance teams for youth

SMART Girls (Age 8-18): Helps girls to develop healthy attitudes & positive relationships with peers and adults; conducts dynamic sessions, participatory activities, field trips and many more

Triple Play (Age 6-18): A comprehensive health and wellness program which stresses upon the significance of physical activity and proper nutrition.

These are some Healthy Lifestyle Programs which provide a healthy atmosphere for youth to nourish their mental & physical wellbeing. To know more about healthy lifestyle programs for kids, visit www.bgctx.org  

You can also visit us at 703 N 8th St. Killeen, TX – 76541 or call at (254) 699 - 5808 for further queries.

Academic Success Programs: How they can help

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas nurtures young minds to explore their mental arena, maximizing the dimensions of potentiality & intelligence. Our academic success programs are innovatively designed to empower youth with a focus on the academic development. These programs acquaint children with practical experience of technology which ultimately helps to upgrade their academic performance.

Career Launch (Age 13-18)

Career Launch program helps children to dig deeper into their skills and interests; provides career exploration opportunities, college and job search information, mentoring, job shadowing, and training possibilities.

Diplomas to Degrees (Age 13-18)

Diplomas2Degrees (d2D), a college readiness program which guides and prepares children for post-secondary education & career success. It also encourages them to be goal oriented.

DIY STEM (Age 9-12)

DIY STEM is an activity-based curriculum which focuses on science themes & scientific principles; wrapped in five modules: Energy and Electricity, Engineering Design, Food Chemistry, Science of Sports: Football.

Image Makers (Age 6-18)

Image Makers motivates children to learn and practice black-and-white, color, digital and alternative process photography. It allows them to showcase their talent at local, regional and national competitions.

Money Matters (Age 13-18)

Money Matters helps young children to imbibe the habit of saving and utilizing money in an effective manner. It promotes & advocates financial literacy which eventually empower children to make wise financial choices.

National Fine Arts Exhibit (Age 6-18)

The National Fine Arts Exhibit inspires students to utilize their artistic energy by indulging in drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, mixed media and sculpture at local and regional exhibits.

Power Hour: Making Minutes Count (Age 6-18)

Power Hour helps club members to attain academic success by providing homework help, tutoring and introducing learning activities, aiming to transform them into self-directed learners.

Project Learn (Age 6-18)

Project Learn helps to refine and enhance the skills and knowledge of students which they have acquired in school. It opens up various opportunities to improve cognitive skills and indulge into leisure reading, writing activities, discussions with knowledgeable adults, helping others, homework help and tutoring games.

Summer Brain Gain (Age 6-18)

Summer Brain Gain offers several modules to promote project-based learning approach. It engages youth in a process of discovery - based learning and develops creative expression.

Our multi-faceted programs are wrapped with thoughtfully designed activities which promote academic success, good character & citizenship, healthy lifestyles in children.To know more about our programs and clubs, visit www.bgctx.org.You can visit our Administration office located at 703 N 8th St. Killeen, TX – 76541 USA.



Leadership Skills in Kids

Leadership skills are amalgamation of various characteristics which often helps a child to cope up with life in best possible way. It encompasses various interpersonal skills with ability to resolve problems, sense of reasoning, decision making, planning, patience etc. Let’s go through few points to understand the importance of leadership skills and ways to develop it.

Communication - Effective communication is key to increase social engagement and forge healthy relationships. Encourage your child to interact with people empathetically. Teach them to first listen and then respond. This may help children to express, collaborate and convey their thoughts in an efficient manner. Good communication tends to increase their ability to adapt and sustain relationships which may eventually assist in furnishing good leadership skills.

Team Work - Team work is an important part of leadership. Let them participate in team building games, sports and other group activities. This may assist children to inculcate cooperation skills and teamwork spirit. A child may be able to acknowledge the importance of collective efforts towards achieving a goal.

Decision Making & Conflict Resolution - Allow children to make decisions as decision making is one the vital components of leadership quality. Brainstorming for sustainable solutions boost cognitive function and enables them to discover their own capabilities. Avoid spoon feeding and let them handle a situation; this may help them to develop conflict resolution and decision-making skills.

Planning & Organization - Assign various tasks to your child and let him/her plan and create strategies for it. Planning & organization is an important attribute which may help them to realize that they are accountable for something important. This can impart a sense of responsibility and confidence in them.  

Expose them to small daily life situations where leadership traits can be triggered organically. Enrol your little ones in camps, clubs and programs to streamline their minds towards productivity and new learning. The mental and physical exercises performed in clubs and camps helps to strike a balance between academics and socio-emotional development. Management of such activities in a coherent environment may train a child to instil effective leadership skills.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas encourages young minds to explore the dimensions of their potentiality and intelligence. We have curated various clubs and programs to provide a positive space for child’s holistic development. Our multi-faceted clubs are wrapped with various physical and mental exercises which may promote academic success, good character & citizenship, healthy lifestyles in children. We try to inculcate social-emotional learning, communication & leadership skills. Our Clubs are fully equipped to provide life-enhancing experiences.

You can visit our Administration office located at 703 N 8th St. Killeen, TX – 76541, USA. For further information, fill the contact form available on our website.

How After-School Activities Improve Social Skills in Kids

After-School Activities are a great way to illuminate young minds with knowledge and rich experiences. They help them strike a perfect harmony between the academics and social development. Such activities promote positive behaviour, healthy self-esteem, sense of inclusion, self - regulation, communication skills and empathy.

With a holistic care approach, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas enables young minds to develop social skills and relationships. Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas try to inculcate social-emotional learning through after-school programs. These programs enhance the cognitive power, thereby contributing in the overall growth of a child. 

Holistic Growth - Holistic approach to a child's development includes physical, mental, social, personal and intellectual wellbeing. When we pay attention to all these aspects, a child is able to utilize and explore the dimensions of his/her intelligence. It helps in bringing out their full potential which eventually enriches their social experience. Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas has curated different clubs which accommodate numerous after-school activities. 

Sense of Inclusion - Extracurricular activities conducted by Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas, help children to instil a sense of inclusion and belongingness. Building new friendships, practicing sportsmanship, healthy interactions and being part of a team, having a healthy social support system help children to feel included and belonged.

Receptive and Reciprocate - After school activities appear to improve the overall behaviour of a child. Diverse activities increase their ability to learn speech and new language skills. This makes them more confident to reciprocate in a good manner, thereby enhancing the social experience. It also helps them to be more receptive & expressive.

Foster Self-Regulation & Behaviour Management - Self-Regulation & Behaviour management are the keys to fit in a social environment. Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas, has introduced some amazing clubs, which encourage students to manage their emotions and behaviour effectively. It enables children to resolve conflicts with peers and hone better social skills.

Creates Child Friendly Environment - Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas, has built a space for children which makes them feel comfortable and cheerful. The clubs create a favourable social environment to enlightened their mental capabilities. A psychologically empowered child is able to understand his/her strengths and develops a positive integrate of thoughts.

Boost Academic Performance - After school activities improve academic performance of a child. They build greater levels of attention & self-awareness which encourage a child maintain a better focus. Realising that they possess a talent or passion for something give them a sense of achievement which is reflected in the academics.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas enriches the social experience of children with their high- quality clubs. Our after- school activities imparts new light of learning which goes beyond the walls of a classroom. It increases their social & academic proficiency.

So, enrol your little ones in Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas and make them better in every aspect of their lives. 

You can visit our Administration office located at 703 N 8th St. Killeen, TX – 76541, Texas. To know more about our clubs, fill the contact form available on our website.