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Why Character Education Is Important For Children

10. April 2018 Administrator Child Care (0)
Character is the essence of who we are. A good character helps one stay grounded and rooted amidst the challenges in today’s fast-changing and complex world. Character education is being increasingly emphasized upon as it incorporates values and ethics which instill emotional maturity early on in a child’s life. It makes children kind, responsible and respectful beings. Parents and teachers have a vital role in influencing a child’s thoughts, words, feelings and actions by consistently enforcing ethical behavior in them. Here are some benefits of character education for children:

  • Fosters Personal Growth
The skills required for character development bring out other benefits such as increased self-esteem, more confidence, resilience, integrity etc. Kids with a rich character are better able to adjust with others at home, school and in their community.

  • Better Academic Performance
Kids who are taught character education perform better in academics. They are disciplined and regular at attending school. A child who possesses traits of sound character such as patience and diligence is easier to teach.

  • Rich Relationships
Children who are taught character education have happier relationships with others. They are empathetic and tolerant to the behaviors of others. Such kids also get along better with their peers and family members.

  • A Better Society
Character education is crucial for modern societies. If children are taught the skills to adopt for a good character, there will be fewer cases of racism, xenophobia, violence etc. They will be more concerned about the welfare of others. Such kids turn into balanced and civic-minded adults who are better employees, neighbors, leaders and most importantly responsible citizens of the nation.

  • Reduction In Substance Abuse
incorporating character education helps students differentiate good from bad. They are brave enough to resist the pressure of substance abuse without feeling ashamed. They are clear about how they want to shape their lives and develop self-control to stay away from what’s not good for their physical and emotional health.

  • Better Critical Thinking Skills
Kids engaged in a character development program are more in tune with their feelings and are easily motivated to learn and explore. Such kids have shown to analyze themselves better. Such an analysis of feelings leads to better critical thinking skills.

  • Integral To Success
Character education can be considered as the “X factor” for a child’s success in the modern-day world. Individuals with a strong character are better equipped to be successful in all spheres of life. They are more adaptable and focused on their goals.

We, at Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas, offer a wide range of character building programs for kids from 6 to 18 years of age. To enroll your child at the club, call at (254) 699 – 5808 or visit 304 W Ave B, Killeen, TX – 76541.

How To Teach Time Management To Children

17. January 2018 Administrator Child Care (0)
Time management is an important life skill every child should learn at an early stage. Kids who master the art of time management have been shown to perform better at school and grow into responsible successful adults.

Here are some great tips to help your child become better at managing time -

• Make It A Fun Process
Encourage your child to create fun and colorful calendars or buy them one. Use creative stickers to mark important days on the calendar. Make the completion of a task feel like a game that has to be completed within a specific span of time. The overall process should be playful and enjoyable.

• Begin Early
The earlier a child starts learning lessons of time management, easier it will be for them to incorporate the habit. It’s best to start teaching simple tasks like homework completion, packing the bag for next day and so on to be completed within the set time frame during preschool years.

• Countdowns
Countdown is an effective way of teaching kids how to measure time. You can even download cute apps that function as countdown timers to make it fun for them. Challenge your child to complete a task before the timer rings. You can also set a challenge for yourself along with your child to add an element of competition and fun.

• Planning Together
It’s a great idea to have a family calendar that has each members plan highlighted on it. This teaches kids how activities are allotted to specific days and they should be done in accordance with that plan. Encourage kids to participate in such planning activities. Get your child a cute planner or calendar for their own plans.

• Discipline
When it comes to time management, discipline is everything. In the early days of time management lessons for your kids, stick to the schedule and don’t budge even for a few minutes. Teach your kids to adhere to schedules without being lenient.

• Child Friendly Tools
Use visually stimulating kid friendly tools and techniques to help your child learn time management. For instance use apps, magnetic calendars, colorful stickers, notepads and diaries, planning whiteboards, etc.

• Rewards
Motivate your child by giving daily or weekly rewards. The reward could be letting your child indulge in an activity they like, a movie or family activity, etc. There should be something for a child to look forward to, on achieving a time based milestone.

We, at Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas, offer a wide range of programs for kids up to 18 years of age. To enroll your child at the club, call at (254) 699 – 5808 or visit 304 W Ave B, Killeen, TX – 76541.

Health Skills Programs For Growing Kids

13. September 2016 Administrator Child Care (0)
Health skills programs are very essential for the emotional, physical and social development of the kids. They also help to improve and maintain physical fitness.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas is a leading child care center organizing a wide range of health skills programs for kids of all age groups. The club aims at helping the kids make right nutritional choices while avoiding any health risks.
Listed below are the health skills programs organized by the club:

  • Cavity-Free Zone: This program is developed for kids of age 6-15 years with an aim to increase awareness about good oral hygiene and dental health. It includes various fun-filled and engaging sessions for the members. The club offers a broad spectrum of games and interactive activities which help the kids increase their knowledge about oral health. The program is sponsored by Crest.   
  • SMART Moves: This comprehensive program aims at helping young people resist alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. Various group activities are organized which help in enhancing leadership and life skills.  Other programs organized under SMART Moves include SMART kids, Start SMART and Stay SMART for kids of different age groups.    
  • SMART Girls: It is designed to enhance self-esteem of girls aged 8-17 years. The club organizes a wide range of kids activities, field trips and mentoring opportunities to help adult women stay physically fit. Funded by David and Lucile Packard Foundation, this program helps the girls develop positive relationship with peers as well as adults.     
  • SMART Leaders: The main objective of this program is to reinforce the skills and knowledge learnt in SMART Moves. It encourages the kids to help their peers and develop resistance against alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. It also helps to instill leadership skills among the members.
  • Passport To Manhood: The program comprises of 14 sessions which revolve around different aspects of manhood. The staff engages young boys (11 and 14 years) in discussion activities related to responsibilities, code of conduct, behavior etc.
  • Triple Play's Healthy Habits: The club organizes this program to incorporate healthy living and active learning among kids of age 6-15 years. Triple Play's Healthy Habits encourages the youth to include good nutrition and physical activities in their daily regime. It aims at improving overall health of the kids.  
For more information about the health skills programs organized by Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas, you can call at (254) 699 – 5808.

How Kids Benefit From After-School Programs

9. June 2016 Administrator Child Care (0)
Apart from the routine activities at school, it is imperative that your child gets involved in an after-school program to fully develop his personality. These can help to hone the hidden talents of your child. Textbooks alone cannot suffice for the practical experience that your child requires to be successful in life. There is a need to move beyond and let your child specialize in something that he loves.

Kids clubs in Texas offer after-school education, art and sports programs. Depending on the interest of your child, you can get him enrolled in any of these activities that can assist him in nurturing his skills further.

Given below are some of the advantages of after-school programs for kids:

  • Improve academic performance: The tutoring services offered at the club can help the child complete his homework and clarify the doubts that he may have about any topic. The staff provides a fun and interactive learning environment to develop children’s interest in studies. This eventually leads to an improvement in the academic performance that gets reflected in the grades of your children.
  • Boost self-esteem: In an after-school program, your child can gain exposure to new things which can expand his areas of interest. Becoming an expert in a new art form or sports activity can boost a child’s self-esteem which is important for his overall personality development. He may even multiply his career opportunities with the myriad choices he gets to explore in an after-school program.
  • A great socialization tool: Another important benefit of after-school programs is that they offer a great opportunity for kids to socialize and make new friends. Children get involved in various sports activities and this helps them in learning the importance of teamwork and co-operation.
  • Decrease emotional and behavioral problems: Interaction with other children of the same age group decreases shyness and aggressive behavior in children. They become emotionally more stable and develop a positive connection with the staff as well as kids at the after-school program. Children also learn to be respectful to others and listen to their advice.
  • Promote physical well-being: Your child will also get a chance to get involved in various physical activities in an after-school program. Football, basketball, swimming and other sports help in keeping the children physically active and building endurance. The staff at many kids clubs also educates the children about healthy habits and provides them with the requisite nutrition guidance as well.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas organizes various outdoor activities for kids aged between 6 and 18 years. To get your child enrolled in any of the programs offered by the club, you can call at (254) 699 – 5808 or visit 304 W Ave B, Killeen, TX – 76541.

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.

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.