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Benefits Of Drama Education

16. May 2018 Administrator Kids Activities (0)
The incorporation of drama education in schools has the potential of bringing up profound changes in the academic performance of a student in addition to building vital individual skills. Drama education benefits students on a physical, emotional and social level.

Let’s take a look at some major benefits of drama education:

  • Increases Self-Confidence: Drama education makes students comfortable with facing unfamiliar situations and people. Drama expands their horizons and helps them think outside the box. Students become more confident about their ideas and abilities in school, at the workplace later in life and in the society. Participating in dramas is a boon for introvert and reserved children.
  • Creativity: Drama education promotes creative thinking in students. They are open to trying out new ideas and looking at things from different angles. Drama boosts their imaginative faculties and expression.
  • Working As A Team: Students who are engaged in drama at school learn to look at things from the perspective of others. This instils a sense of cooperation in them. They learn how to hold healthy discussions with others and how to gracefully accept feedback from others.
  • Improved Communication Skills: Verbal and non-verbal communication are an essential part of drama education. Students in this field have to work on their vocal projection, expressions, articulation and tone. This tremendously improves their communication, listening and observation skills.
  • Reduces Stress: Drama is a wonderful stress buster for students. It creates a playful and energized atmosphere. Drama students are usually a humorous and motivated lot. They get a chance to release all their aggression and tension filled emotions in a safe and structured way. It helps them come to terms with their own emotions in a more mature way.
  • Sharper Memory: Remembering the lines and movements in drama workout the brain and improves memory.
  • Empathy: As students play the role of different people in their drama class, they become aware and sensitive towards the feelings of others. Being empathetic makes them better citizens and caring humans.
  • Better Health: Drama education not only boosts the mental faculties but also the physical ones. Performers are required to make intensive movements over a long period of time. This improves their flexibility and coordination.
  • Adaptability: Drama teaches students to quickly adapt to a given situation and improvise. They foster the habit of thinking quickly and communicating flawlessly with the audience. They learn how to take any unexpected situation in their stride and take hold of a situation.

Thus, the benefits of drama education go far beyond the classroom into the daily lives of students. Drama education not only boosts confidence in students, it also promotes self-discipline, a spirit of overcoming obstacles, communication and language skills and much more.

We, at Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas, offer a wide range of 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 Is Music Training Beneficial For Kids

15. March 2018 Administrator Kids Activities (0)
Music education early in life has been proven to help children attain their maximum cognitive, social and creative potential. Children with musical training exhibit improvement in speech, reading, comprehension, expression and more. This is primarily due to the activation of nearly the entire neural subsystem in the brain caused by musical activity. Given the impact of music on brain and how that reflects in a child’s academic performance and social behavior, it is worth being incorporated as a part of child’s curriculum.

Let’s take a look at the benefits of musical education in detail:

1. Language Development
Music greatly improves the reading, speaking and understanding faculties of a child as it develops the left side of the brain which is responsible for processing language.  It works on a child’s phonological ability helping him/her identify the beginning and end of syllables and words better. Musically trained kids learn new words faster and develop a richer vocabulary. They also start reading sooner than their peers.

2. Creativity
Engaging kids in musical activity improves the communication between the right and left hemispheres of their brains. This fosters creativity. Creativity is one of the top five skills that modern day employers consider when recruiting. Thus it can be safely concluded that children with higher creativity might have brighter futures in the work arena.

3. Empathy And Social Awareness    
The link between music and empathy can be attributed to better verbal intelligence as a result of playing music. A child’s ability to listen and identify nuances of speech makes him sensitive to the slightest changes in the human voice indicating mood and emotion. Empathy and social awareness help a child thrive at home, at school and at work as an adult.

4. Higher IQ And Improved Academic Performance
Kids involved in a music education program tend to perform better at school, have higher IQ and better working memory than kids who don’t. Improved working memory helps kids in mental arithmetic and reading comprehension. These kids are more focused and self-disciplined.

5. Health And Resilience
Introducing kids to music at a young age develops a life-long love for the art and this keeps them mentally agile as they age. With improved cognitive function, their brains are better at recovering from neurological problems like autism, Parkinson’s disease, stuttering and delays the onset of dementia.

6. Active Brain
The brains of children engaged in music education have higher neural activity than the brains of those who are not into musical training. Playing a musical instrument makes the brain work harder as a consequence of which it stays smarter and sharper.

7. Stress Relief
Musical training provides the much needed release that kids need after a stressful day at school. It is a mental retreat of sorts. Music uplifts the mood and relaxes the brain. It is a fulfilling and calming activity.

We, at Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas, offer a wide range of 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 Sports Help In Reducing Stress

12. February 2018 Administrator Kids Activities (0)
The fast paced times we live in have almost made it normal to feel stressed. However, curbing stress and its ill effects is the need of the hour for maintaining a healthy mind and body. One great way of reducing stress, is to participate in sports. From academic stress to peer pressure, children might be bound by various stress factors. This is why it is extremely essential for kids to participate in sports to ensure their physical, mental and emotional well-being. Here’s how this works:

• Release Of Endorphins
Both group and solitary sports activities have been proven to stimulate the production of neurotransmitters called endorphins. These brain chemicals have been shown to give a high and instantly boost ones mood. This feeling is also referred to as “runner’s high”. High levels of endorphins are associated with a positive mood and decreased pain and stress.

• Better Mental Health
Regular exercise and participation in sports has immense physical and mental benefits. By reducing levels of stress, playing sports can help in warding off symptoms of depression and anxiety. People who participate in sports report having better sleep at night than those who don’t. Lack of sleep has been shown to exuberate levels of anxiety. Good quality sleep inevitably results into a general sense of well-being and less stress.

• Breaking The Negative Loop
Participation in sports forces a person to cut the loop of negative thoughts that lead to stress. Sports encourage a person to interact with others and step out of the mind for a while. Such a disconnection from stressful thoughts helps one move towards better thought patterns with the help of increased levels of the hormone oxytocin. Team sports are specially great for reducing stress. After an invigorating sports session, a person feels motivated, energized and ready to take on any problems that come their way with a fresh attitude.

• Increased Self-Worth
A low feeling of self-worth is directly proportional to the levels of stress. People with low self-esteem usually find themselves feeling stressed about the minutest of things. Surprisingly, low self-esteem has a strong connection with an inactive lifestyle. Being active in a sport of your choice will help in increasing self-confidence and foster a feeling of being worthwhile. When you feel nice about yourself from within you are ready to face daily challenges with a bright smile and brave attitude. A positive frame of mind will lead to you stressing less about mundane stuff.

• Prevents Stress Eating
Lack of physical activity inevitably leads to an increase in stress hormones in the body. Many people have a tendency to overeat or indulge in excessive sweet foods to get rid of stressful feelings. However, this only provides temporary relief. Engaging in a sports activity during leisure time helps in burning extra calories and building muscles. The release of good hormones as against the bad ones leads to making better food choices. So, it can be safely concluded that sports also help in maintaining weight and improving food habits that might deteriorate due to stress and a sedentary lifestyle.

We, at Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas, offer a wide range of 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 Sports Help In Reducing Stress

12. February 2018 Administrator Kids Activities (0)
The fast paced times we live in have almost made it normal to feel stressed. However, curbing stress and its ill effects is the need of the hour for maintaining a healthy mind and body. One great way of reducing stress, is to participate in sports. From academic stress to peer pressure, children might be bound by various stress factors. This is why it is extremely essential for kids to participate in sports to ensure their physical, mental and emotional well-being. Here’s how this works:

• Release Of Endorphins
Both group and solitary sports activities have been proven to stimulate the production of neurotransmitters called endorphins. These brain chemicals have been shown to give a high and instantly boost ones mood. This feeling is also referred to as “runner’s high”. High levels of endorphins are associated with a positive mood and decreased pain and stress.

• Better Mental Health
Regular exercise and participation in sports has immense physical and mental benefits. By reducing levels of stress, playing sports can help in warding off symptoms of depression and anxiety. People who participate in sports report having better sleep at night than those who don’t. Lack of sleep has been shown to exuberate levels of anxiety. Good quality sleep inevitably results into a general sense of well-being and less stress.

• Breaking The Negative Loop
Participation in sports forces a person to cut the loop of negative thoughts that lead to stress. Sports encourage a person to interact with others and step out of the mind for a while. Such a disconnection from stressful thoughts helps one move towards better thought patterns with the help of increased levels of the hormone oxytocin. Team sports are specially great for reducing stress. After an invigorating sports session, a person feels motivated, energized and ready to take on any problems that come their way with a fresh attitude.

• Increased Self-Worth
A low feeling of self-worth is directly proportional to the levels of stress. People with low self-esteem usually find themselves feeling stressed about the minutest of things. Surprisingly, low self-esteem has a strong connection with an inactive lifestyle. Being active in a sport of your choice will help in increasing self-confidence and foster a feeling of being worthwhile. When you feel nice about yourself from within you are ready to face daily challenges with a bright smile and brave attitude. A positive frame of mind will lead to you stressing less about mundane stuff.

• Prevents Stress Eating
Lack of physical activity inevitably leads to an increase in stress hormones in the body. Many people have a tendency to overeat or indulge in excessive sweet foods to get rid of stressful feelings. However, this only provides temporary relief. Engaging in a sports activity during leisure time helps in burning extra calories and building muscles. The release of good hormones as against the bad ones leads to making better food choices. So, it can be safely concluded that sports also help in maintaining weight and improving food habits that might deteriorate due to stress and a sedentary lifestyle.

We, at Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas, offer a wide range of 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.

Keeping Your Kids Active In Winter

7. December 2017 Administrator Kids Activities (0)
Everything slows down in winters. Our little kids are no exception. All they want to do is coop up indoors and watch their favorite shows on television or play a thrilling video game. The question is, are there better things to do in winters? Yes. There are plenty of fun activities to keep your child active, healthy and happy in winters.

Here is a look at some -

Enroll Them In Clubs - The best way to keep your kids active and energetic is to enroll them in various clubs and activities. This not only provides children an opportunity to learn necessary skills but also keeps them busy and occupied with something that is purposeful. You can make your kids join any of the following programs-

  • Art and music classes
  • Character & leadership building programs
  • Sports, fitness & recreation clubs
  • Health & life skill workshops

Indoor Playgrounds - There’s no need to feel stuck indoors on a cold winter day. Indoor playgrounds are a life saver for both parents and kids. They have lots of interactive games and fun activities like:

  • Obstacle courses
  • Tunnel slides
  • Themed giant inflatables e.g. princess castle, batman, fire engine, etc.
  • Arcade games

Sweat Together - Have a fun workout session with your kids. You can check out an exercise video online. This way not only do you learn new fitness moves together, but are also instilling into your child a wonderful habit of exercising. You are teaching them a great way of utilizing their indoor time.

Ice Skating - Visit a local skating rink. It is a superb winter activity for working on your child’s balance and coordination. It also builds up a kid’s strength in addition to being a heart pumping workout.
You can even plan an ice skating party for your kids. There are various ice skating games for kids such as:

  • Four corners
  • Freeze skate
  • Gliders
  • Skate chain
  • Ice potato

Tobogganing – If you can, send your little one tobogganing on a nearby snow covered hill. It is great if there are a bunch of kids to have maximum fun. Every kid sliding down that snow-laden hill will have a beaming smile and a hearty laugh which can brighten any winter day!

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.