Basketball is a popular game among children and adults. It assists in being physically fit, encourages teamwork, develops leadership and communication skills, relieves mental stress and channelizes energy towards a positive goal. Getting your child familiar with basketball at a younger age inculcates a sense of discipline and imparts many essential life skills.

Here are some benefits of enrolling your child in basketball:

• Physical Activity: Basketball requires a player to be quick and prompt. It involves a lot of jumping, squatting and running. These movements are good cardiovascular workout for improving the physical health of children. Playing basketball also helps to strengthen muscles, improve aerobic capacity, increase flexibility and boost metabolism.
• Boosts Motor Skills: The dribbling, twisting, throwing and catching involved in basketball uses various muscle groups of the arms, calf and thighs. Thus, the child is able to gain a better control over his limbs and improve motor skills such as hand eye co-ordination.
• Improves Agility: Basketball is a rapid sport in which players need to be on their feet and take quick decisions about turning or changing directions. Besides physical fitness, the player also becomes mentally agile which, in turn, develops body control and influences movement.
• Inculcates Self-Discipline: Learning to follow a set of rules and strategies to play basketball inculcates a sense of self-discipline in children. The child learns to follow the coach’s instructions and play the game in a healthy spirit, a quality that helps the child succeed in many other spheres of life.
• Instills Teamwork: In the game of basketball, all the players need to work together as a group for the team to succeed. Each of them has an equal contribution towards the success of the team. Whether it is about passing the ball, participating in practice sessions or jointly discussing game strategy, children learn the importance of teamwork and the usefulness of this skill for the entire life.
• Hobby: Learning the sport at a young age can help develop lifelong interest in it. Thus, the child can enjoy playing the game at any age and be physically fit.

Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas offers basketball games for kids in Texas. The club organizes different leagues for kids of various age groups. To know more about the eligibility requirements and enrolment criteria for the basketball programs, you can call at (254) 699 – 5808 or visit the club at 304 W Ave B, Killeen, TX – 76541.

Summer vacation is a time for teens to develop skills, learn a hobby and explore their creative side. A teenager should be encouraged to pick up any sport, skill or art to master while his free time during the vacations. Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas organizes a summer music camp in association with the Texas Folk Music Foundation. The camp enrolls teens aged 13 to 18 years and provides them with a platform to discover various forms of poetry and music. Whether they want to learn new instruments, compose music or write lyrics, professional artists mentor the youth and encourage them.

Here are some of the benefits your teenager can have by enrolling in the summer music camp at the club:

• Positive Attitude: Participating in music activities and discovering their hidden talent can help youth develop a positive attitude. It enhances their confidence and perception of their own self. Learning with their peers also removes any shyness or stage fright.

• Increased Coordination: Music camps help in the overall development of the brain. Creating music involves using the left side of the brain and playing a musical instrument uses the right side. When kids do both, it helps them refine their neurological skills, which is beneficial throughout life.

• Group Cohesiveness: When youth are involved in-group music activities, they become supportive of each other and develop a sense of cohesiveness. They work together to achieving the same goal and are more committed towards each other. They learn how to work with one another and this promotes friendships and social skills.

• Goal Setting: Music is learnt with efficient planning, dedication and commitment. teenagers needs to frame a strategy, write notes and compose melody to execute a successful piece of art. This reinforces the ability to set goals and channelizing efforts towards its attainment.

• Resilience: Music camps allow the teen to step out of their comfort zone and try something new that they are interested in. It helps them overcome their hesitation and teaches them to try new things.

To enroll your teen with the summer music camp organized by Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas, you can call at (254) 699 - 5808 or contact Ms. Phyllis Shaw (Administrative Assistant) at 304 W Ave B, Killeen, TX – 76541.

Indoor activities should be encouraged by parents to instill creativity in their child. These activities come with the added advantage of not being affected by the weather conditions outside.  Children can learn various fun indoor activities that enhance their skills and help them discover hidden talents.

Some indoor activities for kids include:

• Arts and craft: One of the interesting indoor activities that most children like is arts and craft. This encourages their creativity and imagination along with offering them a chance to express themselves. Various art and craft competitions are also organized for kids to help them identify their hidden talents and creativity. They learn to paint, draw, sketch, color and stitch which are interesting hobbies and some useful life skills too.
• Photography: This is another fun filled indoor activity that kids enjoy. Registering for a photography class gives the children a chance to learn basic skills. It also encourages them to participate in various photography competitions. Photography promotes thinking in different perspectives and can also become a child’s hobby.
• Digital arts: Children can also learn various digital arts such as web page design, graphics, animation etc. These are really useful in today's highly technically advanced environment and can be picked up as a profession too. The children can also learn skills to make videos, edit and design.
• Music: An indoor activity that appeals to children of all age groups is music. It helps them be creative and encourages them to be expressive. This can also assist in developing a life long hobby or discovering a hidden talent. Professionals mentor the children and help them learn a new instrument, write lyrics or sing a song.
• Drama or theater: Children can also participate in theater and drama workshops to learn and display their acting skills. They enact plays and perform shows, which help them have insight into the world of acting. Such activities help the children gain confidence and overcome their stage fright. During workshops, kids interact with the mentors and learn new skills from them. The children are also encouraged to participate in competition by offering them training and appreciation.

These activities encourage children to be expressive, creative and constructive. It also helps them communicate their thoughts and build new friendships.

For more information, contact Boys & Girls Clubs Of Central Texas at (254) 699 - 5808.