Category: Outdoor Play

Are your children getting enough sleep?

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As adults, we know the importance of sleep and how bad we feel when we don’t get enough of it.  But kids don’t quite get this and are constantly engaged in a battle with their parents to be up later and sleep less. While giving in to them and letting them have the odd late night isn’t going to have a serious impact, consistently not getting enough sleep has been connected with a number of other problems as well as declining results at school.  But are your kids getting enough sleep?

Importance of sleep on education

Everyone needs a different amount of sleep and the activities of the day can also have an effect on this. There are also two types of sleep – NREM and REM.  NREM sleep, or non-rapid eye movement is also called quiet sleep and this is where the energy levels are restored, the body works on any repairs that are needed and the hormones controlling growth and development are sent out into the body. The other type, REM or rapid eye movement sleep is known as active sleep – this is the time when we dream and our brains are active but at the same time, our bodies are immobile with both breathing and heart rates being irregular.

A baby spends around half of their sleep times in each of these states and each sleep time is around 50 minutes long.  By the age of six months, REM sleep accounts for around 30% of the sleep time and by preschool age, this sleep time reaches around 90 minutes at a time.

As a general rule, for the first two months of life, a baby needs anywhere from 10 to 18 hours sleep a night.  From two to twelve months, this levels out to 14-15 hours and between one and three years, this falls to 12-14 hours.  Once they reach three to five years, around 12 hours is about right while in junior school years from five to twelve, 10 or 11 hours will normally suffice.

Sleep becomes even more important when kids reach school age. A good night’s sleep ensures they can pay better attention at school, be more creative and even come up with new ideas in class.  They will be better at solving problems and more sociable with other kids and adults.  They can even fight off illness better.  On the turn side, if they don’t sleep enough, they are liable to forget what they learn, be bad tempered and lack the energy to play games or sports. They won’t have any patience with others and their attention span will suffer.

Tips

One of the big tips for a good night sleep for younger kids is to have a good sleep routine.  This means that kids know what to expect, what is going to happen and when they will be going to sleep.  One example from the Sleep for Kids website is along the lines of:

Have supper, a light snack

Take a bath or shower then put in pyjamas or other sleepwear

Brush teeth

Read a story in a room that is quiet and at a comfortable temperature

Put the child into bed, say goodnight and leave the room

Repeat this routine each night and avoid watching TV or videos just before they go into the routine.  This is shown to make going to sleep more difficult so ensure they do something non-stimulating before bed.

Don’t use bed as a negative, telling them they are going to bed if they don’t do or stop doing something – this makes going to bed a bad thing and will make them want to find ways not to do it.  Also, try to show that everyone in the house is getting ready for bed as kids often want to stay up for fear of missing out on something.  If they think everyone else is getting ready for bed, this can lessen the urge to find ways to stay downstairs and awake.

How to deal with Hayfever

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When the summer sun is high in the sky, we all feel better and have more energy.  That is, of course, unless you are one of those unfortunate people for whom summer means just one thing – hayfever.  For kids, it can be even worse as all they want to do is play outside and enjoy the warm weather but their own bodies work against them.  So what can be done to help children with hay fever during a children’s party?

Symptoms

Hayfever typically started when kids are around seven years old and is worst from this age until they are in their teens.  Others retain the sensitivity into their adult years.  The symptoms are familiar to all of us, whether as suffers ourselves or seeing someone who is – sore and itchy eyes and a runny nose, sometimes the eyes, as well as lots of sneezing.  Nose bleeds are a common symptom as the lining of the nose is scratched and rubbed.

Hayfever season can start as early as March and finish as late as October and the symptoms are easy to confuse with a virus – the main way to tell the different is the length of time involved.  Normally a virus will last a week or two but if symptoms continue longer than this, it is more likely that the child is suffering from hayfever.

Around two thirds of sufferers of hayfever also experience problems sleeping due to the condition.  Nicknamed ‘insneezia’ this is the symptoms normally experienced during the day breaking up sleep on a night as the allergens settle in the cooling air. This can range from itchy eyes and a blocked nose to waking up sneezing.

Diagnosing

Having the hayfever diagnosed by your doctor is an important step to dealing with the condition.  This is primarily in case the cause of the condition isn’t hayfever but an allergy to something else the child is encountering.

It is also important to find out whether the child has the seasonal or perennial type of the condition.  This is because there are some other nasty symptoms that can accompany the perennial version that need to be watched out for.  These include sinusitis, where the cavities within the skull fill with fluid and cause pain and infection.  Younger kids can also get glue ear from this that can result in temporary hearing loss.

Usually, diagnosis by a doctor will involve a few tests such as an examination of the nose to see what is causing the allergy and if hayfever is to blame.  On occasions, an in-depth examination may be needed.

Triggers

The most common trigger of hayfever is allergens from grass, trees and plants.  This seems to effect kids while at school, due to the proximity to school fields.  Some sufferers are affected by a certain type of pollen and have a ‘season’ during which they suffer.  Others can be sensitive to a range of allergens and therefore have the symptoms during the entire year.

People with an allergy to tree pollen such as birch trees tend to find their conditions are worst in the spring while those allergic to grass pollens are worst in the summer.  Others can be effected by moulds, which result in symptoms all year around.

Treatment

Treatment for hayfever is crucial for kids to be able to make the most of spring and summer and minimalize their suffering from the allergens. If left untreated, it can even lead to other serious conditions such as asthma and could lead to the child being afraid to go outside due to the discomfort they experience

Treatment starts with medication.  These include nasal steroid sprays and drops that treat the inflammation caused by the condition without absorbing very much of the drug into the system.  Eye drops are also an important part of treating kids with hayfever.  It is best to administered these when kids are lying down, adding a drop to each eye and letting the blink reflex do the rest.

Of the medication normally given, antihistamines are the most well-known and can be bought from shops and pharmacies without prescription.  Some can make users drowsy but most will state on the packaging if they are non-drowsy.  There is tablet form but also liquids or syrups for younger kids and a pharmacist can offer their advice if you are unsure which type is right for your child.

Advice for preventing symptoms

Over the years, hayfever sufferers have tried all sorts of ways to ease the symptoms of the condition and some have proven to be quite effective.  These include staying indoors until after noon where possible to reduce the exposure to the allergen and wearing sunglasses to help protect the eyes.  Many people avoid going outside when grass is being cut, particularly in their own garden and avoiding being outside on windy days or in the aftermath of a thunderstorm when there is a higher amount of allergens in the air.  When your kids come home, consider either bathing their eyes with a wet washer or even having a shower to clear away any pollen that may have adhered to them while travelling home.

Some families have planted low allergen plants in their gardens while others have found and removed any plants that their child is particularly sensitive to.  Keep the windows closed in their bedroom and when driving in the car and use re-circulating options on the air conditioning to stop the allergen getting into the car in the first place. Parents have also found that hanging clothes up to dry in the house stops pollen from collecting on them to then be worn or put on the bed of a hayfever sufferer.

Outdoor party ideas for children

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1. Kids Olympics Party

Cabin fever may be setting in after all the April showers and being stuck in school, so get the kids outside and burn off some energy! Tap into their competitive side and set up a Kids Olympics party! “Active” is the name of the game with this theme. Discus throws (using Frisbees), obstacle courses, balance beams, or hula hoop contests are great choices for a children’s Olympics Party. You can also encourage teamwork with relay races or a team sport like whiffle ball or kickball. At the end of the party, give away small prizes or even have a medal ceremony to bring the festivities to a close!

2. Sensory Party

Younger children are always curious about the world around them. Why not embrace it and host a Sensory Party? Tell your guests to wear some “play clothes” or provide souvenir T-shirts. Then, prepare to get messy! Set up stations that help kids explore all five senses. For example, a sand creation table will let kids make art out of brightly-coloured sand. It also helps them use their visual creativity to make something unique! Auditory stations can include simple instruments like drums or recorders. Since it’s outside, the sound won’t drive you as crazy! Or, make some Rainbow Foam for a tactile station. It’s easy to make and allows children to get messy while exploring a fun texture.  Just remember, the messier the better for your outdoor kid’s party ideas!

 3. Just Add Water Party

Looking for a way to cool off in the summer heat? Just add water! Have your guests bring their swimsuits, towels, and sunscreen for a day of fun in the sun. Activities like Slip n’ Slides or sprinklers are easy ways to add a little H2O to your outdoor party. 

4. Animal Party

While we’re all fans of furry creatures, sometimes the thought of having them inside is a little daunting. That’s why animals are the perfect addition to an outdoor party! Does your child dream of riding a pony or holding a hedgehog? An animal party can deliver! Most petting zoos or pony parties only need a small amount of space outside, like your garden. Reptile shows are great for Jurassic Park or jungle-themed parties. The animals are usually enough to hold the kids’ attention, but animal games can be a just as fun! 

Musical Chairs. Each time the music stops and a child is out, designate them as “it” and let them choose their favourite animal. If they say “horse,” the remaining kids can gallop around the circle of chairs until the music stops. Kids love animals, so this party should be a hit!

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5. Outdoor Movie Night Party 

Bring the movies to your garden! Your kids and their friends of all ages will love being able to pile onto blankets in the grass and watch a family-friendly film. Rent your own outdoor movie screen or make your own by stringing up a white painter’s canvas. Most rented screens come with a projector, or you can buy a decent one for around £100. Not a bad investment if you plan to use it a few times throughout the summer! Set up a movie snack bar with popcorn and classic sweet choices. Set up tin buckets filled with ice and bottled pop to bring out the nostalgic vibe. Outdoor kids party ideas don’t have to be complicated; sometimes it’s just about spending time together

Traditional Sports day

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For as long as many of us can remember sports day has always resided at every school in the summer months showing off pupil’s talents at physical education. Parents, teachers and children alike congregate on a school field or local green patch for an afternoon of races and related fun. The concept of sports day has always been straight forward fun for all the family. However, when looking in to the event more closely the activity of sports day could in fact have other effects on the children which are not as welcoming as the element of fun. Looking at each aspect in turn we can learn the inside scoop of what sports day is really about.

The Children

Children love nothing more than to let off some steam by running around with their friends and having lots of fun. Running races and playing games can be seen as great fun from a child’s perspective. Boundless energy and no limitations of what people think of them make them great at enjoying themselves actively. Yet on the introduction of rules and competition are put in place the fun factor could be sufficiently reduced. The reduction in the key element of fun can leave children restless and a little unwilling to take part as it is not what they consider fun. On the flip side if managed properly the fun element can be stay intact and the children will be more cooperative in the races planned.

The Teachers

Along with the education side of schooling teachers are also obligated to encourage children to take part in physical education. P E lessons are part of the school curriculum and are compulsory to all pupils until later on in their education. Many children don’t enjoy these lessons so sports day is a good example of making sports fun. Organising novel races such as the egg and spoon race help children to forget about the fact they are taking part in physical education.

Competition in sports activities for kids can be taken either way in a discussion. First of all, not all children have the capability to be as sporty as others. Having asthma for example can limit the distance they can run substantially in a race either short or long distance. Therefore, instantly giving others an unfair advantage which isn’t the child’s fault. On the other side competition is healthy and can give children that extra little push that they need to win the race.

The Parents

Parents can be divided into 2 categories, pushy parents or proud parents.  Children’s sports day can mean different things to different families. The proud parents are supportive of their children and promote the thinking of doing the best that they can. Even though a child may not win the race the parent is full of pride that they did the best they could and praise them for it. Pushy parents are of the nature that their child is and will be the best no matter what. Whether it entails any praise or no praise at all the child must win the race at all costs.

Status of families can also be reflected in the competitions as pushy parents do not want other families seeing their child lose. Leaving a supposed image on the family. Although this aspect of parenting is frowned upon it is too commonly found in schools to be ignored.

Healthy Competition

Learning about competition can be very productive towards a child’s development. Knowing that other children may be better at some things than themselves can help children get the motivation they need to work harder. This motivation gives more satisfaction to get the job done. Many children strive to make their parents proud or at least to do it for themselves. With the support of families any and all hard work that goes in to the end result can be highly beneficial. Children pushing themselves to be all that they can be is a great start for methods which can be used much later in life to their advantage.

In it to win it or the taking part?

Once again this issue always comes to conflict between many different people. Some competitors are simply in the event to win it whereas others just want the opportunity to take part and have a go. On some occasions sports day can be seen as being too competitive although essentially it is put in place to aid a healthy development. Taking part in events is a positive experience on a child’s social development which is also key to their cognitive functions. Being able to be social with others is a skill most valued in a child’s upbringing. Though competition is essential to push motivation the taking part in the event counts both morally and physically.

Make summer holidays educational

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School Holidays has there ever been a more magical combination of words to a child’s ears? A time to play, a time to explore and a time to learn?

Most children will balk at the idea of studying during the half term. With friends outside beckoning in the park and plenty of cartoons on the television, school work may be the last thing on your little one’s mind. That said, there are plenty of ways to incorporate education into a fun and exciting day out for children or afternoon at home.

Take it outside 

Summer is here, and there are plenty of learning opportunities in the back garden, in the park or by any body of water. Going for a splash in the creek can yield the magic of frog spawn, and an excellent time to revise biology. Inspecting new buds and fresh grass are great times to explain photosynthesis, and a visit to the petting area yields a perfect opportunity to talk genus and species. No matter what science or nature topic is being covered in class, chances are the great outdoors is your ultimate study buddy.  

Inside learning fun.

All child friendly attractions and museums offer special half term programmes for children of all ages, usually at no charge. Keen to explore history? A museum may be for you and your brood. Perhaps a jaunt into the belly of whale? Definitely the Natural History Museum Arts and culture? How about the Tate? Even niche topics such as human pathology and zoology are covered in the UK’s fascinating museums. What your child learns in a museum will complement and contextualise their studies – and provide for a good family day out.

Make a Game of it 

Turning an otherwise dry or dull subject into a fun game is the perfect way to bring schoolwork alive. Family living room quiz shows with fun prizes, board games and even small skits and plays can all turn a topic they are bored of into a fun and exciting play activity. Before you know it, they’ll be begging for their Shakespeare lessons. 

Get Crafty 

Fancy snuggling up indoors during half term instead of venturing outside? A fun way to encourage revision is to provide a table filled with exciting craft supplies – pipe cleaners, sparkly stickers, crepe paper and more – and help your kids to create wondrous masterpieces related to their studies. It’s easy to sneak in some stories and facts while colouring a Georgian mansion or building a model ship. They’ll be learning and they won’t even know it.

Hosting an outdoor children’s party

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Providing the weather holds, there is nothing more exciting for children than an outdoor party. Rather than being cooped up inside, the fresh air and additional space will do your guests good and give them new terrain to explore. Here are a few top tips if you’re thinking about hosting a children’s party in the garden or a hired outdoor space:

Plenty of food
An array of party foods will go down a treat. Try to ensure that you:

• Balance healthy and sugary snacks, avoiding too many E numbers
• Keep fluid levels up with regular drinks, particularly on hot days
• Provide shaded seating while children are eating

Games
No party is complete without games, and being outdoors will give you plenty of scope. Depending on the size of your garden and the age of the kids attending you could also arrange a:

• Treasure hunt
• Water balloon battle (best to advise for kids to have a change of clothes with them though)
• Messy flour and water game – where you have 2 tubs (one filled with water and the other with flour.) The kids have to use only their mouth to ‘fish’ out a sweet in a tub full of water and then they have to do the same in a tub of flour. Only once they do it with flour, they will end up with their faces covered in it- loads of fun!!! They must keep their hands behind their back at all times!
• Relay race
• Talent show – get the kids into groups and give them ideas of what they could do e.g. sing, do a funk dance they make up for themselves, a mini play, a mini x factor style competition, or whatever they like.
• Obstacle course – another fun idea is to set up some pegs either side of the garden with string either side and tell the kids that the string are laser beams that they have to crawl under, like a spy or just a cool obstacle course game. If you have garden toys, e.g. a slide (where they have to slide down the slide before coming back through the ‘laser beam maze’ or paddling pool (where they have to fish something out of the pool full of water and bring it back through the laser beam maze).

With a bit of imagination – a lot of fun can be had!!!

Kids Party Entertainment
Professional children’s entertainers can really take the pressure off you as a host as well as making the birthday boy or girl feel really special. We have plenty of entertainment packages that are perfect for a spring party or birthday celebrations.
Children’s party entertainers bring so much fun to any party and can include some great activities such as:

• Magic tricks
• Puppet shows
• Comedy
• Musical or dance-based activities
• Balloon modelling
• Exciting themes
• Science parties
• Clowns
• Discos and more

Children’s Party Themes
Introducing a theme can pull all of the above elements together. For example, if your children’s entertainers will be doing magic tricks, a magician or wizard theme goes down well. The children can dress up as their favourite character and the food and games could have a magical theme incorporated too. If you’re planning an outdoor treasure hunt, guests could come dressed as pirates and your children’s entertainers can include a cool pirate theme throughout.

Skateboard Party

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This was done for a 9-year-old boy’s birthday who was made about skateboards. There were girls and boys.  The theme was Skateboard Olympics. 

Invite: 

Cut-outs of skateboards telling them to skate on over to “name” 9th Birthday bash! I asked them to bring their skateboards or rollerblades and safety equipment. As each child arrived they got a large # for the back of their shirt and a score card that listed all the activities that they were going to be judged on. 

Games: 

There was a ramp and as they were called they got 2 chanced to freestyle on the ramp, a few of the guests were chosen as judges and they held up large numbers, their scores were wrote on their score cards, etc.  

The 2nd was a bean bag toss on the skateboards, the buckets had points on them and they got 2 chances to make it in to the bucket of their choice, the scores were put on their cards, 

3rd activity was skateboard limbo, the each time the stick dropped they got 5 points, their totals were put on the score cards, 

4th was Skateboard trick, again we used the judges and score cards. After all of that was done they were totalled them up while they were hitting the skateboard piñata.  

They played balloon pop (kids used their heads and a needle) they picked a balloon 1-20 and that’s the one they had to pop. The balloons were filled with, water, flour, confetti, skateboard cut-outs that had on the back what they won, etc. It was a lot of fun! 

A skateboard shaped cake and sub sandwiches. After the gifts and cake was done they had all of the kids sit in a circle so they could have an award ceremony and pictures. The birthday boy gave award & prizes out as their names were called, and they took their picture with the Birthday boy.

Prizes:

Computer made certificates, ribbons, mini trophies, skate board keychains, ramps, grab bags, etc. at the end of the award ceremony the Birthday boy tossed confetti on everyone it was great.