Tips to Fill Your Day with Active Play

10/3/2016

As the busy school year progresses, it can be challenging for families to find time to play and stay active together. Don’t let barriers get in the way of keeping kids active during the school year. Instead, turn those barriers to play into opportunities to get active with these four tips.

Tips to Fill Your Day with Active Play

(Family Features) As the busy school year progresses, it can be challenging for families to find time to play and stay active together. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that kids participate in 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day, but unfortunately this isn’t always what they are getting.

Play is an important part of a child’s physical, emotional and social development, yet many external factors can quickly become barriers to active play including busy schedules, technology and the costs of sports equipment. A survey conducted by Dr Pepper Snapple Group’s Let’s Play initiative, which is dedicated to getting kids and their families active, found that only 33 percent of children are participating in active play daily, down from 41 percent in 2015.

Don’t let barriers get in the way of keeping kids active during the school year. Instead, turn those barriers to play into opportunities to get active with the following tips.

Fill down time with play time: Children’s active play time is impacted by busy schedules – 64 percent of parents said busy schedules were a barrier to play this year, up from 56 percent in 2015. Active play doesn’t have to happen all at once; it can be spread out through the day so try fitting it in when you can, even if it’s in 10-minute increments. Waiting with your kids at a bus stop? Make it active by playing a game of Simon Says. Need 10 minutes to get ready to leave the house? Send the kids outside to play before loading up the car.

Make DIY toys: Sports equipment can be pricey to purchase and maintain. Instead of breaking the bank, try recycling objects around the house to make them into toys. You can make old socks into a hacky-sack game by filling them with beans or fill balloons with sand and create a fun game where you toss the balloons into buckets.

Get wired for play: According to the survey, 78 percent of parents said their children spend more than 30 minutes on an average day watching television and 71 percent said their children spend that time on a computer, smartphone or other device. Instead of letting technology get in the way, incorporate play into their time with technology. Have your child play an active video game that encourages players to move around their environment or try playing a game between TV commercials, such as tag or hide and seek. It can also help to set a limit for how long your child can use the computer or watch TV per day.

Be your kid’s playmate: According to the survey, 53 percent of parents said having no playmates was a barrier to their child’s play. No one likes to play alone, so when siblings and friends aren’t available, join in on the fun and create games you and your child can play together. Whether it’s playing Marco Polo or throwing a baseball back and forth, you can find ways to spend quality time with your kids and have fun while doing it.

Learn more about the importance of play and get tips and advice for how to make active play a daily priority at LetsPlay.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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Get adventurous with these 5 fun family activities

9/4/2016

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(BPT) - Summer is fleeting and schedules are filling up quickly, so take advantage of the free time you have to partake in fun activities with those you love the most: your family. It's tempting to stick to the same routine of going to the local playground, taking in a movie or playing in the backyard. Why not try some new experiences this year and go on a family adventure? These five activities are fun for the whole family and will help create lasting memories together. Incorporate a couple (or all five!) ideas into your schedule to finish summer with a bang and begin fall on a fun note.

Take in a variety of wildlife at the zoo.
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! You don't have to be a child to marvel at the unique and awe-inspiring beauty of our world's wildlife. Frito-Lay 2 Go (FL2Go) is partnering with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to encourage families to get out and enjoy unique animal experiences. By visiting an AZA-accredited zoo or aquarium, you'll be supporting their conservation efforts to save endangered animals from extinction - all while having an unforgettable time with your family. To find a free kid's pass, head to your local grocery store and look for FL2Go packages featuring a tiger, panda, monkey, elephant or penguin. Then visit aza.fritolay2.com to upload the receipt and find your closest AZA facility.

Go kayaking and plan a picnic by the water.
Forget the open road, and hit the open water instead this summer! Kayaking is a fun, active adventure. Soak in the sun and cool breeze, relish in the relaxed environment and enjoy a quiet moment or two with the kids.
When you're done, extend your time by the water and have a family picnic. Pack a lunch of sandwiches and your favorite chips to refuel.

Spend a night star gazing to look for constellations.
Before the sun goes down, take some time to learn about the various constellations, and have everyone in the family select their favorite one. Then, in the evening, lay out a blanket in your backyard for a night of star gazing, and see who can spot their favorite constellation.

To amplify the adventure, turn the night into a backyard camping trip, complete with a tent, campfire and songs.

Stop by the local animal shelter to take friendly pups on a walk.
The best part of volunteering is anyone at any age can make a difference! Schedule a family trip to your local animal shelter to spend the afternoon walking dogs, playing with cats and more! Time with a few furry friends will brighten everyone's day and you can feel good knowing you brightened their day, too.

Pick your own apples before baking a mouth-watering pie.
When the temperature starts to drop and the leaves begin to turn colors, embrace the changing of seasons by visiting your local apple orchard. A delicious day trip, apple orchards often offer a wide range of family fun activities, such as hay rides and petting zoos, to make the apple-picking experience that much more enjoyable. After you return home, continue the family time in the kitchen by baking a homemade apple pie!

Hectic fall schedules will be in full swing before you know it, so take advantage of the time you have now to go on a family adventure and create fun-filled memories. Visit fritolay2go.com for more family-friendly activities.

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Tips for last-minute family travel

8/28/2016

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(BPT) - Everything takes more time with young children in tow. When even a simple grocery store trip takes strategic planning, most parents forget about organizing a weekend getaway, especially if it's spontaneous.

The truth is, small kids can be amazing travel companions with a little forethought. Use these smart parent planning tips whenever you're feeling pangs of wanderlust. This weekend's last-minute travel adventure could turn into incredible memories that will last a lifetime.

Limit drive time to 3 hours or less
When it's just you and your partner, the journey is part of the excitement of traveling. For kids, time in the car is boring at best and agitating at worst. To avoid tantrums and too many "Are we there yet?" questions, limit travel time to three hours or less.

If you have young kids, try leaving early in the morning so they fall back asleep or plan to travel during nap periods. For older kids, pack plenty of activities, load up the mobile device with new apps and buy some inexpensive-yet-fun surprises they can open along the way.

Find a hotel with room to spread out
To ensure an enjoyable trip, you want the comforts and space of home when you're on vacation. Being stuck in one room with few amenities can be a travel nightmare, especially if you have kids who like to move or a baby who goes to bed at 7 p.m.

The Staybridge Suites brand is a great example of a family-friendly hotel that encourages its guests to make the space their own and have fun. The brand has spacious suites with up to two bedrooms and two baths and a full kitchen so the family can spread out. You can even bring your pet with you so your family is complete.
Want to meet other families or get out and roam? Enjoy the outdoor pool, explore the gazebos and grill up some dinner. The complimentary breakfast (with waffles!) is sure to please kids both young and old.

Avoid a heavy itinerary
The beauty of last-minute travel is, your family doesn't have to stick to a strict schedule. Kids want to spend the morning at the pool? Go for it. Then, sneak in a quick nap with your toddler before visiting the local museum in the afternoon. Because you're not stuck with an extensive itinerary, you can kick back and enjoy some quality bonding time together.
That's not to say you shouldn't explore the area; it's about finding a good stress-free balance. For weekend excursions, focus on one main activity you'd like to accomplish, such as visiting an amusement park or local monument. For longer trips, plan no more than one activity per day to avoid burnout.

Have the last-minute vacation blues because everything is booked? If tickets are sold out, ask to be put on a cancellation list. It's highly possible your family will be able to sneak in at the last last-minute, and you may even get a discount for filling the spot on short notice.
You don't have to avoid last-minute travel until your kids are grown. With these tips, spontaneous vacations might just be your new favorite activity.
To learn more about how you can enjoy a family vacation at Staybridge Suites hotels visit www.staybridgesuites.com/vacation.

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