5 ACTIVITIES TO GET KIDS OUTSIDE PLAYING

Over the past year, it has been quite difficult to go outside. Why? Well, the answer is pretty obvious. The coronavirus pandemic took a lot away from us. As a result, many were cooped up in their house for almost half a year. Some even longer while the world watched as thousands upon thousands of people, unfortunately, get really sick or die due to contracting COVID-19. This is not to say that the virus is over and done with, but people have gradually started to go back outside and have some fun with one another. Whether that is going to the beach, playing sports, or gathering together to grab a bite to eat, people have been chomping at the bit to get back out there and assimilate back into society. 

One of the most pressing issues that has come with COVID-19 is the effect that it will have on children. Being a parent can be extremely tough, but adding in a pandemic? Talk about a challenge. 

Most parents were not ready for their children to not be going to school. They had to prepare for what was somewhat unthinkable; their kids would be doing virtual learning at home. This required some parents to get babysitters or nannies while they worked to put food on the table. 

However hard that issue was/is, another problem that impacted kids was that they could no longer interact with their friends and other children. For growing brains like elementary and middle schoolers, seeing and interacting with people on a daily basis is essential in teaching basic social skills. 

Thankfully many schools have come back, but there is still time to be made up regarding the development of your kids. Now, this isn’t a piece trying to teach you how to raise your kids, but after a year of sitting inside playing video games and watching TV, it is important for kids to get out and do outside activities. 

Seriously, even before the pandemic, video games were on the rise. For example, according to Healthline, the, “. . .average daily video game play among kids ages 8 to 18 rose from 26 minutes per day in 1999 to almost 110 minutes (nearly two hours) per day by 2009.” 

And yes, video games are fun. There is a reason they have become so popular. At the same time, they are not the end all be all. Kids should not be stuck in front of a screen all day instead of outside playing around the neighborhood. 

But what activities could get kids out of the house and into the yard? Below is a list of five outdoor activities that will get your kid excited to hop off the couch and go outside: 

Soccer 

Soccer is the most popular sport around the world. Kids everywhere play soccer; one of the reasons that is the case is the fact that you really only need a ball to start playing. Regulation sized goals would be great to have, but not everyone has access to them. Instead, all you really need is to just toss down a pair of shoes and make your own little space for a goal. 

Additionally, soccer is great because you can play with however many people you want. If your child has one friend, they can just dribble around, play one versus one, or come up with their very own new game. On the flip side, if your kid comes home with nine other preteens, a five-on-five match is a big consideration. 

Still, before your child gets to playing soccer, you should remind them how dangerous heading the ball can be. If your kid were to smack the ball with their ear trying to head the ball in a given direction, you may have to go out and find a local audiologist. 

Wiffle Ball 

 Another classic, Wiffle ball, is a fantastic way to get your kids out of the house. Wiffle ball is essentially baseball on the go and can be a really awesome time. Whether that is through a home run derby or playing a nine-inning game, wiffle ball is a great way to be outdoors and have fun while doing it. And, just like soccer, all you really need is two things: a ball and bat (that are almost always purchased together). 

 

Bike Riding 

This may be another obvious activity option, but bike riding is another fun activity for kids. They get to race, go adventure around town, go off ramps, whatever. That may sound a little dangerous to you, and if that is the case, make sure your loved one is fit up with a good helmet. 

It is also worth mentioning that biking is not the only thing to scoot (pun intended) around town in. Scooters, skateboards, RipStiks, and longboards are all options. Whatever gets your kid to open the door and get outside. 

Capture The Flag 

A personal favorite, capture the flag is just straight up awesome. Team versus team fighting to be the first to get the opponent’s flag on their side. There is a lot of running, a lot of strategy, and a ton of fun. Now, the rules may differ based on the location of the game, but regardless of that, it is hard not to have a fun time playing capture the flag. That is unless one were to get caught in enemy jail for the entirety of the game. 

Pickle 

No, not the food. This is the game pickle. Never heard of it? Well, you can find the rules here. But all in all, pickle is a fun way for your child to develop some of those communication and cooperation skills that were previously talked about. Deciding whether or not to run is a risky business decision, but that is what makes it such a good time and a great way to get your kids back out into the neighborhood to prevent them from watching eight hours of TV.

CAMP WARNER BROS SOCCER FUN

SPONSORED BY WARNER BROS HOME ENTERTAINMENT

This week's Camp Warner Bros activities revolved around having some summer time soccer fun. Warner Bros Home Entertainment provides us with the soccer themed movie Alex & Me for a family movie night. Then the next day inspired by the film's star Alex Morgan, who helped the U.S. Women's Team win the World Cup in 2015 and 2019 in real life, my daughter spent an afternoon juggling a soccer ball in the backyard.

The goal of juggling a soccer ball is to keep it in the air without using your arms or hands to avoid it from hitting the ground. How long can you keep it aloft using your hands, knees and even your head? She has gotten pretty good being able to juggle the ball constantly for a few minutes at a time.

The movie Alex & Me is the story of a girl, like my daughter, who has been inspired to play soccer by witnessing Alex Morgan's talents in high profile games like the Olympics, World Cup and professional soccer matches. Alex demonstrates that girls don't have to just be cheerleaders but can be competitive athletes in sports themselves.

In Alex & Me, teenager Reagan Willis has one dream – to play soccer like her hero, Alex Morgan. Her bedroom is a shrine to all things Alex, including a life-size poster of the Olympic gold medalist. Yet in the Willis house, Reagan lives in the shadow of her prep football superstar brother, Logan. When Reagan fails to make the cut of the premiere local soccer club team and is humiliated by her rival Claire, she’s certain her ship has sailed. But after accidentally hitting her head, Reagan’s poster of Alex Morgan suddenly comes to life and everything changes!



Just like in Alex & Me encourage kids to use this Goal Chart to keep track of soccer drills and other tasks to help ensure they are having a productive summer. For some further encouragement have them watch Alex & Me. I've got a digital code for the movie to giveaway courtesy of Warner Bros Home Entertainment.

For a chance to win this movie just complete the Rafflecopter entries below before 11:59 pm ET on Sunday, August 9, 2020. Must be a United States resident over 18 years old to participate. Glad to share some of our Camp Warner Bros fun with our randomly selected winner. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
For those of you who don't win the giveaway. Many will enter, but only one will win! You can purchase Alex & Me on Blu-ray and DVD from Best Buy. Use a Geek Daddy affiliate link and this dad blogger will receive a small commission from your purchase at no additional expense to you. Your support of ageekdaddy.com is appreciated!

PENNY SOCCER GAME

Inspired by the United States Women's National Team's dominance of Thailand in their opening round 13-0 victory of the ladies World Cup, my daughter gave me a 5-0 beating in Across the Board's Penny Soccer Game after we watched the match on TV. In this mock soccer game, players flick a penny across a board attempting to score goals. While reasonably simple to play, this penny soccer game is a remarkably fun way to spend some time.

The table top game consists of a handcrafted, made in the USA, wood playing surface decorated to resemble a soccer field.  White pegs pop out from the playing field to serve as defenders providing a challenge to scoring goals.  A bright shiny penny comes along with the game to serve as a soccer ball as well as two metal pegs for keeping score.

HOW TO PLAY

The youngest player starts off the game by placing the penny on the center line of the soccer field. A game kicks off with the player using his or her finger to flick the penny towards the opponent's goal.

It MUST be flicked NOT pushed. Each player flicks the penny once per turn from wherever it rests on the soccer field.

After a goal the penny is placed back at center field for a new kick off by the player who was just scored upon.

The game is won by the first player to score 5 goals. A Penny Soccer Game match lasts about ten to fifteen minutes. Beware though because the game is addictively fun and you are sure to find yourself playing it over and over again.

Across the Board's Penny Soccer Game is an entertaining way to spend some quality family time unplugged from electronics and the Internet. Great for playing indoors on a rainy day, after dinner on the back patio, or taking along on a camping trip. Since the goal of the game is to shoot and score with the flick of a finger it is a sports game playable by all ages. Perfect for a family game night!

ACROSS THE BOARD

Across the Board is a St. Louis family owned and operated workshop specializing in high quality, handcrafted, unique wooden board games. Their table top games are made with premium materials and assembled with a focus on detail and precision. To purchase a Penny Soccer Game for yourself or to learn about their other unique wood crafted games go to acrosstheboardgame.com

SOCCER PARTY IDEAS

My soccer playing daughter is really excited about the big tournament taking place this summer from June 7 - July 7, 2019 in France which has the best women's national soccer teams in the world competing in it. Especially because the United States women's national team is a leading contender to be hoisting the championship cup at the end of the competition. So she is really looking forward to watching the games and cheering on Team USA.

Are you planning on hosting viewing parties for these big games or looking for a theme for an upcoming birthday celebration? My friends at Wholesale Party Supplies shared with ageekdaddy.com some great soccer party ideas. You are sure reach your goal of hosting a fantastic get together by incorporating some of these suggestions into your soccer party.

SOCCER PARTY DECORATIONS

Tablecloths are not just for tables! Use printed designs, like this grass table cloth to create a faux backdrop for your dessert table. Dress the front with a mixture of mini pennant banner and large pennant garlands, or create your own garland using dessert plates.

Friends will have a ball when sitting down for some chow at your soccer party. Lay a grass plastic table cloth down and dress it with coordinating soccer plates and napkins. Add a little texture to your table with tissue paper grass mats. Place a real soccer ball and some orange practice cones into the mix for some extra flair. If this is a birthday party have all your guests sign the ball to mark the occasion or sign it for to give to a coach at an end of season party. Balloon bunches always signal a party so fly a mylar soccer ball and latex balloons around your party table.

SOCCER PARTY SNACKS

Grab icing decorations and add them to OREO pops with a little colored chocolate melts. Tip: the double stuffed variety is easier to make these with!

Dress up your water bottles with a referee drink koozie.

Make soccer balls you can eat in the form of sticky popcorn balls!

In case anyone dribbles yellow card them with a yellow napkin they can wipe their face or hands on.

SOCCER PARTY FAVORS

Let friends know that you had a ball when gifting them a sports bottle, dressed with a soccer whistle and filled with some goodies. Add a personalized bag tag on each, which they can easily use on their sports bag afterward!

Whether you are having people over to watch the big tournament on television, inviting a team over for an end of season party, or celebrating a special occasion with a sports theme, these soccer party ideas from Wholesale Party Supplies are sure to add some extra fun to your event.

ALEX & ME SOCCER MOVIE GIVEAWAY

** Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the featured Blu-ray for personal use and one to giveaway in this Blog Post. The opinions I share are my own **

As the coach of my daughter's soccer team, I'm always looking for ways to motivate the girls to improve themselves on and off the field.  So I'm planning on getting the team together for a movie night to watch ALEX & ME.  This movie features women's soccer sensation Alex Morgan and Nickelodeon actress Siena Agudong (Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn) in the story of a young female athlete who is taught by one of her personal heroes how passion, determination and self-worth can make all your dreams come true.

Get into the soccer spirit by creating your own Soccer Emoji to share with the world through the app below. Pick your player's look, signature move, and fun tagline. Then download the app's Family Goal Chart to have your kids set and mark off goals to help them be superstars in sports, school and life. When you are done with the app make sure to enter to win ALEX & ME from A Geek Daddy courtesy of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.



For a chance to win the movie just RETWEET the original giveaway promotional post on Twitter embedded below before June 24, 2018 at 11:59pm E.T.  Must be a U.S. resident over 18 years old to participate. Simple as that! So who wants it?!

Follow @Geekdad248 + RETWEET before June 25, 2018 for a chance to win ALEX & ME on Blu-ray starring Olympic gold medalist and FIFA Women's #WorldCup Winner Alex Morgan #AlexandMe #WBPromotion pic.twitter.com/opjeCikpjC

— A Geek Daddy (@GeekDad248) June 15, 2018

ALEX & ME SYNOPSIS

Teenager Reagan Willis (Agudong) has one dream – to play soccer like her hero, Alex Morgan. Her bedroom is a shrine to all things Alex, including a life-size poster of the Olympic gold medalist. Yet in the Willis house, Reagan lives in the shadow of her prep football superstar brother, Logan. When Reagan fails to make the cut of the premiere local soccer club team and is humiliated by her rival Claire, she’s certain her ship has sailed. But after accidentally hitting her head, Reagan’s poster of Alex Morgan suddenly comes to life and everything changes!

An Olympic Gold Medalist and FIFA Women’s World Cup champion with a penchant for goal scoring, Alex Morgan is one of the top soccer players on the planet, currently playing forward for the United States Women's National Team and the Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League. Away from the field, Morgan is also an accomplished author of “The Kicks” series, a collection of chapter books filled with wonderful messages of empowerment for young girls.



ALEX & ME is available now on Digital and is being released on Blu-ray and DVD on June 19, 2018. CLICK HERE to purchase the movie.

Disclaimer & Rules: A Geek Daddy has not been financially compensated for this endorsement or hosting the giveaway but was provided the same items being provided as a prize for personal use. The prize is provided by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and A Geek Daddy is hosting the promotion as a benefit to our readers. Must be a United States resident over the age of 18 to participate. One entry per mailing address and winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries. If you have already won this prize through another blog participating in this promotion, your entry will be disqualified. By participating in this promotion you waive any liability of any kind against the publisher of this blog. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. No P.O. Boxes allowed for delivery of the prize. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will be responsible for shipping the prize to the selected winner. A Geek Daddy is not responsible for delivery of the prize.

Reactorz Soccer Ball | COOP Sports

** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review **

My kids are enjoying soccer camp this summer and they just can't get enough of the sport right now.  In addition to learning dribbling and passing techniques during the day at camp they want to go outside every night to practice kicking the ball around.  Thanks to the Reactorz Soccer Ball from COOP Sports, which lights up when it is kicked, darkness is no longer an obstacle that can prevent my kids from playing the game.  They've been having fun playing soccer from dawn to dusk with their Reactorz ball.

You may not be able to see my kids but the Reactorz Soccer Ball they are passing around sure is visible! Reactive light technology emits a burst of light with every touch, bounce, throw or kick of a COOP Sports Reactorz Ball.



Playing with their Reactorz Ball my kids discovered that the best light effects are generated the faster it spins.  That is because the micro-prism inner core of the 8 inch diameter youth soccer ball refracts the light from its motion activated LED module for the cool effects you see while playing with it.

The soccer ball also has a semi-rigid outer shield that both protects the LED module inside plus provides a texture that makes it soft to kick.  The lighting mechanism is so light and well calibrated you can't distinguish the feel of kicking or catching it from a normal children's playground ball.  A nice aspect of the ball is the pressure/motion sensitivity of the LED module.  It can be held in a hand or resting under a foot without illuminating preserving its battery life but a tap or putting it into motion will easily make it glow.

My kids really have had a lot of fun playing outside at night with this light-up soccer ball.  Meant for ages 5+,  Reactorz Soccer Balls are available at Toys R Us.  Non-replaceable batteries are included within the ball so it is ready to go as soon as it is removed from the packaging.  For more information, visit coop-sports.com.

If you have kids in your life that love soccer as much as mine do pick them up a COOP Sports Reactorz Ball!

Aspiring Athletic Wear Designer Creates Stellar Star Wars Themed Soccer Uniforms

The indoor soccer team I play on thought we were sporting some great jerseys when we selected the stormtrooper themed shirt pictured above to wear during games for our most recent season.  We were put to shame though by an aspiring clothing designer named Nerea Palacios who has showcased a line of Star Wars themed soccer kits (what serious players and fans call uniforms) on her website that are pretty fantastic.  Hoping to garner the attention of Nike or another sporting attire brand to hire her to professionally design soccer kits, Palacios created a number of outfits tied to specific Star Wars characters to demonstrate her talents and gain some attention.

The soccer kit themes include Han Solo, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Obi-wan Kenobi, R2-D2, C-3P0, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, and Stormtrooper.  All of them are impressive, most impressive ... though my favorites out of the bunch are the the droids R2-D2 and C-3P0.

To check out the full gallery of her Star Wars soccer kits visit www.behance.net/nereapalcacios.  Good luck with your job hunt and fashion designing career Nerea - May the Force be with You!

Have some Soccer Fun with the characters from RIO 2

The setting for the movie RIO 2 takes place in a local that is at the forefront of public attention right now as Brazil is hosting the world's premiere soccer tournament that takes place every four years featuring the sport's greatest talents representing their countries in international play.  To promote the country where the film takes place and the upcoming July 15th 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Download releases of RIO 2, Fox Home Entertainment has provided some fun futbol themed activity sheets to share with your children while you enjoy the tournament.  I do hope you are taking in some of the tournament action, the USA national team for example won their first game with a thrilling last minute score where a player bounced in the GOAL!!! via knocking it off his head.  I know sometimes soccer gets a bad rap for its slow pace but how can you call that boring?!

Check out and download these RIO 2 activity sheets to get into the soccer spirit:

 

For more information about RIO 2, visit www.riomovies.com.  RIO 2 will be available to purchase at local retailers and online beginning July 15, 2014.

Disclaimer:  As a member of the FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT INSIDERS CLUB, A GEEK DADDY BLOG receives complimentary Blu-rays, DVDs, and Digital Downloads of various movies to review and for giveaways to this blog's readers.

THE CUPCAKE CONUNDRUM

I'm coaching my second season of youth soccer this Spring and have to admit that my feelings were a little hurt when the parents of one of the players from last season specifically asked the league to place their child on another team.  I worried they felt their child hadn't played enough, I'd done something to offend them, or they thought I was a bad coach.  Fortunately, none of those are the case.  The real reason they demanded a change though has left me somewhat perplexed.

The parents' requested the move because of my team's snack policy.  Each game a player is responsible to bring a team snack to help keep the kids energized and focused during half-time.  To keep it simple for parents, plus safe and healthy for the players, I've established a rule that the snacks need to be either sliced apples or oranges along with either water or juice boxes for the team.  Severe food allergies are a growing problem with children, my daughter who plays on the team can't eat or be exposed to peanuts for example, and there are plenty of other dietary restrictions that may be based on medical, religious, or parenting preference reasons.  Childhood obesity is also a growing problem in our nation that had an impact on my decision.   

The child that was pulled from my team had been upset because the player had noticed other teams enjoying cookies, candy, doughnuts, and cup cakes as snacks during the games.  To appease their child the parents choose junk food over healthy snacks.  I  respect those parents prerogative to make that decision for their child though I completely disagree with it.  On the other hand, allowing a child to easily switch a team though because they don't like the snack time treats provided really is a horrible precedent for a youth sports organization to set. 

According to Sally Kuzemchak R.D. in a 2013 article for Parenting Magazine, childhood snacking has become an "epidemic" with kids sports becoming "overrun with chips, cookies and other snacks being served from the sidelines." She cites research from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health that demonstrates how snacking can have an adverse impact even on active kids participating in sports.  These researchers found that "an 8 year old burns about 150 calories in an average soccer game - yet the typical postgame snack has between 300 and 500 calories." In her article Kuzemchak interviews one of the researchers, Toben Nelson, Sc.D. who says "It's so strange that sports have become associated with sweets...are parents are practically competing with each other to see who can bring the 'best' snack."

Some people may say it is just about FUN and snacks are part of the game time fun.  I wonder though why people need to associate food with fun.  Kids can have fun without eating a snack.  In fact, increasing the number of snacks , even if they are just small ones, may be contributing to obesity with  children.  Kuzemchak points out in her Parenting Magazine article that according to research from both Harvard and Columbia universities "childhood obesity is driven by as little as 165 extra calories for kids ages 2 to 7." 

According the the United States Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)  has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents during the past 30 years (that would be from the time I was a 10 year old "kid" myself playing soccer and our only snacks were apple and orange slices during games).  According to the CDC, 70% of obese youth had at least one risk of cardiovascular disease, and were more likely to have prediabetes, bone & joint problems, sleep apnea, and social/psychological problems.  The CDC's best recommendation for countering obesity in youth: Healthy lifestyle habits, including physical activity and HEALTHY EATING.

Another issue to be concerned about as a coach and parent when it comes to game snacks are children with food allergies.  I know that problem unfortunately too well myself from our family's struggles with our daughters life-threatening food allergies [The Scariest Moment of My Life: The Day my Daughter went into Anaphylactic Shock]  The CDC acknowledges that food allergies is a growing food safety and public health concern for children in the United States.  They've provided guidelines for how schools should deal with food allergies that I believe youth sports leagues and coaches should be familiar with as well.  CLICK HERE to view these CDC guidelines.  Limiting the types of snacks at sporting games not only addresses obesity issues but food allergy safety ones as well.

I believe in my snack policy and don't plan to abandon it as long as I'm the one volunteering my valuable time at games and practices to coach and mentor these kids.  I just hope that my team doesn't abandon me to go play on other teams that provide them with sweet treats.

So what is your opinion on the Cupcake Conundrum?  As parents and coaches should we make a more concerted effort to enforce healthy snacks with the teams our kids play on or is snacking on cookies and cakes a childhood ritual that players should be able to enjoy?