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It's time to get real. I am a Central Florida mom of two with a love for authenticity. Don't do this mothering journey alone. Find out how and connect with me: {more...}

Should Kids Go To The Theatre

Jun 12 by Leave a Comment

There may be affiliate links in this post. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Should kids go to the theatre? Visiting the theatre is a time-honored tradition that seems to be fading. In fact, when we went to a recent showing of Jesus Christ Superstar, we noticed that there were hardly any young people in attendance. Adults filed into seats and sat down to enjoy an incredible production and I couldn’t help but wish everyone could see it through their children’s eyes as well! There’s something so magical about seeing stage shows through the awe-filled eyes of your children!

Why should kids go to the theatre?

I may be biased because I have a long love of the theatre. There’s something about sitting down for a performance that you know took countless hours of practice to bring about. Even moreso, there’s a certain beauty in experiencing a variety of emotions and stories in a completely new way! Some of my most amazing moments have been in the theatre! It’s no surprise that I think kids should grow up experiencing theatre, but let me share why.

Theatre introduces kids to a variety of the arts!

When visiting the theatre kids are able to experience dance, acting, singing, opera, and so much more! Depending on the performance they go to, they can really experience so much of what the world has to offer! Dance styles from different cultures, music styles from throughout the generations, and acting that will transport them into the show are some of the things they can experience. Before reaching adulthood, every child should have at least one experience with the theatre.

The company of the North American Tour of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. Photo by Matthew Murphy, Evan Zimmerman – MurphyMade

Theatre introduces kids to new ideas!

When visiting the theatre, kids have the opportunity to step into the shoes of another person and live a new experience. This can mean that for a few hours they are a phantom haunting an opera house, a cat in a back alley, or experiencing history coming to life with Hamilton and Six. Spending time in the theatre allows you to expose them to new ideas in a format that can fully immerse them. They are able to experience a new perspective in a way that is sure to capture their attention!

Theatre can be a great conversation starter!

Before going to Jesus Christ Superstar, we had never seen the show. My daughter watched enthralled by the experience. However, on the drive home, she asked a multitude of questions. She wanted to understand what she had seen, parts of the story she didn’t know about, and more. Spending time at the theatre allows your children to start conversations with you about the show and their experience with it.

Visiting the theatre can encourage kids to join the arts!

Spending time in the theatre can help your child to look at the world in a different way. It can also be the spark that lights a passion for the arts in their life. Spending time watching shows in the theatre might be the motivation your child needs to try dance or acting classes. These activities can be an amazing way for kids to find a way to invest their time into something special.

Theatre is a welcoming community!

One of the most welcoming community you will every encounter is the theatre. People from every walk of life, back story, and so much more come together to share experiences. There is something about bringing your views of the world into a room filled with people who cheer for the victories and cry at the defeats. You will find that your children will come away from this experience a better person! I can’t recommend theatre enough for kids!

What shows should you start with?

Going to the theatre for the first time can be overwhelming for some. There are so many shows out there and it can be hard to find the right fit. I highly recommend playing some of the soundtracks from Spotify. This let you familiarize your children with the shows and see what really speaks to them. I highly recommend starting with a show that already resonates with them as their first experience of theater.

What theatre should you start with?

When visiting the theatre, it can help to start with a community theatre that puts on a juniors version of a show. However, for their first real big theatre experience, find a quality theatre in your city. In the Orlando area, I highly recommend Dr. Phillips Center for the Arts! The venue is incredible and then performances they put on are always top notch!

Summer Activities for Teens

May 4 by Leave a Comment

There may be affiliate links in this post. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Summer activities for teens won’t look the same as the activities you might choose for younger children. Younger children tend to take off for camp or enjoy some of the more simple ways to have fun. For teens, there is a different focus during the summer months. Some of the things that their younger selves enjoyed won’t do the trick. Here are a few teen summer activities to consider this summer!

Summer Activities for Teens that will require little planning and pack in the fun! Easy summer fun ideas your teen will love!

Teen Summer Activities

When planning your teen’s summer activities it can be a bit overwhelming. Picking things your teen is sure to enjoy isn’t as easy as some might assume. The good news is, that there are still plenty of options for your teen to stay busy and have fun this summer. I have put together a few options based on a variety of different approaches to summer your teen might want to pick. You can pick from one category or pick a bit from each for a well-rounded summer.

Volunteering and Community Service options for teens

Many teens who are attempting to get scholarships have to spend a set number of hours on community service. The summer months are a great time for teens to get involved with local organizations and accumulate these community service hours. It is important that you log all hours on a tracking sheet. Some states will provide them. If they don’t, you can find a sign-up below to get a free printable tracking log to use.

  • Animal Shelters – Organizations like the SPCA will allow teenagers to volunteer. Some will charge a fine and require a minimum time commitment in order to justify the time they’re investing in training. In some areas, this may mean committing to a set schedule.
  • Homeless Programs – Many homeless programs that serve the community will have a variety of opportunities open to teens to serve. Some may include serving food, sorting donations, or serving at fundraising events.
  • Food Banks – Food banks are a great place to let teens serve. Many food banks can allow large crowds of teens to volunteer which will increase your teen’s possibility of being able to help.
  • Habitat for Humanity – Habitat has a youth program that allows teens to get involved in a variety of service projects that help get families into homes.
  • Libraries – Libraries will often allow teens to volunteer shelving books, cleaning, and helping to oversee summer programs. Reach out to your local library to find out what they offer.

Summer camps for teens

While summer camps are not quite the same for teenagers, there are still some summer camps out there that promise adventure to the teens who go to them. You can find a variety of summer camp options depending on the organizations/clubs your teen is involved in. It can also help to take some time to check Google for local summer camps. Here are a few types of camps to consider.

  • Check with your local YMCA or Community Center – The YMCA and local community centers will sometimes run camps specifically focused on helping teens find something to do over the summer. I highly recommend checking in early as some camps fill up fast.
  • Look into sports camps – Do you have a sports lover in your house? Sports camps can be a great way to get them active and work on growing their skills and confidence. Availability will vary depending on where you live.
  • Reach out to local colleges – Local colleges will often offer summer camps and summer learning programs that teens can get involved with. Community colleges will typically have educational camps but they will have a price assigned to them.
  • Ask other parents – Don’t underestimate the value of a good friend’s advice! Ask your fellow parents about camps in your area your teen might enjoy.
Harry Potter Charcuterie Board idea with multiple delicious options inspired by the Harry Potter movies.
Harry Potter Watch Party Snacks

Challenge their imaginations

Teens are always looking for ways to hang out with and connect with their friends. While sleepovers and mall trips can be a favorite, they aren’t always possible. Finding low-cost options to keep them connected to friends without forcing you to oversee summer activities for teens can be a big help. Here are a few summer activities for teens to challenge their imagines and get them out having fun!

  • Make a tarp slip n slide – Laya tarp on the ground, add some dish soap, and run the hose. Hang out with friends in the backyard and have a slip n slide day!
  • Have a painting party – Split canvases into four sections. Let each friend paint only one portion of the painting. The collaboration can make for some fun art they are sure to enjoy.
  • Host a video game competition – Video games are popular among teens. Let them have some fun by creating a full video game competition using their favorite game. They can play together in one place or virtually via a shared server.
  • Plan a themed movie day – Watching movies together can be a great way to spend time together. We have done a Stranger Things watch party and a Harry Potter watch party and had a blast! Let your kids plan the watch party and you’re sure to have fun with your teens.
  • Check Groupon – Groupon is a great place to look for quick ideas for things to do with teens. There are countless options including escape rooms, horseback riding, coffee places, and tons more! Find your next fun thing to do with your teen on Groupon.
 
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Ways to Spend Quality Time With Your Child

Apr 26 by Leave a Comment

There may be affiliate links in this post. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Ways to spend quality time with your child are a dime a dozen on the internet. There are so many options out there to spend quality time with your kids but not all of them are created equally. I am a huge advocate for making your time with your kids count! So many times parent guilt can tell you that you work too much or do other things. Here are some realistic tips for making time with your kids count.

Spend quality time with your child without stressing the schedule! These simple tips will help you make the most of the moments that matter.

Realistic Quality Time Ideas

Disclaimer – Every family dynamic is different. Find what works for you. If you have a child who has quality time as a love language, they will always want more time with you. Be prepared to spend more time meeting that emotional need.

Repurpose the day-to-day

What do I mean by that? Day-to-day life is packed with tasks that can take the focus off of our kids and family time. Finding ways to repurpose the day-to-day can be a great way to find quality time. Finding small ways to spend time together doing things you enjoy while doing things you may not, can be a good way to reclaim quality time in a busy schedule. Here are a few ideas.

  • Don’t underestimate the power of music! – When we have to run errands or even clean house, one of the ways we’ll connect is by rotating the playlist. We rotate who gets to pick the next song. You’d be amazed what you can learn about your kids by listening to their favorite music!
  • Put the phone down. – When waiting in doctor’s offices and in line for errands, it can be tempting to spend time on your phone being productive or taking a quick break. Use this time to start a conversation or play a waiting room game with your kids. My son is a huge fan of asking “would you rather” style questions when we are waiting somewhere.
  • Find the fun in the mundane. – Are you spending the day deep cleaning the house? Working on a big yard project? Stuck grocery shopping? Find ways to add some fun into the mundane. This might mean racing to see who can clean the fastest, seeing who can fill their bag faster, or even making a grocery store scavenger hunt that ends with a favorite treat.

Find ways to be a part of the things they enjoy

I don’t mean hijacking their personal interests and making them yours as well. Instead, I am suggesting that you find ways to engage with them about the things that they are already interested in. Most kids love to talk about their special interest. In fact, they can spend hours on end talking about dinosaurs or their favorite band. Here are a few ways to get involved with the things your kids already enjoy.

  • Ask open ended questions. – Don’t ask questions with an end goal. Instead, questions like, “if you could teach me one thing about… what would it be” or “I know you love this band but what song speaks to you most and why?” Starting an open ended conversation gives them the space to take you on an adventure into their special interest.
  • Ask how you can join them. – Sometimes joining your kids in their special interest means learning to build lego figurines, watching an anime you never thought you’d watch, or sitting in a theater for a concert. The goal is to find ways to join them in their world instead of bringing them into yours.
  • Find new ways for them to enjoy what they love. – So often when kids have a special interest, they want to find new ways to enjoy it. This might mean going to a comic conference for an anime fan, going on a tour of a film set, or even heading out to a fossil dig. The goal is to find things your child will fully engage with that they wouldn’t be able to experience without a little help from you.

Make time for the small stuff

So often when parents think of quality time, they’re working to o all of the big stuff. Going on ice cream dates, visiting theme parks, and heading out on trips. While there is a place for big stuff, life is made up of the little moments. Making time for the small stuff can be a game-changer for your relationship. Here are a few ways to make them a priority.

  • Find the little laughs. – One of my all time favorite memories with my daughter is standing in the backyard on a windy day wrapped in blankets. We stood there and let the wind blow our blankets up like capes. Sometmes life gives us little moments to laugh with our kids. Take advantage of those.
  • Watch a favorite show together. – It can be a lot of fun to find a show you can both enjoy to share. Find something you can laugh at or something that you can talk about together.
  • Answer the questions that seem like they make no sense. – My son is famous for questions that come out of left field. They often feel like they make no sense. However, these questions have prompted some of the most significant conversations we’ve ever had.

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It’s time to get real. I am a Central Florida mom of two with a love of authenticity. You don’t have to do this mothering journey alone. Find out how and connect with me: {more…}

 

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