Bumper Boat Fun!

When the weather turns warmer, kids get excited about spending time on the water. Bumper boats are one of the most popular activities at summer camp. Most parents are familiar with canoes and kayaks but seldom connect water and bumper cars. So, when they see the boats hit the water, it brings big smiles to everyone’s face! Bumper boats are exactly what the name implies. Kids love steering them around on the water while bumping into their friends. As you make your summer plans, below are a few ideas on helping your camper enjoy a little bumper boat fun this season.

Get Your Kids Comfortable in The Water

One big reason why families send their kids to camp is to provide them with an environment where they can step out and take safe risks. Diving into a lake is intimidating for many kids. Bumper boats offer a gentle way to get acclimated to spending time in natural bodies of water. And, since the boats are equipped with fun water “squirters”, kids can get wet without the pressure of being fully submerged.

Make Sure Everyone Practices Water Safety

Every activity at camp is carefully planned with safety in mind. Kids learn all about water safety when they climb onto a bumper boat. From putting on their life jacket to wearing a seatbelt, they learn how to respect the water and still have tons of fun. For added water safety, sign your child up for swimming lessons. They can be in a traditional pool as well as natural bodies of water. Then, always make sure trained staff members are on the water with the kids to supervise their bumper boat adventures.

Encourage Teamwork and a Sense of Community

Classic bumper boats hold two kids at a time. They take turns steering and squirting. Everyone gets a kick out of turning it into a team sport. And working together is a great way to encourage new friendships. Bumper boats are a form of open-ended play. This allows kids to make up games with their own rules within the camp community. Counting points for bumps or hitting their targets with a blast of water are just a few of the ways kids turn this fun activity into a friendly competition.

Extend the Fun with Party Options

Day camp gives youngsters the chance to enjoy bumper boats after school and during the summer. But they just can’t get enough of this activity. For this reason, you will find that it makes the perfect activity for any celebration. The joy of bumping each other across the water generates tons of laughs and memories. Whether celebrating a birthday or winning a championship, it’s a great way to highlight special occasions. It also is the perfect end to a day of team building.

When you arrive at camp, you never know what kind of fun is in store. The look of excitement on a kid’s face when they first see a bumper boat is amazing. And their smile just gets brighter as they steer their boat across the water. When it comes to filling those summer days with new and exciting experiences, everyone should have bumper boats on their itinerary.

Let your kids enjoy bumper boat fun at Maplewood Summer Day Camp. Experienced staff will keep your child both safe and busy with arts and crafts, games, water sports, gymnastics and more. Visit the site at http://maplewoodyearround.com/summer-camp/summer-camp-activities/  to see the fun your child will have at Maplewood Summer Day Camp.

Preschool Crafts to Enhance Motor Skills

The picture of a young child covered in paint sums up the joys of childhood perfectly. Yet, children are doing more than just having fun when they participate in arts and crafts activities. Crafts allow children to express their creativity while also building essential motor skills that will impact their entire learning experience. When adults know how to maximize crafting experiences to their full potential every child can benefit from building their motor skills while enjoying creative play.

How Crafting Builds Motor Skills

Preschool crafts are best known for helping to strengthen a child’s fine motor skills. Pinching clay, tearing paper and holding a paintbrush all help a child to develop their pincher grasp, which is necessary for writing. Crafts can also help a child develop their gross motor skills when parents and educators are willing to turn art into a whole body experience. For example, feet painting on long strips of butcher paper helps children develop their walking skills and painting on an easel stimulates a child’s back and shoulder muscles so that they will be better able to throw and catch a ball.

Preschool Crafts for Fine Motor Skills

When adults look back on their favorite summer camp and school experiences, they often recount the art projects they made as a young child. Many of these craft projects are still popular today such as making sculptures out of play dough. Preschoolers also love making jewelry. Pipe cleaners and pony beads make simple bracelets and lacing each bead onto the pipe cleaner is perfect for strengthening fine motor skills and eye hand coordination. Weaving construction paper placemats, painting with a small brush and cutting out shapes with scissors for a collage are a few more crafts that are excellent for building fine motor abilities.

Gross Motor Craft Ideas

In preschool, crafts do not have to be sit-down projects. In fact, making art bigger is the ideal way to develop a young child’s ability to run, jump and throw. For example, splatter painting outside encourages a child to use their arms while walking around the canvas. Preschoolers can also make musical instruments, such as paper plate maracas and hold a parade for their friends and family. Murals are another fun project for kids that get them moving. Simply hang a large piece of paper up on a wall, and let the kids use a short step stool to practice their climbing skills while reaching their paintbrush to the top of the mural.

Crafting Tips for Preschoolers

Making art with preschoolers is always fun, yet it is important to carefully choose your projects. Since you never want to ruin the fun by worrying about messes, make sure that you plan your project to take place in a kid-friendly zone. Open-ended craft projects work best so provide a variety of materials from which kids can choose to express their creativity. Finally, have fun. The actual product is never as important as just letting the kids enjoy the process.

Kids and crafts just go together and making beautiful works of art is a great way to encourage preschoolers to move their growing bodies. Whether the child in your life needs to work on their ability to hold a pencil or develop their balance, there is a craft project available to help them build their skills. By taking the time to enjoy a crafting moment with your child, you can simultaneously build motor skills while letting them express their creativity.

Let your kids experience preschool learning fun at Maplewood Summer Day Camp. Experienced staff will keep your child both safe and busy with arts and crafts, games, water sports, gymnastics and more. Visit the site at http://maplewoodyearround.com/about/news/look-at-what-is-new/  to see the fun your child will have at Maplewood Summer Day Camp.

 

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