Active vacation in the city
How to spend holidays in the city with children? How to organize an active holiday in Poland for our kids, even if it is not possible to leave their place of residence? What can you do with children and how to organize their time so that holidays in the city do not become holidays with a smartphone or tablet in hand, at the computer or in front of the TV? We advise on how to provide them with access to various forms of physical activity, also in the place of residence.
Every year, even before summer comes, many parents start to wonder how their children will spend the next vacation. Even if we plan to go / go on vacation with the whole family, or if we plan a camp or summer camps for older children, or we can provide them with a stay with the family outside our place of residence, it is rarely possible for the children to spend the entire 2 months of vacation. Sometimes leaving, for various reasons, is not an option at all, and the situation is complicated by the not entirely predictable epidemiological situation. All this may lead to looking for ideas for holidays in the city, or to give up traveling abroad in favor of active holidays in Poland.
Playgrounds, amusement parks and outdoor gyms
There is probably no child who would not like to jump on ropes, overcome obstacle courses, slide down a slide or simply swing on a swing. These games never get boring and moreover they strengthen the muscles of the whole body, improve balance and motor coordination. Increasingly popular in cities, outdoor gyms, in turn, are intended rather for teenagers.
To spice up your visit to the playground, plan to visit new places, e.g. one afternoon a week at a previously unknown square. And at the end of the holidays in the city, we can organize a plebiscite and decide together which one was the most interesting. It is worth encouraging the kids to discuss the pros and cons - it will also learn to argue.
Active holidays in Poland: by the water and in the water
What is better for cooling than a bath or playing in the water on hot, sunny days? Sometimes an active holiday in a Polish city is hard to imagine. The inhabitants of Warmia, Mazury and Pomerania have an extremely comfortable situation, i.e. unlimited access to lakes and the sea. Fortunately, we can find practically every region natural or artificial water reservoirs. Of course, you should make sure in advance whether they are safe to use - both in terms of the cleanliness of the water and the presence of lifeguards (guarded bathing areas). If there is a problem with it, we have more swimming pools.
Recommended products
Senior specialist in the Department of Assessment and Cooperation Development, Institute of Mother and Child
Indoor facilities are also an option for cool or rainy days. They usually have a separate area for babies, so even the youngest can participate in this activity (we wrote about the advantages of summer hardening in water here).
Water classes and learning to swim improve endurance and posture, and strengthen the entire body. Diving, in turn, develops the respiratory muscles and the chest.
Holiday riding on wheels
Children aged 5-6 usually handle two wheels without any problems - if they can't do it yet, it's a great time to learn. Cycling improves endurance, and above all balance and coordination of movements, strengthens the abdominal muscles and buttocks, and has a beneficial effect on the child's feet.
They are intended for younger children balance bikes - three-wheeled models can be used by even 1,5-year-old toddlers (more about balance bikes can be found here). Older children can be recommended to ride on scooters and roller skates - develops balance and control of one's own body. With a scooter, however, it should be noted that the child changes the leg he pushes off - this is important for the correct course of the lateralization process (shaping the dominance of the right or left side of the body).
Expert advises
Before our child gets on the bike, you need to ensure that the height of the saddle and the handlebar are properly adjusted to its height. When skating on roller skates or scooters, parents should make sure that the child has no problems with body posture, as such activities may contribute to the aggravation of some posture defects. In addition, children should always wear a helmet, and on inline skates and scooters also use age-appropriate knee and elbow pads.
Vacation in the city: childhood movement games
We all remember from childhood hopscotch, rubber, jumping rope, dodgeball or hide and seek. These games can be successfully passed from generation to generation - shape balance, motor coordination and jumping ability. If our kids do not know them yet, it is worth getting to know them.
If we have children close to our age in the neighborhood, let's go to the park in a larger group, then hide and seek will be even more interesting. Speaking of parks, they are often located in them sballs for playing tennis, basketball courts, and football pitches. Of course, what we do with children has to be adapted to their age, but we may be able to instill in a child a passion for one of the sports disciplines.
Summer climbing adventure
For active, unable to sit still children, it is worth thinking about entertainment that will use up this energy, and the child will return home tired, but above all happy. A climbing wall is such a place. Climbing strengthens the muscles of the whole body and supports shaping the correct arching of the foot. Even a few years old kids can try their hand - under the watchful eye of an instructor. Parents can rest assured that their children will learn the correct technique, and who knows, maybe it will be useful during the next trip to the mountains?
In the city and outdoors: horse riding
Expert advises
If our child is not afraid of large animals, contact with horses and learning to ride them can be a great attraction - both during a holiday in the city and on a trip. This type of sport strengthens the body's core muscles and is great for the child's posture and balance.
The summer months are the best time for exercise and various outdoor activities. Even when spending holidays in the city, it is worth looking around and looking for places where our children will be able to take advantage of various attractions that will positively affect their physical condition and development. Remember, however, that When caring for children on the playground or staying with them in a group using other attractions, you must follow the rules related to the epidemic risk. Children should also wash or disinfect themselves with particular care after completing the exercises.
Author
