Today, more and more websites are attracting kids with a host of interactive games and shows. Recent statistics shows that the percentage of children having access to Internet increased to about 93% in 2009 against that of 56% around 2003.
With the websites becoming more user-friendly and interactive, Today Young Kids and Teens are diverted from Television and Radio towards Internet. Today more than 65% of the teens are avid users of the net with average spending of around 2 to 3 hours.
Kids and Teens are more attracted to sites dealing with racecars, music, education, sports, comedy, gossips and Glamour and Movies.
Research also shows that children rush straight to their computers after the school Hours. The main websites where they click their mouse are the ones where they can watch and interact with cartoon characters, Play Computer games, vehicle racing, board games, puzzles, play sets, action figures, participate in online quizzes, drawing and win prizes and watch television episodes that are missed out during school hours.
According to the research kids and teens visit a wide range of websites, from education to entertainment to news, which clearly shows that there is an opportunity for those trying to reach out to the young audience.
Popular sites visited by the kids include Social Networking [80%], music sites [55%], e-card sites [25%], animal sites [35%], sites on books [20%], sites on TV channels/films and cartoons [25%], sites on mobile phones [19%].
With Social Networking sites like Facebook, Orkut, Myspace etc being the most visited site among the kids and teens , todays marketers are targeting these websites the most to attract these Young customers.
Kids love basketball. Whether kids are short or tall, old or young, have experience or no experience, they love to pick up the ball and give it a try. The goal may seem miles away, but they will try to make a basket and dribble around the court. Just as important as teaching kids the rules of the game, is teaching them how to be safe. When purchasing a basketball goal for your home, school, or community keep these safety tips in mind.
For basketball goals with a pole, purchase pole padding. Pole padding is a simple foam padding with a vinyl cover. The padding can be wrapped around the pole and closed with the attached velcro strip. Most padding fits poles up to 66" tall, but check your pole height to get the right fit. Typically padding is 1 ½" thick.
Padded poles protect kids from injury. It is easy to run into the pole when playing a game or chasing the ball. Injuries from colliding with a pole that isn't padded can range from bumps and bruises to concussions or broken bones. Adding pole padding can greatly reduce the chance of these types of injuries.
In addition to padding the pole on your basketball goal, you can also add a gusset pad. These pads are pyramid shaped and cover the base plates and bolts on an adjustable crank system. Gusset pads will help prevent foot injuries
that can occur when players bump into the base plates. It will also protect players from being scratched or injured on any bolts.
Another item that you can add to your basketball system to help kids be safe is a ball retention net. This net attaches to the back of your system and stretches to the ground. When baskets are made or attempted, the balls retract off of the net and can roll back towards the player. This is a great way to prevent kids from running into the street or other people's yards after the ball. Adding something as simple as this gives kids a visual boundary.
For teenagers who are ready to start attempting slam dunks, the type of net you have on your basketball goal becomes a safety issue. Make sure you get an anti-whip net. Anti-whip nets are made of a specific type of nylon that won't tangle around hands or fingers. This helps protect player's hands from injuries that may occur when going in for a slam dunk.
Another safety issue for teenagers is the type of rim that you have. A flex rim gives when pressure is put on it. This spring loaded resistance protects both the player and the backboard. For teens who will be making more contact with the rim, a flex rim assures that the pressure they apply can be handled.
Teaching basketball to kids and teens is a fun and exciting experience, but safety is of the utmost importance. Keep kids and teens safe by adding some of this equipment to your basketball goal.
Kids yoga is challenging, energetic, and fun. Kids yoga when done well is truly a fun and creative approach to yoga. Using animal poses and basic stretching exercises, the classes promotes strength, flexibility, coordination and body awareness in children. It can be very helpful for children whose bodies are still developing. The poses help to instill confidence and concentration and a sense of calm.
Kids Yoga is for ages 5 and up, and it’s a great way to get kids off the couch and get them involved in a regular exercise program. The yoga club should provide facilities which are well maintained, clean, and have a warm, friendly atmosphere.
Teen and older children’s yoga is a blend of traditional yoga postures, and this tends to be delivered with a blend of popular music and philosophy. These types of classes are geared towards teenagers, and are open to both males and females ages 13 to 18. One teen yoga class is offered at YogaAylum as an ongoing, drop-in class, designed for any student with or without previous experience. Students will practice physical postures (asanas) that can be a great support for the maturation of the inner organs as well as the long bones of the teen-aged body. There are an increasing number of courses like this being offered.
Practiced dynamically and regularly in combination with your other daily activities, a school of yoga such as vinyasas will keep you lean and toned, and your resulting high metabolic rate will burn excess calories.
The pursuit of yoga is good for all ages, but recently it has also been used for those in pregnancy.
Practicing Yoga in pregnancy helps to strengthen and stretch muscles, release tension and maintain good posture.
Any article answering the question of what is kids yoga, would be unfinished though if it did not explain a little about the origins and nature of the art. Yoga is more than just a form of exercise; it is part of a well-rounded philosophy that dates back over 5,000 years.
Balancing of the five basic Elements and Chakras are the main keys to remove disorders through various yogic ways. There are many different schools of yoga which exist in India. For example, Patanjali\'s Yoga has essentially to do with the mind and its modifications. It deals with the training of the mind to achieve oneness with the universe. Patanjali students follow the tradition of Upanishads.
Hatha yoga is probably the best known around the world. Students will be oriented to meaning and practices of hatha yoga through short readings/explanations and yoga poses. Surrounded by a supportive environment focused on fitness, teen girls will be able to relax, have fun, be physically active and make new friends. Students are encouraged to respect the studio, the props, the decorations, and each other.
Some yoga courses include music making. At these courses you can feel the joy of making music in a community setting that allows you to express yourself. Remember, there is no medicine more therapeutic than self-expression. Feeling relaxed in Savasana, the power of Virabhadrasana, the exhilaration of standing upside down in Sirsasana, and even the subtlety of Kapalabhati breath work their own magic. The magic is in the direct experience.
If you are overweight kid, don't be afraid to ask your parents for help. I know that you may think they are too busy, don't think it is a problem, or will just tell you to "eat less and get up and move instead of sitting around all the time.” It isn't quite that simple.
Please let your parents know how you feel. They love you and want what is best for you. They want you to be happy. They may not have any idea how your weight is affecting your life. I'm sure if you are open and honest with them, they will want to help you.
DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT put yourself on a diet. A restrictive diet is not the answer, because even if you lose a lot of weight, you will probably gain it back, plus some, when the diet is over. If you want to lose weight to have more confidence, attract a boyfriend/girlfriend, get the other kids to stop teasing and bullying you, etc., you must change your lifestyle. That may mean doing some things you don't do today.
Good nutrition is the first key to healthy weight loss. If you don't like
vegetables, eat them anyway. As you become used to them, you will learn to like most of them (I promise!). Fruits and vegetables not only contain vitamins and minerals to make you look and feel better, but they contain fiber, which will make you feel fuller. Just take a few bites of everything, and go easy on the white bread and anything made with sugar. I know you love pizza, but it is high in calories, so order it with thin crust, veggies, and NO extra cheese. Limit your pizza to once or twice a week, and eat a salad first.
Skip the sodas and drink water or low-fat milk instead. You really need the calcium in milk and dairy products, so try for 3 servings a day of low-fat milk, cottage cheese, cheese or yogurt. Just ONE regular size soda a day can make you gain 10 pounds in a year. I don't even want to think about how many pounds the extra-large sodas might cause you to gain!
Skip the French fries, and have a salad instead. French fries really shouldn't count as a vegetable since they are almost all starch. Have a baked potato instead, and go easy on the butter and sour cream.
Turn off the TV and computer, and go to bed earlier! Studies have proven that there is a direct connection between childhood obesity and not getting enough sleep. As a preteen or teenager, you need 9 or more hours of sleep each night.
Do something each day for exercise. Get a pedometer so that you can record the number of steps you take each day, and try to reach 10,000 a day. Offer to run errands for your parents, run the vacuum, walk the dog, or whatever chores will involve movement. Ride your bike, work out to an exercise video, or join the YMCA or Boys’ & Girls’ club so you can swim, shoot hoops, or work out on the exercise equipment.
Ask your mom or dad for a few minutes of their time to have a private talk with you, and then share your feelings and goals concerning your weight. Ask for their help. If they are overweight also, ask if the whole family can lose weight and get healthier together. Your talk may be all they need to get started. Do it today!!