Fun Deck of Cards Fitness to Help Kids Stay Active

 Helping Kids Stay Active Indoors

To protect families from the recent spike in COVID-19 cases across the country, many school districts are heading back to online learning, sports activities are being canceled, and recreation facilities are setting restrictions. While it may be the right move to keep the community-at-large safe, these restrictions limit physical activity and make children restless when cooped up indoors. But there is a simple way to mitigate this problem – exercise. 

Youth sports and learning experts at Skyhawks Sports Academy and STEM Sports®recommend turning exercise into a fun activity to capture children’s interest and keep their bodies moving. One example is Playing Card Fitness, a fun activity that includes simple exercises that is enjoyable for the whole family and can be played indoors in any size room. 

Skyhawks and STEM Sports® Playing Card Fitness: How to Play

Do not underestimate how fun and challenging a workout can be using a deck of cards. Playing Card Fitness is a great cardio-based, full-body routine that only requires a deck of cards and a few square feet of open space. To play, each participant picks a card, and depending on the suit and value on the card, everyone completes the exercise. Every suit represents a different exercise and the value on the card represents the rep count. Simple right? Now, let’s understand which suit means what exercise and how to assign values. 

• Numbers 2 - 9 = values (i.e. reps)
• Face card = 11 reps
• Ace = 12 reps
• Hearts = pushups
• Diamonds = jumping jacks
• Clubs = sit-ups
• Spades = squats

For example, if a participant picks a card that is 10 of hearts, all participants need to do 10 pushups. To make it a good workout session, have each participant pick one card each and complete the round, and then go for three rounds. 

Bonus – Teach Children the Concepts of STEM

Along with the physical benefits of Playing Card Fitness, this activity can also be the catalyst to introduce STEM concepts to children. This activity is a perfect opportunity to introduce the concepts of heart rate, calorie burn, and calorie intake to older children. It is also a great way to keep children and families in the habit of taking time each day to keep their bodies healthy physically and mentally. And it’s fun!To learn more about the concepts of STEM-learning through sports and to register for Skyhawks Winter 2021 Programs, visit www.skyhawks.com.

 

About Skyhawks Sports Academy

Skyhawks Sports Academy is a youth sports camp organization based in Spokane, Washington. Skyhawks was founded in Spokane in 1979 as a soccer program for children to learn sports in a fun, safe and non-competitive environment. Skyhawks currently offers programs in more than 11 different sports including Soccer, Basketball, Flag Football, Baseball, Multi-Sport, Tennis, Mini-Hawk, Lacrosse, Golf, Volleyball, Cheerleading, and Track & Field for children ages 4-14 across North America. The formats of our camps and programs include traditional weeklong summer day camps, year-round after-school programs, sports leagues, and clinics. For more information, visit https://www.skyhawks.com.

 

About STEM Sports®

STEM Sports® provides standards-aligned, turnkey K-8 supplemental curricula that use various sports as the real-life application to teach science, technology, engineering, and math skills in classrooms, after-school programs, and camps. Our double-play combination of physical activity and cognitive thinking provides a comprehensive, inquiry-based educational experience and a solution for crucial STEM literacy for students. As a result, students develop critical thinking, collaboration, creative problem-solving, and leadership skills that can be applied throughout their education and future careers.

Aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Common Core State Standards (CCSS), and National Standards for K-12 Physical Education, our curricula will cultivate and promote participants' STEM engagement and retention. STEM Sports® provides all of the necessary and relevant sports equipment along with the entire list of supplies called for in the teacher/administer manual and all of the items have a long-lasting shelf life. Learn with us at www.STEMSports.com.

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Disney's A WRINKLE IN TIME - Opening In Theatres, Friday, March 9th!

Madeleine L’Engle’s novel “A Wrinkle in Time” has been inspiring readers of all ages since 1962. Now, Ava DuVernay’s imaginative new adaptation is sure to create legions of new fans and something epic and meaningful to last for years to come.

“Meg Murry is an imperfect girl who takes a fantastic journey, not to become perfect, but to learn to embrace her flaws,” says DuVernay. “Through this journey we reflect on the big themes in life that we all share, regardless of where we’re from, what we look like and what we believe. We all know that love and hate, light and darkness, the themes of our very humanity, are something that we each grapple with, something we all share. It’s the human struggle...and the human triumph.”

For actor Storm Reid, it’s a story that sends a message to audiences to always love yourself. “It is okay to have good days and bad days because that is what makes us human beings, but do what you love and don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do something,” she says. “What I love about the film is that it has a visual context for light and darkness,” adds producer Jim Whitaker. “And it has an emotional context for light and darkness, with Meg going from being dark inside to ultimately light and strong.”

But the concept of darkness versus light represents so much more than just the battle between good and evil—it is complacency versus activism, bravery versus cowardice, individuality versus conformity and any number of other ideas that are profoundly relevant in our society today.
“Extraordinary can often seem rather ordinary,” continues Whitaker. “And Meg Murry’s voyage shows us how we ultimately can come to a place where that lightness can overcome the darkness, allowing us to bring the best parts of ourselves to the world.” 

Check out the trailer below:

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PURE MICHIGAN: ENJOY A Stay at Bavarian Inn Lodge and Dine at Bavarian Inn Restaurant

About Bavarian Inn Restaurant:

Celebrating 125 years of service in 2013, the Bavarian Inn Restaurant has become a Michigan landmark. Generations of diners, lodgers and tourists from around the globe have discovered true Bavarian hospitality thanks to Dorothy and her late husband William "Tiny" Zehnder. Guests experience the old-world European charm of the Bavarian Inn - whether it's the famous chicken dinners, fresh baked goods or Michigan's greatest selection of German beer. Bavarian Inn also prides itself on being one of the top consumers of Pure Michigan agricultural products. Nestled within a backdrop of authentic German architecture, a variety of shops and other fun activities, a trip to Frankenmuth would not be complete without a visit to the Bavarian Inn Restaurant. 

My Readers Receive an Exclusive Coupon for Bavarian Inn Restaurant - HALF Off at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant!  CLICK HERE FOR YOUR COUPON!

About the Bavarian Inn Lodge:

The Bavarian Inn Lodge, nestled along the Cass River in one of Michigan's top tourist destinations - Frankenmuth - is one of the state's largest Indoor Water Park Hotels. The Lodge has 360 European-themed guest rooms, including whirlpool and family suites, an adult-only pool, two gift shops, two lounges and two restaurants -- all under one roof. The Lodge's expansive 35,000 square feet Family Fun Center houses two dramatic water slides, three pools and two whirlpools, over 150 video and redemption games, a two-story children's play village and Willy's Kingdom indoor mini-golf course. Guests can also enjoy live, year-round, nightly entertainment and test their own musical skills during weekend family karaoke shows. In 30 years of business, the Bavarian Inn Lodge has been an important destination for travelers, evidenced by the 1.25 million room-nights that have been booked there since its opening, along with its top rating on TripAdvisor.

Learn more at www.bavarianinn.com.

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[Sponsored product review & giveaway disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free from the manufacturer of a PR Agency. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." See ace and friends Disclosure Policy HERE.]

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