![]() If a child misses this opportunity, that does not mean that the child will be impaired, but her brain may not develop circuitry to its full potential, or optimal development, in that area. Babies begin to take much more notice of the world during this period. For instance, scientists have determined that the neurons for vision begin sending messages back and forth rapidly at two to four months of age, peaking in intensity at eight months. Researchers say that there are “windows of opportunity,” or sensitive periods, in children’s lives when specific types of learning take place. “Move it or lose it” is true for both children and adults. Brain cell connections are lost or pruned away as a result of limited activity or stimulation. The ability of the brain to develop and maintain neural connections is based on new movement and play experiences of young children (Choosy Kids, IMIL 2016). This messaging is important for the brain-body connection. If you send a message to 500 friends, and each of those friends, in turn, send or forward that message to another 500 friends, and so on, the messages or signals expand exponentially. Compare this to posting messages to friends on Facebook or Instagram. These neural connections start to send messages to each other to meet the requirements of the body and brain. In the brain, nerve cells called neurons are present at birth and eventually form trillions of connections over the first years of life depending on the child’s life experiences. So if movement is one of the most important learning components of a young child’s life, should parents desire praise for raising quiet, well-behaved little ones?Īt birth, a baby’s brain contains 100 billion brain cells, roughly as many nerve cells as there are stars in the Milky Way, and almost all the brain will ever have. Rolling, crawling, walking, and jumping, along with a variety of other movement activities, build the brain during the first years of a child’s life. We all want to be the "cool" parents, don’t we? Trust me: A boat will add to your cool factor.Research shows a link between cognitive development and movement, meaning children need opportunities to move so they can learn. Does your kids’ world revolve around their friends? Boating is a golden opportunity for any parent to keep their teen or pre-teen close while getting to know their friends. When I think about the kind of life I want my kids to live and the memories I want them to have, a boat wins out, hands down. I like those as much as the next person, but in today’s economy, sometimes we have to choose. That’s how much many of us spend per month on things like dinners out, movies and video games. Many entry-level boats can be purchased for a monthly payment of around $200. There are some people out there that are convinced that boating is a luxury that only rich people can afford. It’s a great formula for bringing the family together, having fun, staying active and eating healthy.ĥ. ![]() When we’re looking for a fun day away from it all, we’ll pick a park we can boat to and bring along a picnic lunch, a soccer ball and our bathing suits. As a mom, I’m always looking for family fun that I can feel good about, and boating definitely fits the bill. ![]() No matter where you boat, there’s something about being on the water that provides that much needed escape from the day-to-day routine, whether it’s for an hour, an afternoon or an entire week.Ĥ. A great way to take a break without going far is to get out on a boat. You hear a lot these days about the benefits of the "stay-cation," especially how easy it is on the wallet. It’s our opportunity to unplug as a family and focus on having fun outside together in the natural world.ģ. If there’s one thing that thrills me about boating with the kids, it’s that our boat doesn’t have a screen. Just think of the art, science or music projects you can conduct on the water! The important part is that boating gets you out on the water together where there is no schedule, few distractions, just a focus on family time.Ģ. Do you and your kids love sports like swimming, fishing, tubing, waterskiing and wakeboarding? Great! But there are plenty of other ways to have fun on a boat. ![]() Here are the reasons I would recommend the boating lifestyle to ANY family, whether boating is in your blood or not.ġ. But I got away from boating as a young adult, and I might not have returned if it weren’t for the birth of my two sons. In fact, I represent the fifth generation of my family to spend time at our rustic cabin on the St. As I was growing up, I took advantage of any chance I could to spend time on the water with my friends and family.
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