11 Spring Break Bucket List Activities

The Spring Break is approaching so every parent should think about some fun and educational activities for Spring Break Bucket List. Remember this is a perfect time for bonding with your child and for improving your relationship with him.

Time could not be enough for you to research a lot, so we thought to give you a helping hand. Here it is our 10 choices when it comes to Spring Break Bucket List. We gathered some useful, funny, interesting and even touching activities for children and parents. We hope to find them inspiring and use them this Spring Break.

1). Get to know something different

Everyone is used to his environment, family, traditions, religion etc. But this could be a good time in finding something new about different in the world around us.

You can either choose a family with a different social status so that the child can learn how other families live, how grateful he should be for what he has, but also to respect other people regardless their social, financial status, appearance etc.

2). Back into the past

It would be fun, but also challenging to live a day back into the past. Tell your child how life was 30-40 years ago. Convince him to make some adjustments for a day: do not use the telephone, the computer, play only outside, riding a bicycle or playing hide and seek, not watching television etc.

3). Enter a competition or enroll him into a new sport

Depending on his assets, find some competitions in your area and enter them. This will be fun, but also challenging. The competitive spirit to a child is very well developed so he might find this a very interesting activity. Of course, be there for him the whole time, encouraging, letting him to tell you his fears, doubts etc.

On the other hand, you could also enroll him into a new sport or teach him a new activity. There is never too late for that and there are never too many sports he can do. Choose a pleasant, Spring relaxing activity like roller skating, biking, tennis, badminton, swimming etc.

4). No judging day

Always remember you are the hero of your child. What you do is the best example for him. That’s why a day without judging would be helpful in building a right, beautiful personality. The rule of no judging will be followed by both of you: do not criticize anyone and try to have a beautiful remark about the ones you meet that day.

5). Take some photos at a new activity

Planting trees, for example, can be both relaxing and educational. The child learns how important is to take care of the environment. In order to be proud by his activity and have some memories with you on such an interesting day, take some photos that you can show afterwards to family and friends.

6). The honesty letter

The moment of truth is here so propose your child a different type of activity. We all have complaints or wishes about each other, but maybe sometime we do not have the courage to verbalize them. So, challenge your child to write you a letter in which to highlight both your qualities, and your flaws. At the end of the letter, ask him to write 3 things he would want to change at you. Of course, you should also write the honesty letter, with him as a main character.

7). How you see yourself after 10 years

Maybe this would be a good start for your child to make dreams. Imagination is one of the most powerful tool of a child so challenge him visualize his future. Ask him to write a letter in which to write how he sees himself in 10 years.

You can do the same. Afterwards, meet and read the letters atloud. It will also be a good idea to put the letters in a box and bury it in a secret place.

8). Buy him a book you loved when you were a child

It’s true, nowadays, we have a lot of fantasy, sci-fi children books, but the charm of that classical stories cannot be surpassed by anything. Thus, go to a book shop and buy your child a classical book you loved in your childhood. One Thousand and One Nights, Black Beauty, David Copperfield, Aesop’s Fables, Robinson Crusoe, Gulliver’s Travels – all these can be very wise choices.  

9). Talk him about faith

Faith is a ticklish topic nowadays, but this does not mean you cannot teach your child things about your religion, about the way you see divinity and other notions like this. Respect, understanding and tolerance should be important values in a child’s life.

10). Make a Wish Spring Tree in your courtyard

If you have a tree in your courtyard, cut paper hearts on which every member of the family should write Spring wishes and hang on that tree. The “legend” says that at the end of summer, all the wishes will come true.

11). Interesting family stories

Family roots are also important so choose to talk to your child about his ancestors a little bit different. Find relevant photos and see if there are some unique and interesting stories. Start with them and try to create a bond between your child and his ancestors too.

Developing brain muscle in your childern

The swimmer  Adrian Moorhouse,  winner of Olympic Gold in 1988 in Seoul, had the same coach from the day of articulating his dream to becoming the best in the world. Terry Denison, his coach, said“You have to be able to accept the ups and downs of life. It teaches people to deal with the disappointments in a way that’s not a major thing, because losing a swimming race is not like losing your arm or seeing a loved one die. I think young people learn that there’s going to be some knocks and some good times. You've got to live with both of them and at the end of the day they’ll both even themselves out. I think it teaches people to be disciplined and that’s most important in this life. I do think it makes people organised as well. They learn to apportion time to certain things in their life and they know that, whatever they are going to do, they've got to give a whole lot of time to do it.”

We all want our children to become self-engaged learners.We want them to feel motivated about their learning. We want them to value effort more then results. We want them to pick themselves up and try again when they fail, because determination and resilience are skills they will need throughout their lives beyond school and college.

Workshop to develop this brain-muscle in your children

WORKSHOP is loaded with activity based learning experiences banking heavily on exploration and experiential learning and self-reflections.

Requirements

4 DAYS(weekends) OF 60 MINUTE LESSONS

Learning Target

– Get Better Mindsets

– Understand that developing a growth mindset is a choice that can positively impact your personal and professional life. Understand that research has proven that intelligence can be developed through effort and skill building.

– How the brain works, difference between growth and fixed mindsets

- Self-Assess their own mindset and develop a toolkit of strategies for future.

- Attitude about self as learner changes, homework completion and attendance improve.

Schedule

Day One - Day Three: (How the Brain Works)

 Learning about the brain and learning and how YOU can grow your intelligence.

Day Four (Feel It! Growth vs. Fixed Mindsets)

Look at our own mindsets and think about how our mindsets impact our life.

DAY FIVE (Feel It! Growth vs. Fixed Mindsets)

Difference between growth and fixed mindset

Day Six: Model It

Day Seven: Talk It

Do skit/role-play

Day Eight: Self-Assess

Self-Assess their own mindset and develop a toolkit of strategies for future.

Conducted By Neetu Shah (child counselor and facilitator with multiple intelligence and habits of mind)

Contact 0554069095

What is Multiple Intelligence Framework

When describing our approach, we use a lot the “Multiple Intelligence Framework” concept. You might have been wondering what is this and how does it apply.

The first one to propose and mention this concept is Howard Gardner, in his 1983 book, Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligence”.

Yet, in order to understand it better, we would want to explain example of the multiple intelligence framework on a general level and then how do we use it at our courses.

What is Multiple Intelligence Framework?

Gillian Wolfe, the head of education at Dulwich Picture Gallery in London, interpreted a famous painting of Anthony Van Dyck – Samson and Delilah using a variety of activities that helped her bringing the painting alive.

In some other words: she used multiple intelligence framework just to set an abstract painting in a more lively world.

She used linguistic tools (writing the story in your own words), logic and mathematical (measuring the painting), visual spatial tools (drawing it from different angles), musical (songs that would fit the mood of the painting), physical (body language, mime to interpret the painting), inter-personal (debate about the story) and intra-personal (comparison, feelings) tools about the painting.

As you would imagine, the result was a different, more lively and complex world.

How does Multiple Intelligence Framework apply in learning and at Discover Me?

The same structure applies to learning too. Here, at DiscoverMeDubai.com, we approach learning from different levels and angles, using in our activities all types of multiple intelligence.

Starting from a common thing/task, we will engage children in interesting and exciting activities that challenge them to interpret that thing/task in so many ways (each way focusing on one of the intelligence) Thus, we will test and work with each type of intelligence. The lesson becomes more interesting, more experiential, more,enriching without the limits of a classic teaching lesson.

Here are some 5 reasons why you will find this approach not only interesting, but also educative and beneficial for your child’s development:
1. He will be more involved in the activities

For every child, a new activity, under different terms, will be a challenge. He will not think about rewards or grades anymore, but he will be more self-involved in what he has to do so the results will be better than his own previous ones.

2. He/she can find out what his/her strong assets are

There is a wise saying: “Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish and its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid”. That’s the problem with not using multiple intelligence in learning People do not understand each of us is different so finding out ,what type of intelligence does your child have is a strong asset.

You can then use them to draw him a path in life, to enroll him on different activities etc.

3. You can find out what are the areas where he has to work more

Through work he can also outdo himself. His self esteem will be higher and he will be a more successful person.

4. He will not feel constrained by rigid teaching settings

Many children to not understand why they have only to learn something by heart. Thus, they refuse to communicate and, worse, they stop from letting imagination creating a whole new world.

Under studying and teaching settings, discipline is also important, but only up there where it does not interfere with imagination, creativity and child’s personality.

Using multiple intelligence in classes and courses, the mind of a child expands and does not recognize limits anymore.

5. He will discover his genius

Every child has a small genius inside him. As a parent and we, as facilitators,can give him gift of exploring and experiencing this genius. We cannot tell him at what he is best at, but we can help him discover that.

Top 8 steps to tap your child’s potential

Discovering your child’s genius is part of your task, as a parent, too. You as his first teacher would love to  know as how to help him develop his full potential. Of course, professors and education are also important, but you are “his first hero”. That’s why exploring some of the useful steps in reaching his full potential will be helpful.

Here are some of the steps we considered to be useful, but remember each child’s personality is different so you might need to adapt them or to add some, according to your child’s behavior.

1). Read and discuss with him!

Knowledge is the key to success, so it would be a good idea to empower your child with the pleasure of reading. Choose different types of books: biographies, historical books, adventure books but with a strong main character etc.

After reading it to your child, discuss to him about it. You will be surprised how many questions does he have and how happy he is you are willing to provide all those new information.

2). Be involved in your child’s life!

Choosing the best school or the most appropriate courses for your child is not enough in helping him reaching his full potential. An involved parent is a wiser parent that knows what happens in his child’s life. Ask him about what is he studying at school, what does he like most, what are the difficulties, go to school and talk to the teachers – all these will empower you because you will be able to solve any issues like bad entourage, weak points in learning, anxiety problems etc.

3). Don’t focus on grades!

There are educational systems that removed grades in order not to inhibit children's potential. Wanting all the time only good grades will make the child think they are the most important in the educational process and this is not so.

Teach your child how important is his uniqueness, motivate and talk to him about his passions, find out together at what areas he is good at etc.

As the Discover me approach, the results are not as important as the involvement of a child in an activity.

5). Teach him about success and failure too!

There is nothing more dangerous than letting a child to think failure is a taboo topic. Success, but also failure, are going to be parts of your child life so why not teaching him what are they and how he should see and behave in both situations?

Thus, allow him to fail too and when he does, be by his side, support and encourage him.

6). Be a model for him!

Example is the best way of teaching a child how he should be and how he should become. If you are keep telling him rules and expectations, but your behavior is lacking some ground values, then the child will not trust or listen to you anymore.

7). Teach him to be a doer!

Undoubtedly, dreams are also important, but in order to have more self esteem and to actually reach his full potential, a child needs to be involved in activities, he has to do something to reach success.

8). Give him wings to fly!

Fear of failure is mostly parents’ prerogative. That’s why they did not let their children to go abroad or to another town to study or just to travel. If you struggled to offer him the best education, then be prepared for the moment he will fly by his own too.

Sources of inspiration:

http://www.streetdirectory.com/etoday/three-steps-to-childs-maximum-potential-eflloj.html

http://www.focusonthefamily.ca/parenting/learning-and-education/10-ways-to-boost-your-childs-academic-potential

http://www.adoptionarticlesdirectory.com/ArticlesUser/popularArticles_view.php?editid1=Three%20Steps%20To%20Child%E2%80%99s%20Maximum%20Potential

https://www.competitivedge.com/parentscoaches-guides-13-steps-being-winning-parent