Stay involved!

As your child tries various sports, stay involved. Consider:

• Safety. Does the coach require that players follow the rules and use proper safety equipment? Do players take time to warm up and cool down before and after each practice or event? In hot weather, does the coach pay attention to hydration, humidity and temperature? Are children taught proper movement and body positioning? Is the coach attentive to the prevention and recognition of concussions?
• Coaching style. Attend practices or talk to the coach to determine his or her attitude toward the game. How much does each child play and how is playing time determined? If a coach consistently yells at the children or lets only the most skilled players into the game, your child might become discouraged. Beware of a win-at-all-costs attitude.

Overall, be positive and encouraging. Emphasize effort, improvement and enjoyment over winning or personal performance. Attend events and practices as your schedule allows, and act as a good model of sportsmanship yourself.

And don’t be surprised if your child wants to switch sports a few times at the beginning. It may take some time for her to find the right fit.

“Pick two or three sports and give your child a chance to experience them for at least a season or two before giving up,” Shu says.

Of course, organized athletics aren't the only option for fitness. If your child isn't interested in sports, find other physical activities — especially ones that are sustainable over a lifetime. Take family bike rides, check out local hiking trails or visit indoor climbing walls. Encourage active time with friends, such as jumping rope or playing tag. You can even encourage fitness through video games that involve dancing, virtual sports or other types of movement.

But, she warns, “do be careful,“you may get stuck with a lot of expensive equipment that may never get used again".

Finger Food - Picnic

With the arrival of summer it is nice to rediscovers the pleasures of spending time in the open air, either by taking a trip to the countryside, having a garden party or even a picnic. It’s a nice opportunity to get together with friends and family and have some fun, may be even practice some sport and play outdoor games – who knows!

Here are a few simple and healthy recipes to prepare and to add to the garden party menu and/or picnic. These recipes are simple and fun to prepare. One could even get the children involved in their preparation.

Strawberry and kiwi lollipops: 

• Time to prepare 10 minutes approx.
• Ingredients for 16 fruit lollipops: 1 kiwi, 5 strawberries, 16 chocolate sticks 

Preparation: 

1. Peel the kiwi and cut into large slices 

2. Wash the strawberries and cut them into 3 large slices, length ways 

3. Place one slice of fruit per chocolate stick as shown in photo. 

Blackberries and mozzarella skewers

• Time to prep: 10 minutes approx..
• Ingredients for 6 skewers: 1 tray of blackberries, 1 pack of small mozzarella balls, some basil leaves, skewers 

Preparation: 

1. rinse the blackberries with water and a drop of vinegar and dry them gently with kitchen paper towel 

2. Make up the skewers by alternating with 3 blackberries, then 3 small mozzarella’s and adding some basil leaves in between.

Fruit skewers 

• Time to prep: 30 minutes approx. + cooling time
• Ingredients for 10-12 skewers: 1 slice of watermelon, 1 melon, 150 g mixed berries (i.e. raspberries, blackberries, etc.) 1 small glass of raspberry juice, 12 g of jelly leaves, 50 g of sugar

Preparation: 

1. Wash and gently dry the berries with kitchen paper towel. 
2. Soak in cold water the jelly leaves and bring to boil 3 dl of water with sugar, remove from the heat, add the jelly leaves once you have squeezed out the excess water and blend together. 
3. Add the raspberry juice and let it cool. 
4. Pour a thin layer of jelly into a small rectangular baking tray and put it in the freezer. 
5. Once the jelly has solidified place the berries on the chilled jelly and cover the fruit with the remaining almost cold liquid jelly and place in the fridge. 
6. Cut the watermelon and the melon into cubes. 
7. When the jelly is well congealed remove it from the tray and cut it into cubes.
8. Keep the fruit and jelly in the fridge and when ready to serve make up the skewers alternating a cube of fruit to a cube of jelly – decorate with a leaf of mint, if desired.

Watermelon basket

• Time to prep: 30 minutes approx. 
• Ingredients: 1 watermelon, 1 melon

Preparation: 

1. Cut the watermelon into the shape of a basket. 
2. Cut the watermelon pulp into slices and then use biscuit molds to create different shapes.
3. Do the same with the pulp of the melon. 
4. Fill the watermelon basket with the shapes. The younger children will have great fun helping you make the basket. 

Rainbow of fruit 

• Time to prep: 30 minutes approx. 
• Ingredients for 6: 2 kiwi’s, 1 melon, 1 tray of blueberries, 1 pineapple , 3 trays of strawberries, ½ lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of sugar (preferably brown sugar), 250 ml whipping cream, 50 g icing sugar

Preparation: 

1. Wash the fruit and cut it into pieces and keep it separate, melt the sugar in the lemon juice and sprinkle it over the diced fruit. 
2. Take a serving dish and start to make the rainbow beginning from the outer circle as shown in the picture. First the strawberries, then the melon, pineapple, kiwi and finish with the blueberries.
3. Add the whipped cream with the icing sugar to form 2 clouds at the base of the rainbow.

Some children may not like the lemon despite the added sugar. Simply replace the lemon with natural fruit juice without the added sugar.

Championship in the Skatepark.

15th of July was a big date in the calendars of extreme sports fans in Gdynia. Right on this day, an extreme sports contest - Gdynia Championship called Mistrzostwa Gdyni o Puchar AB Inwestor took place on AB Inwestor Skatepark, right in the heart of Gdynia. The contest was divided into three competitions: skateboarding, BMX and scooter. Even when rain tried to sabotage the contest, everyone fought their hardest for championship until the very end. Winners took home hefty cash prizes, and a cup stating of the championship of the event.

Is my child ready for sports?

Toddlers and preschoolers at the age 2 to 5 beginning to master many basic movements, but they're too young for most organized sports. Toddlers who participate in organized sports typically don't gain any long-term advantage in terms of future sports performance.

At this age, unstructured free play is usually best. Try: Running, Trumbling, Throwing, Catching, Swimming.

Around age 6 or 7, most kids have the physical and mental skills they need to start joining in organized sports. Shu says you can get your child moving as early as she shows interest, and start with easier activities that won’t be hard to master - playing catch, kicking a ball, swinging a bat, or going for an easy swim. As she gets better with hand-eye coordination and physical activity, then you can introduce the idea of a team sport. Consider organized activities such as: T- ball, Softball or Baseball, Soccer, Gymnastics, ,Tennis, Martial arts etc.

“You may want to try less-competitive team sports at first - for example, recreational level rather than travel ball -so novices don't get intimidated by more seasoned players,” says Shu.

Where should we look for probiotics?

Getting plenty of good bacteria, also known as probiotics, is key to keeping little stomachs happy and healthy, and yogurt is a great source of this bacteria. 

Limit sugary versions aimed at kids because these are often lower in protein and good bacteria. Instead, choose plain nonfat or low-fat yogurt or Greek yogurt and dress them up with a spoonful of honey and sprinkling of fresh fruit. Look for the words “live and active cultures” on the carton to ensure that the yogurt has plenty of beneficial bacteria. Don’t forget too that a cup of yogurt counts towards your child’s daily dairy servings. Most yogurts actually have more calcium than a cup of milk.

Kids will love to assemble their own Blueberry and Maple-Pecan Parfaits

Summer Holidays in Gdynia!

Children in Gdynia have 2 months of holidays and we know very good how hard is to organise them active time.

Gdynia Sports Centre has a special offer - summer area for children at main beach in Gdynia, open every day!

There are a lot of attractions and we guarantee that no one will be bored!!!

Children can take part in football tournaments, play "sand" basketball, learn zumba moves but also build castles, draw pictures, make their own sea animals from recycling and much more.

Try Hummus!

This heart-healthy dip and spread is one food that most kids will eat – as long as you don’t tell them it’s made from beans! But it’s the fiber, complex carbs, and protein in those garbanzo bean—combined with heart-healthy olive oil—that make hummus such a perfect food. The complex carbs fuel your busy little one, while the protein and fiber help keep him content and meltdown-free until dinner. Serve hummus as a dip with baked pita chips or baby carrots or use it in place of mayonnaise on sandwiches and wraps. Try store-bought or whip up a quick homemade version (Traditional Hummus).