7 Things About Our 2021 Outdoor Kid's Fitness Program

7 Things About Our 2021 Outdoor Kids Circuit and Fitness Program

By: Sumera Garcia-Quadri

1. We instruct for kids!

   Kids are not mini-adults. They're kids! Our program combines age-appropriate games, music, and fitness and circuit drills to create a fun experience to help our little friends ages 7 to 11 learn the fundamental movement skills (FMS) outlined by the Coaches Association of Canada

   Each class contains a warm-up and cool down, fitness drills, and pair and circuit activities relating to the sport skill for that week. To see the FMS we're teaching, click here
   

2. We have a 0 bullying policy

   We do not believe in “tough love” or the “no pain no gain” philosophy. Because if you're in pain, the only thing you'll gain is an injury and that's anything but fun!

   Our instructors provide constructive feedback and options that aim to encourage kids to keep trying a movement or activity that may be difficult. When it comes to peer to peer bullying, we do not tolerate bullying in any form. This includes verbal and physical bullying towards their peers or instructor. To find out about our bullying and warning policy, click here

3. We're beginner-friendly

   We adapt our instruction for multi-levels, especially for kids with basic movement skills. To keep kids motivated, we encourage them to go at their own pace and offer various options. Our program is also designed to teach a new FMS each week which means your child can join in at any time.

4. We're trained to work with kids

   Sumera and any instructors under her have a love of kid's fitness and experience working with kids through work, sports teams, and/or education. Additionally, all instructors will have training in CPR and First Aid and a police check. To know more about Sumera, click here

5. We're Embracing The Outdoors During Covid-19

   Due to routine gym and community center closures, this program will be offered for the first time outdoors at a local park in the High Park area. For more info on what happens when we cancel or reschedule a class, click here.

6. We're seasonal

   We're offering our program from May 2021 to July 2021, multiple times a week, and at different times. We have lunchtime hours for kids homeschooling, after school hours, and weekend mornings. To see the tentative schedule and/or join a waitlist, click here.

   Our program will adhere to COVID-19 protocols at that time

7. We May Be Able To Come To You!

   If you're in the west end of Toronto, have a large park by you and a group of 6 kids (maximum 8), we can try and bring this to you! To find out about our program syllabus, park, and schedule, click here.

3 Outdoor Halloween Activities For Kids - Under $10

3 Outdoor Halloween Activities For Kids - Under $10

By: Sumera Garcia-Quadri

As part of a fitness team, I'm invested in the physical and mental health and social well-being of our littlest people!

We know there is a strong connection between regular physical activity and kids doing better in school and in their social life, along with feeling happier and having better self-confidence.

Because Halloween is celebrated by kids walking door to door to get treats in Toronto and across Canada, this blog will include 3 physical activities involving your household/current social circle that you can do in a post-COVID-19 era.

1. Outdoor mask-making game with your household/social circle only

What you need: paper plates or blank paper masks ($3), a pack of gems/stickers ($1), crayons/markers ($2), construction paper ($1), candy $3 (this may cost more if you have more kids involved)

From home: Hand sanitizer, Scissors, white glue, string, tape, a stapler, a large blanket or garbage bags, and enough Halloween character names written on paper to pull out of a hat

How: at a park, spread out a blanket or individual garbage bags across benches or on the grass. Making sure the kids have distanced far apart, place enough supplies on each child's station so they aren't sharing. Before they make their mask, each child comes up, one by one, to pull out a Halloween character from a jar. Their mask will be based on this character.

Each kid gets time to make it. Once completed, each kid explains their character and acts out what it does. The kid that shows the most movements wins the most treats.

Goal: To bond with others, be creative, and stay off their tablets/cells.

2. Halloween Treat Hunt – You Eat What You Hunt

What you need: hand sanitizer, enough clues written on paper for the total number of children involved, candy (each household can allocate $5 towards candy depending on how many kids are there)

How: among your household or social circle, choose a park to visit in the early evening. One adult/parent goes ahead of time to hide treats in different areas and then writes down clues on how to find it on paper. Once at the park, each kid or pair gets certain clues to where the candy is hidden. The pair/child that finds all of their treats first gets to choose their next activity (i.e. what Halloween movie to watch, or healthy Halloween treat to make on Halloween)

Goal: To encourage kids to move for at least 30 minutes, similar to trick or treating.

3. Halloween Haunted Walk – Discover Your City

What you need: A cell/tablet/pc and internet to look up haunted parks in Toronto, hand sanitizer, and healthy versions of kids treats (think of ingredients that cost under $10)

How: One early evening, choose a few of these parks to visit. Once at your site, look for monuments that tell you the history or open up a podcast telling you the haunting at that location. Bring treats as your snack for the walk (up to $10) / additional costs of gas/transit tickets to factor in unless you walk or bike there.

Goal: To move for at least 1-hr combined across different parks while getting spooked!

A site idea to explore: I live in the high park area. The house of John Howard, the original owner of the high park, is said to be haunted by his wife Gemima. She died of breast cancer. She was the first to be diagnosed with the condition in Toronto at that time.

Haunted site links below:

• https://www.toronto.com/news-story/4176168-history-of-hauntings-at-colborne-lodge-resurface-as-halloween-nears/

• https://www.toronto.com/things-to-do/haunted-places-in-ontario/

• https://dailyhive.com/toronto/toronto-haunted-locations-2017

3 March Break Crafts For Parents & Kids- Ditch The Candy & Get Creative

Written By: Sumera Garcia-Quadri

In light of the fun crafts that my 77 yr-old grandmother has been doing at LA Center for Active Living 55+ which she surprisingly loves due to the bonding opportunities, I thought I’d share some of my childhood favorites.

When I wasn't in after school dance programs or hanging out with my friends, I was often at home cooking with my dad or watching my favorite shows. But that could get boring at times and then I would get creative at finding ways to occupy my time. We didn’t have cellphones or tablets then. Art and craft was my main hobby and I could do it for hours on end. While my sister’s was creative writing, drawing, and singing. Don't get me wrong, we would have benefited from being enrolled in more social and recreational programs, but growing up with a single father who became physically disabled and then my grandparents, meant, we couldn't always ask for non-essentials. Now, I think growing up that way wasn’t so bad, because should my cellphone or laptop ever break down, I've got a hobby I love in my pocket.

1. Toilet Paper Roll Safari Binoculars

   What you need: 2 toilet paper rolls, 1 string, any colored paper (tissue paper, gift wrapping, newspaper), stickers and pens, a stapler or duct tape and scissors

   Method: Lay the 2 toilet paper rolls beside each other. Join the two rolls together by stapling or gluing the sides together. Place another piece of tape across the middle of the two rolls to secure them together. Make 2 holes with a hole punch on the outer sides of each roll. Decorate with your favorite paper, gems, and stickers. Weave a string through the holes and tie a knot. Make sure there’s enough string to go over your head so that it can hang around your neck like a necklace. You’re done! Go exploring!

   Option: to tint the lenses, wrap see through colored plastic paper at the front of each lens and secure it with staples or tape

2. Pasta Baroque Frame

   What you need: one side of a cereal box, 1 ruler, pastas (bow, fusilli, mini wheels), non toxic white glue, gold or brown matte paint and gold sparkles, 1 gold or black satin ribbon, and double sided clear tape

   Method: for the frame, draw a 6 x 6 square onto the box and cut it out. Draw a smaller 4 x 4 square on the square and cut the inside out to create a frame. The frame should be 2 inches thick. Make 2 holes on the top of the frame with a whole punch for the string. Using the cardboard side, generously spread glue all over the frame and decorate with pasta shells. Allow to dry over night until the frame is hard and dry. Paint the entire frame. Add the sparkles to the wet paint and tap off the excess. Allow to dry. Add the ribbon through the wholes and secure with a knot. Stick a picture to the back of the frame with double sided clear tape. You’re done! Hang It!

   Option: instead of hanging it, simply add enough sticker magnets to the back of the frame to hang it on the fridge

3. Tea Bag Stained Ancient Paper Treasure Map (fun for treasure hunt parties)

   What you need: 1 page of white paper (any size), 2 tea bags, a cup of hot water, red and black crayons, scissors or a lighter

   Method: Crumble the paper a few times and then lay open. Steep 2 tea bags in hot water until the water is dark brown (5 to 8 minutes). Once cool, squeeze the water out of the tea bags and dab onto the paper. Continue dabbing until the paper is as dark as you want it. Allow to dry over night. Once dry, cut or lightly burn the edges safely, parents should facilitate with this part. Use black and red crayons to draw a treasure map. You’re done! Go Hunting!

   Happy Crafting!

5 Fun and Affordable Ways To Stay Active This Fall

5  Fun and Affordable Ways To Stay Active This Fall

By: Sumera Q, Fusion Cardio Toronto

High Park Trails

Fall is one of my favourite seasons in Canada. Maybe its because of the cooler weather conditions and the beautiful colours of the leaves. Or maybe, it has to do with its nutritious and yummy produce like pumpkins, apples, and corn all of which I love using to make delicious soups, protein shakes, and low-fat desserts. Whatever it is that has me hooked, here are 5 ways to stay active this season:

1.      Workout In High Park (Cost: Free to $30)

High Park is a beautiful place to enjoy a free hike, bike ride or walk. It’s trails and Zoo are totally free. If you go in the day, you can take a tour of Colborne Lodge, one of Toronto's oldest historical homesm for around $8 per person. In October, it has a Halloween Spooky trail walk which sold out fairly quickly last year so definitely try and give this activity a go.

2.      Visit a Pumpkin/Corn Maze Farm (Cost: $10 to $15 for admission)

These attractions are typically out of the city and a fun activity for larger groups and families. The farms offer corn maze walks, playground areas, and scary barns allowing for some low impact exercise.

3.      Go Apple Picking (Cost: $20 and up)

Also located outside of the city, apple farms allow the public to come in, pick their own apples for a set price, and to connect with food in a way that they don’t normally get too. Apple picking is also a great upper body workout. While this festivity falls on the higher end of the scale, you can always pickle, puree and freeze apples for smoothies and pies for up to a few months.

4. Attend Fall Events (Cost: Free) 

Many organizations across Toronto will be hosting free Fall events to promote their programs and services. The Bloor West often hosts a festivals with free crafts for kids, pumpkin carving, and prizes. The City of Toronto (link) has a list of free events for the public too.

5.   Weekly Coffee Walks (Cost: $2 and up)

Turn coffee time it into a weekly form of exercise. Ask a friend to meet you at a cafe and get your favorite tea or coffee (healthier options here) and take it for a walk. To achieve the benefits of low impact cardio, try and make your walk at least 30-minutes long. 

Hope these suggestions help.

 Sources:

1. https://www.active.com/fitness/articles/13-ways-to-stay-fit-this-fall/slide-2

2. https://www.care2.com/greenliving/7-creative-ways-to-stay-active-this-fall.html

3. https://sunwarrior.com/healthhub/11-ways-to-stay-outside-and-active-this-fall

4. http://www.athletico.com/2016/10/07/5-fun-ways-stay-active-fall/

5. https://www.toronto.com/things-to-do/10-things-toronto-fall/

6. https://www.blogto.com/eat_drink/2016/08/12_orchards_for_apple_picking_near_toronto/

7. https://www.downeysfarm.com/downeys-farm-market-admission.htm

8. https://www.brooksfarms.com/fallfunfestival

How To Keep Your Kids Active This Winter

In the winter, there are a variety of exciting outdoor physical activities to get your kids involved in. Kids, however, may find participating in winter activities more of a chore than a pleasure due to the cold weather conditions. And for parents, the costs associated with paying for winter apparel, equipment, and/or lessons for activities like hockey and skating, to name a few, can be a burden. The good news is that there is still a fun way to keep them active without all of the hassles.

Indoor Group Fitness Classes Are A Great Option

Group fitness classes are great for both parents and kids because there are a variety of options and price points to choose from, most take place after school or on weekends, and are held at a local community/health center, united church, library, or your child’s school. Talk to your child’s school’s office secretary or gym teacher about what’s available there. Depending on where you live in Toronto, some programs may be free and/or at low cost at community centers. In the chance that your child cannot get into the program they want, local libraries can help you search for free instructional books or videos on how to learn the activity that your child is interested in. They may also offer free craft programs to keep your little person’s hands, arms and creativity flowing.

How Me and My Instructors Are Keeping Kids Active

In an effort to encourage healthy active kids and physical creativity, we are offering affordable Girl’s Dance Fitness and Mom and Baby Fitness classes in both the Bloor West and The Annex. We also run free, safe, girl’s fitness programs in partnership with social and health centers across Toronto during certain times of the year.

To sign your child up for a class this winter, please view the schedule.