With November approaching, you might be hearing frequent talk of moustaches and Movember. “What is Movember?”, you ask. During November, people grow moustaches to raise awareness for men’s health issues such as testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and men’s suicide. 

To take part in Movember, get ready to grow your Movember moustache and donate online at Movember.com. Can’t grow a moustache? There are a number of other ways to show your support on the Movember website.

Movember is a great opportunity to raise awareness and involve the kids as well. Read on to discover a few ways to get your kids involved in Movember. 

Communicate the Significance of Movember

Before you get started on any fun Movember activities, you should explain to your kids the significance of Movember, what it is, and the meaning behind the moustache.

At first, they might be wary of these new moustaches and reluctant about the change (“What’s that fuzzy thing on dad’s face!?”), but once they know the meaning, they will likely appreciate the effort. It can also reinforce the importance of taking care of their health and body. It is never too early to teach about health and the importance of healthy habits and healthy eating.

Movember is an exciting time to get together and learn more about dad. Fathers often feel shuttered out of family activities, but now with that great moustache sprouting, they can feel proud of the example they are setting for their kids. There is a strong link between fatherhood and mental health, and it’s vital that fathers feel like they are involved in their kids’ lives and confident about the effort they put in.

Let’s Get Moustachey

Once your kids are aware of the Movember moustache, chances are they will want one of their own. Unless your four-year-old can magically grow one, you will have to get creative. You can use a washable marker to draw a fun homemade moustache, use their favourite creamy drink (whip cream moustache, anyone?), make moustache bow ties, cut and glue a moustache on a stick, or you can purchase fun clothes and accessories with moustaches on them. Many retailers are aware of the campaign and sell an assortment of Movember-themed items. 

Do not hesitate to go all out and create a Movember costume that your kids will wear with pride as they raise awareness for this vital cause.

Let Them Help With Fundraising 

Now that the kids are equipped with their Movember costumes, it’s time to involve them in some fundraising activities. Communicate the idea of a campaign and the fun things you can do together to raise money for Movember. 

 You could bake some Movember moustache cookies – who doesn’t love cookies? You could create Movember crafts such as Movember mustache kits, T-shirts, headbands, pins, bracelets, and more. Encourage your child to use their imagination and think of fun ways to make money for your campaign. 

Do not forget to take advantage of those adorable moustaches and use photos of your kids donning moustaches to encourage your family and friends to participate.

Jumbaloo Playgrounds

We hope you have enjoyed our recommendations for how to involve your kids in Movember and raise awareness for men’s health. We recognize the importance of this campaign and are very happy to suggest a few ideas for getting kids involved. We would love to see your kids and their Movember moustaches at Jumbaloo Playgrounds during November.

To book your next fun outing, please call us at 905-785-3990 or fill out our online form. We look forward to providing your family with a playdate they will not forget.

Toronto is a great place to live, offering unique family-friendly experiences and several places to visit. Whether you’re just visiting with family or you’re one of the lucky ones who live here, you will find plenty of things to do. 

Having fun is important for your little ones. It develops their essential physical and social skills. No matter what your children are interested in, there are so many activities in Toronto. There are a lot of places that offer fun and adventure. Toronto also offers interactive and educational places where you can bring your children. 

If you’re on a family day out in Toronto exploring the best it has to offer, we have prepared a list for you. Below you will find the best activities in Toronto that your kids will love.

Indoor Playgrounds

Let’s be honest- kids love these! It’s simply the best gift you could give to your child. A place to run freely, laugh and play away while interacting with other kids of the same age is a guaranteed way to make your child happy. A public indoor playground is usually equipped with arcade machines, trampolines, toys and other equipment that your child will love. 

Zoos/Aquariums

What better way to teach your children about the surrounding world if not by visiting a zoo or an aquarium? It is the perfect way to get them acquainted with the animal world and awaken their curiosity towards life. Let them explore the surrounding world by interacting with exotic animals as you teach them important lessons about the world such as compassion. 

Museums 

Museum activities can be very fun, and they can teach your curious children about the world and provide memorable learning experiences like no other activity or place can. Some of the best child-friendly museums you will find in Toronto are Montgomery’s Inn, Colborne Lodge, Bata Shoe Museum, and others. 

Arcades 

Toronto is brimming with great arcades bringing you the best of fun activities for kids. Arcades put at your disposal a multitude of games that kids with all types of interests will find thrilling. More than that, they will help your child burn energy before bedtime. Arcades also make for perfect birthday parties that no child will ever forget. 

Toronto Islands

You can’t miss the opportunity to take your children to the famous Toronto Island Park that contains great trails, beaches and children’s amusement rides. Spend some quality time exploring the nature trails with your family and discover amazing views of the islands. For more adrenaline-pumping fun activities for kids, though, the Centre Island, which also happens to be the most famous section, puts the Centreville Amusement Park at your disposal with different rides and even a zoo. 

Contact Us Today

Jumbaloo is your go-to place for fun and adventure in Toronto, welcoming children between the ages of 2 and 12. You can throw amazing birthday parties there for your little ones. This indoor playground offers great arcade games, diverse equipment and slides and an eating area with delicious snacks and healthy food. There’s no other place like it. 

Jumbaloo takes safety measures very seriously ensuring your children are safe at all times. They have staff and supervisors present all over the perimeter and they require parental supervision as well. 

If you want to book a birthday party for your little one, you can call 905-785-3990 or contact them on the following email [email protected].

Experts agree that playtime is an essential cornerstone for proper childhood development. However, in today’s tech-saturated world, many experts fear that children aren’t getting enough free playtime. 

Couple this with a global pandemic that has encouraged further social isolation and we have an unfortunate decline in kids having proper opportunities to play, grow, and learn.

Read on as we explain exactly what playtime is and summarize fun activities for kids of different ages as well as their benefits. 

Happy reading!

What is Playtime?

Playtime is one of the most vital ways for children to learn about the world around them. It is also the best way to encourage physical exercise, creative thinking, and proper psychological development in children. An unregulated, unstructured opportunity to play allows children to nurture their relationships with both others and themselves.

In order for children to develop the right skill sets to optimize their development, playtime is essential. According to the American Journal of Pediatrics, playtime “is a singular opportunity to promote the social-emotional, cognitive, language and self-regulation skills that build executive function and a prosocial brain.”

The Best Activities for Different Ages

Successful learning is best fostered by catering to a child’s inclination to play. As children engage with others and learn more about the world around them, different play activities can help them gain vital skills as they reach each developmental milestone.

Some examples of activities to try with children at different ages include:

Infants

From birth to six months old, babies are learning about the world around them by taking in all of their sights, sounds, textures, colours, and angles. They’re using their bodies to explore, learning to participate in social interactions and how to elicit responses from both people and objects.

Some ways to encourage playful learning in small infants includes imitating your baby’s coos and babbles, showing them interesting objects to spark their attention (such as colourful toys, rattles, stuffed animals, and dolls or stacking toys), or placing them in different positions so that they can view things from different angles.

From the age of 7 to 12 months, after making sure your baby has a safe environment to explore, you can teach them that actions have effects (for example, by allowing them to play with and pick up toys when they fall). You can play peek-a-boo with them as well.

1–3 Years Old

As toddlers start to develop more advanced participation and language skills, they’ll benefit tremendously from playful learning. In fact, it is so important that experts recommend that unstructured playtime is a focal point of early childhood education.

Fun kids activities during early childhood can include parent-supervised playdates with other children of a similar age, make-believe or pretend play, sing-along songs and different movements to help them explore the body (such as jumping, standing on one leg, and games like Simon Says).

Playing with simpler toys at this age is also a great way to encourage a child’s creative thinking skills such as through blocks, empty containers, and puzzles—not smartphones or complicated gadgets!

4–6 Years Old

School-aged children learn how to develop friendships, plan, attach language to ideas and concepts, and create desired effects with objects and people. It’s also at this age that children begin to develop critical motor skills and proper hand-eye coordination, making any hands-on activities a must.

Some ideas for kids activities at this age can include reading and telling stories, allowing them the space to act out pretend scenes and roles, providing them with time to socialize and interact with friends, providing opportunities to sing and dance, and encouraging a variety of safe movements (such as skipping, hopping, swinging, and climbing).

Toys that will help foster their development may include puzzles, construction toys with interlocking pieces (such as Lego), props for pretend games, art supplies, or simple musical instruments.

The Benefits of Playtime

Playtime is one of the most critical vehicles for childhood growth. Some of the ways children can develop through playtime include:

Increased motor skills and concentration

Physical activity during playtime is crucial to the development of children’s fine motor skills and ability to concentrate. Through play, children can learn to wield better control of objects as well as practice better coordination of their body movements and smaller movements between the hands and fingers.

To support gross motor development—this includes control of the arms, legs, hands, and trunk—children can develop their skills through physical activities such as running, jumping, throwing, skipping, tossing balls, and much more.

To support fine motor skill development—this includes control of the hands, feet, fingers, and toes—hands-on activities such as cut-and-paste projects, play dough, blocks, puzzles, and colouring are all ideal.

Social skills development

Through playtime, children develop skills that will have an enormous effect on their overall social development. Playtime teaches children the right skills needed to establish and maintain positive interactions with other people, which will be critical for making and sustaining friendships and relationships as they get older.

Interactions made during playtime also help children to develop empathy as different situations can help them respond to others’ emotions and learn to put themselves in others’ shoes to recognize their feelings.

Teamwork Skills

Unstructured playtime allows children to interact with their peers, making it vital for teaching them how to make friendships, resolve conflicts, and work in teams. For example, playground games teach children how to sort themselves into teams, take turns, set out rules, and then experience the benefits of following them.

Learning proper teamwork skills is essential when it comes to early childhood development. Children learn a lot of virtues in these environments such as patience, tolerance, respect for others, and the ability to compromise.

Jumbaloo Awaits Your Next Playdate!

We hope you’ve enjoyed this article on all of the various activities for kids at home. 

If at, anytime, you want to drive your kids to an indoor playground area or are looking to book a party room for your little one’s upcoming event, contact our team at Jumbaloo. We are adhering to strict Covid-19 rules and regulations for your safety and that of our team. 

Call us today at 905-785-3990 or visit our online contact page.

From all of us at Jumbaloo: Stay safe and we look forward to seeing you soon!

As summer approaches and you’re asking yourself how to keep your kids busy during all that free time, you might be considering sending them to a summer camp. 

Sending your kids to a summer camp can be a lifesaver if you aren’t able to have them at home all day or if you understand that a social setting is the best environment for them to release their energy.

Below, we break down why summer camp is important for your children, as a whole, and what are its benefits. 

Read on!

The Importance of Summer Camps

When it comes to summer camps for kids, it’s honestly a place where they can enjoy themselves and look back at it with fondness. 

They create bonds with new friends that are different from their school friends and get to enjoy each other in an atmosphere that is all play and no work. In the meantime, they still learn to be kind, caring, fair, and trustworthy.

Going to summer day- or away camps help children learn a sense of living in a community that is very different from an academic one or one they may have if they are part of a religious group. It helps children become a bit more independent, resourceful, and even resilient. 

Not only do kids get to play and have fun at a summer camp, but they also remain intellectually engaged as it allows for children to keep learning, staying interactive, and enjoying themselves at the same time. 

Benefits of the Summer Camp Experience

Much like school, summer camp is a learning experience for children. It helps their developmental skills and opens their eyes to new experiences, ways of thinking, and helps them meet new people outside of an academic setting. 

Learning through play has great developmental benefits and that is why summer camps are so important for your children. Moreover, having physical playtimes like running and climbing helps support muscle strength and endurance.

Teamwork 

At summer camp, kids can learn about teamwork by working in groups on different activities, enhance their social skills, and learn to be a little more self-sufficient. 

Kids get to participate in group activities where they have to learn to properly communicate with other children and camp counselors, as well as do some problem-solving. Teamwork is a valuable lesson that we all should learn, and summer camp is the perfect setting for it. It teaches children that sometimes the best way to do something is in a group and not alone.

Independence and Social Skills

A shy child might shine in this environment because they can be their uninhibited selves. They can become more independent and trust themselves and their inner voice. Summer camp can also boost your children’s self-esteem as they become more and more self-reliant. 

Friendships

Camp is a safe environment where parents don’t have to worry about leaving their child for a certain time. Children get to make ever-lasting friendships with each other and learn to give help when needed by others. Not only that, but kids also feel a sense of purpose and it is a fun reason to get up in the morning, instead of feeling sluggish and bored. 

By the time their school year starts again, they feel energized and ready to learn. 

It’s Playtime at Jumbaloo!

If you are searching online for a summer camp in Ontario, then look no further! 

Our team, at Jumbaloo Playgrounds, takes pride in offering a fun and loving environment to children of all ages, starting from infants. You can trust us to make your kids look forward to going to a summer camp again! 

If you want to book play hours with us today or this summer, contact us at 905-785-3990 or visit our contact page for more information.

As the season changes and the weather gets colder, you may be wondering the best way to keep your kids active. While getting your kids out of the house in the winter is difficult on its own, doing so during the COVID-19 has made this even harder for parents. However, it’s not impossible!

We’ve created this list of some of the best health and wellness activities for kids so you can focus less on searching for kid-friendly, free activities near you and more on getting active and having fun with your kids!

Indoor Playgrounds

Indoor playgrounds are one of the best ways to let your children have fun and stay active this winter. They offer all of the benefits of outdoor playgrounds while keeping your children protected from the elements and colder weather. 

However, indoor playgrounds also go further.

Since all equipment is inside, it’s easier to supervise your children and keep them safe. It’s also easier to clean the playground equipment and impose safety rules to help create a clean and safe environment for your children to play in. 

Indoor playgrounds are one of the best health and wellness activities for kids. Not only do they allow your children to play and have fun, but they also allow your children to improve and build needed social skills. 

Skating

This winter, take advantage of the cold weather and go ice skating with your children. Or, if you rather stay warm, try indoor skating.

Whichever route you take, skating is another great way to keep your kids active this winter in a fun way. Skating is designed to work nearly every muscle group in the body, providing a whole-body workout. This is great for burning energy while improving cardiovascular health. It also teaches balance.

If your child doesn’t know how to skate, many rinks off age-specific and skill-specific classes to teach them the basics in skating correctly and safely. This will also allow your child to develop social skills and make friends with common interests. With your child out of school for a break during the winter, this socialization can help improve their mood too. 

Dance Party

If you’re looking for some last-minute kid friendly activities today, then look no further than your own home! 

Helping your kids stay active while having fun doesn’t always have to involve leaving the house. With some fun, colorful lights, a speaker, and a few kid friendly songs, you can turn your home into the ultimate dance party. 

Dancing is one of the best health and wellness activities for kids. It teaches them an abundance of skills – both physical and not. 

Physically, dancing will help your child remain fit while also burning out some of the energy that may get built up with long days inside during the winter. It can also improve their balance, coordination, and cardiovascular health.

At the same time, dancing will also help your child build confidence. As a creative outlet, it’ll work to strengthen your child’s mind and imagination just as much as their body. 

Final Thoughts

Keeping your child safe while letting them have fun is your number one priority. And here at Jumbaloo Playgrounds, an indoor playground in Mississauga, Ontario, it’s ours too. That’s why we’ve taken several precautions in creating a clean, safe environment so you can keep your kids active this winter.  We’ve updated our safety measures while still providing clean, safe equipment so you can have peace of mind while your children play indoors. If you’re interested in learning more or reserving a slot for indoor play, contact us today.