Healthy Summer Activities To Stay Active

Healthy Summer Activities To Keep Children Active

Stumpy Bay

       Summer is approaching and many will be planning trips to visit family and friends or go on a vacation; many of us will be staying at home looking for things to do. Keeping children active and engaged in their learning and development as an individual is crucial to their success in life endeavors. Through engaging activities parents can promote self esteem as well as physical fitness, after all parents are our first role models and role modelling is how children learn best. Engaging activities during the summer months can also help deter or decrease weight gain as we are all too aware of the 'obesity epidemic' and the initiatives in place to reduce the rising numbers. Summer regression is also something we're familiar with that happens after the summer, summer enrichment camps aren't the only to prevent it; engaging in culturally aesthetic activities also stimulates one mind as well as their intellectuality. So you may be wonder just what could be done to encourage your child to develop active healthy habits, well the best way to form a habit is through a routine so here are some engaging, active summertime activities that the whole family can partake in!

• Going to the Beach 

 As any beach goer would know going to the beach is a blast and a free workout! Beach activities can range from sand sports to water activities, all of which are fun in the sun awaiting you and your loved ones. A few balls, boogie boards and a float are all that needed for a full days fun!

•  Bicycling 

Do any of you have an inkling of an idea of the beautiful scenery you take for granted and pass by all nonchalant everyday? I promise you the first time you go bike riding you'll never forget to appreciate it again! We live in one of the most beautiful places on earth with clear waters, white sands and relentless sun; why not take advantage of such beauty and keep healthy while doing it. There are walking and bicycling paths all across the territory, and many near beaches and ports making it nice and breezy no matter what time you decide to ride

Waterfront, Charlotte Amalie U.S.V.I

• Walking/ Jogging

As was aforementioned there are walking paths all over the territory strategically placed to appeal to our sense of nature (or so I believe). Jogging and taking walks with the family is a great way to exercise and to get in quality time, with the silence of the trail it make the time ideal for conversating and catching up on lost time. Other than using popular trails one could go sightseeing in various part of town and explore whatever there may be to offer you at the time.

• Camping 

Our National Parks are known for their breathtaking views, twenty beautiful hiking trails in wet tropical or dry forest, your preference. During  your stay visit the welcome center for a brief history and camp on Cinnamon Bay Campground 

• Visiting Local Museums & Art Galleries

I love Tillet Gardens Center for the Arts! It's your garden variety one stop and shop center with various art studio's, shops, restaurants, and live concerts, fairs, and theater performances (just to name a few) there's never a dull day within their beautiful garden. 

• Coordinate With Others 

Coordinate with family members and friends to encourage your families getting active together, most people are just looking for someone to do things with, engage and reach out to others. Teach your children (as role models) that they don't have to be ashamed to get active and the benefits of such, like staying healthy!

 

National Public Gardens Day In U.S.V.I

As a child whose role models where all seemingly 'plant lovers' I too grew an appreciation for one of natures more delicate forms. I found during adolescence that nature had many different uses with regards to healing, both medicinally and spiritually. Growing up in the Caribbean many of us are exposed to gardening in many various forms and usually from young ages, by family members, friends, community ties, or educational efforts with regards to our culture. As a result of such many of us are aware of a variety of commonly used plants that have a variety of medicinal uses that can be found literally in our back or front yards ( like aloe vera, morenga, bush teas, etc.) if not growing wild publicly within our communities. 

Yet there are some small communities that have taken the time to cultivate the most beautiful of flowers in such a wide array as would only be seen in the tropics. These small communities like our various botanical gardens and national park, housed within our very territory, have continued on their dedicated missions to the perseverance and cultivation of pieces of natures art and many of the medicinal foundations of healing. 


This May 8 is National Public Gardens Day, an annual celebration of public gardens to raise awareness of the important roles all gardens, especially botanical gardens, play in promoting environmental stewardship, plant and water conservation, green spaces and education regarding such, in communities worldwide. Lets celebrate and educate ourselves as well as others through exploring our territories various botanical gardens and even our  national parks. Many of us tend to our own gardens, take some time and share your knowledge and your garden with members of the community and your neighbors. 

Here are a listing of Botanical Gardens within the territory that I've found, and three that I've had the pleasure of visiting myself, I implore you all to continue and spread our heritage as well as promote green living and raise awareness for public gardens day!

Botanical Gardens within the U.S Virgin Islands include but aren't limited to;

• Tillett Gardens

• Estate St. Peter's Greathouse And Botanical Gardens

• Phantasea Tropical Botanical Garden

• St. George Village Botanical Garden

• U. S Virgin Islands National Park

The views expressed within the blog are solely those of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on any of her affiliations. For more on the U.S Virgin Islands read Too Much Violence And Abuse In Our Schools, Too Much Violence: Shootings Near USVI Preschools, and Educational Institutions Need New Blood.