Best Healthy Snacks For Swimmers: What to Eat After A Swim Workout

Swimming is a great sport, workout, and physical activity for all ages, but especially for kids.  Swimming can be a way for your child to stay healthy, stay safe in the water, make friends, and enjoy a hobby.  Many kids enjoy swimming as a summer camp activity as well. Many kids summer camps offer swimming as an activity they can participate in every day, and there are even summer camps that focus on only swimming! Also, competitive swimming can take a lot out of a child during both practices and races. Most competitive swimming matches can last anywhere from 15 seconds to 15-30 minutes.  And whether the race lasts a few seconds or a long time, swimming involves a great deal of cardio, endurance, and energy. That is why it is important to replace that energy with a healthy snack after a swim workout.  

Recovering after a swim and replacing the needed energy the body has used for swimming.  It is not uncommon for children to feel very hungry after swimming. It is important to remember that both food and liquid are important to refuel the body after a swim and eating the snack within 30 minutes of the workout is the best option for quick and safe recovery. Here are some snacks that are the best healthy snacks for a swimmer to have after a swim workout. Be sure to pack some of these snacks in a lunchbox before your kids leave for summer camp!

Protein

Protein is a great post swim workout snack. Proteins are chock full of amino acids that help repair the muscles in the body, making it perfect to eat after a workout.  Protein can also help to eliminate muscle soreness the day after the workout. Protein is always an important party of any diet, but especially important after a long workout due to its replenishing abilities. Here are some examples of some healthy snacks that have enough protein to help refuel the body after a swim workout: eggs, vegetables, tuna, fish, and low-fat chocolate milk.

Carbohydrates

Another type of healthy snack to help refuel the body after a swim workout is carbohydrates. While many people try to steer clear of carbohydrates, they serve a purpose when it comes to helping replenish the body after a swim workout.  Carbohydrates help supply energy to the muscles and any avid swimmer should consume at least 50-60 percent carbohydrates out of their total diet for the day.  Carbohydrates also help glycogen levels stay even during and after a swim. Some examples of healthy snacks with carbohydrates can include bagels, oatmeal, bananas, raisins, pancakes, eggs, ham, breads, and pasta. Also, keep in mind that carbohydrates can also come in liquid form such as low-fat milk, smoothies packed with fruits and juice, or meal replacement drinks. This is a great option if there is not enough time to have one of the food items.

If your kids want to attend a summer camp and participate in a great summer camp activity like swimming, find out more about Zodiac Camps, Swim & More and the camps and activities they have to offer!

How Sports Can Improve Study Habits

For many years, sports enthusiasts have been stereotyped as bad students mainly because they tend to focus too much on playing and on their time preparing for competitions. Most, if not all, belong to those who are out-of-school or are in school but are not performing really well in academics. However, recent studies suggest that competitive sports can actually help young people focus more on their studies and achieve greater academic success.

It is all about having the proper mindset

What separates an average or a bad student from the best ones is definitely their levels of motivation. No matter how many obstacles or struggles one may have, it all comes down to whether you really want to study or not. Having clear goals and proper time management are important as well.

So the next time you think about arranging for your child to have lessons during the summer, you may think twice about it and choose to send them to one of the many day camps available in your area. Yes, it may seem a little counter-intuitive, but it is true that in day camps, your kids can have a start on their favorite sports.

There are so many things day camps for kids have to offer your child. Children will be in an environment where they will be able to grow as a person. Playing in competitive sports is one of the best ways you can train your brain to start setting clear goals and strive to achieve them. And since archery or tennis is a lot more fun than algebra, you can tell which course is more appealing to get the proper skills necessary.

Another thing that will start to be clearer is that when you want to succeed, you will need to manage your time and effort properly. There needs to be time for training, but the time to rest and clear your head is vital as well. As such, at a young age, your child must already have a proper schedule where there is ample time to study and play as well as a time off and have some fun. When they learn to manage their time at day camps, they will also learn how manage their time in school.

Grades are not the most important thing in life

The one thing we can all agree upon is that people are creatures made to live in groups and form societies later. In short, having your child spending their entire free time studying is probably going to hurt their social skills. Remember, a child must not only be brain smart. Your child must be people smart and street smart as well to be able to make it up the ladder of success. And that is what day camps promise.

Once again, you can see now why day camps for kids may be a good idea. Viewing your studies and academic courses as a competition is one thing that will give them a proper head start. But at the same time, while they are having fun and putting their best efforts to succeed in sports, they are also going to learn how to work as a team.

This is not something that can be achieved only with group sports, even a sport like archery is not a solo competition. They still have their counselor and maybe even a team where they compete with or against. Either way, it is a win-win situation.

Lastly, it is also in sports that a small child will learn the value of discipline. At day camps sports activities, they will surely learn to discipline and behave themselves accordingly and they will likely adopt such values towards their studies.

At day camps for kids, not only will your child have fun during their summer while doing what they love, but they will also gain a valuable set of skills. There are plenty of day camps in Toronto that offers a wide array of sports activities that will instill in your child’s mind the value of discipline, time management, patience, perseverance, and the will to excel. Your child can and will surely adapt these traits towards his studies going forward.

All in all, the time for the stereotypical dense athletes has come to pass. What any student needs is motivation. Once they have enough experience in sports, it is only a matter of time before they start viewing their studies in the same way. At Zodiac, there are plenty of sports activities your child can choose from. All options are guaranteed to make your child’s summer not only fun and exciting but worthwhile as well. No other Toronto day camps offer the same.

How Day Camps Can Be A Positive Influence in Youth Development

Integrating Youth Development through Day Camping

Youth is that particular stage in the life of a person that brings about many changes in one’s personality and character. Children are most receptive when it comes to opportunities for interpersonal development. As such, a day camp for kids are created to make use of our chldren’s idle time and transform it into a productive program of enriching activities. There are many day camp centers in and around our country and all serve one vision and one purpose: child development through social interaction. Society has always been a part of your child since being brought into the world, and the only way to survive its never-ending challenges is to equip the child with the proper tools to help overcome these. Day camps can help children socially, and also guarantee that every child will gain more knowledge from various activities provided.

Advantages of Joining a Summer Camp

Camping has always been considered a worthwhile activity. Consisting mostly of spending time outdoors and interacting with nature, participants learn about camaraderie, trust, responsibility, and most importantly, unity amongst themselves. Summer camp brings the great outdoors and many fun programs together to make a memorable summer for your children. The advantages of joining a day camp are too many to mention; however, we can mention three of these that top the list. First is personality development, second is social development, and third is maturity.

Personality development is achieved when a child acquires a unique set or pattern of thinking, feeling, and behavior that makes him/her unique.  Social development, on the other hand, is achieved when a child understands the importance of being a person for others. This means the child would have been equipped with tools required to extend sympathy and to show empathy towards other people.

Maturity is much deeper in scope. Though still a child, maturity can still be achieved in day camp for kids with the help of both camp leaders and parents. And this is one of the primary reasons day camp is a rewarding activity for children not to take for granted. They grow in wisdom and in self-awareness not feeling forced or stressed out. Instead, children develop maturity in the spirit of fun and camaraderie. Various activities line up a summer camp program and no two program lists are the same.

Encouraging your kids to attend summer camps will open opportunities for them to succeed in their personal and social development. Do not let this chance slip by. Guide them. Support them. Inspire them to be the best person that they can be. Youth only comes once in their lifetime. Ensure that your kids make the best out of this phase.

How Loving Animals Develop A Better Child

Child development has so many facets and perhaps one of the most important areas is building a child’s social and emotional intelligence. Children develop both through many ways and this usually involve constant interaction with people. However, did you know that you can also boost your child’s social skills and emotional well-being by letting them interact with animals?

People are social beings and need communication with other people. Children need to understand the environment around them. There are times, though, that adult interaction can get  quite complicated and are somewhat hard to interpret for a child. In this case, an animal or a pet would be an easier substitute.

Children who are exposed to the behavior of animals and nurturing pets themselves provide them with emotional awareness and the satisfaction of caring for another living thing. This also develops their sense of responsibility, since caring for animals requires a lot of patience and hard work.

There are many benefits in getting pets for your children. As we mentioned earlier, children get to learn to care for others through their furry friends. They also exert effort and will work to nurture their pets. Children who are exposed to animals become aware that others react differently to different situations, and helps them recognize what their pets like and dislike. This is an easy introduction to parenting skills while your child is still in his/her early years. They learn to look after the animals and develop nursing skills along the way.

Animals also give comfort to your children. Children tend to have small problems or secrets they don't want to share with their families or friends. Pets can be the ones they turn to for some comfort. This alleviates stress and help them cope with their little problems.

On top of social and emotional development, having pets around your kids can improve their physical well-being as well. Your child, with necessary supervision, of course, can do some activities with their pets such as playing tag across the yard.  Children who are exposed to animals early in their years are also less likely to develop asthma and certain allergies.

There are many opportunities for your kids to learn things with their pets. If you are unsure of permanently adopting a furry animal for your child, you can expose your child to them through day camps. Day camps could prove to be an easy and wise solution, since they offer many summer activities for children including interaction with animals. The children are also supervised and guided in all summer activities they participate in so there is little for you as a parent to worry about.

Summer camp activities like those offered by Zodiac offer a wide range of learning for your children. They also have special programs categorized for each child's age, so the learning process becomes more effective. Let your child learn and at the same time, have fun at Zodiac.

How Learning to Swim Can Boost Your Confidence

Do you think your child lacks confidence? If so, maybe it is time to enroll him or her into a sports program. Sports are a great way for your child to not only get regular exercise, but also make new friends. Swimming is one of the sports you should highly consider.

Why swimming?

Swimming is an all-around sport that exercises the body’s major muscles from the legs to the upper body. Swimming develops your child’s stamina, strength, and improves their overall health. It’s a great way to help children break away from their current technology interests. Swimming also requires few sports equipment, making it an ideal sport for kids and parents who want extra savings.

How can swimming help your child build confidence?

Aside from the obvious exercise benefits, swimming is also a great way to build your child’s confidence. Through swim school, your child will be able to meet and make new friends. Going through the same training and competitions helps develop a sense of camaraderie and community among the swimmers in a program. Overcoming the aching muscles and going through a tough training session provides your child with a sense of accomplishment that helps him or her become confident in what he or she does.

The training that your child goes through helps them build confidence to stay determined despite the challenges that they may face. Also, swimming helps your child develop perseverance and mental toughness to overcome any pain or challenges that come their way. The training your child gets in swim school helps them gain confidence in the things his or her body can do despite the physical strain they undergo. These are just a few of the ways swimming helps your child boost confidence. There are plenty of swim schools that offer swimming programs for kids of all ages.

How can you find the best swim school?

With several swim schools listed online, it is difficult to find one that meets you and your child’s criteria. To narrow your choices, get referral from friends and family who have tried a certain swim school. Also, going on a personal visit with your child helps you and your child get familiarized with the potential instructors, the quality of the facilities, and mingling with swim students that helps you and your child get an overview of the swim program and other summer camp activities. Also, you can also read about the pros and cons of each swim school on your shortlist by reading blogs, forum posts, and feedback websites.

Zodiac Swim School has been the trusted summer program provider for years. Aside from the swim school, Zodiac also has a day camp that offers exciting summer camp activities.