Social distancing remains present in our new normal. As we head into the holiday season, let’s strike a balance between safely revisiting older favorite customs and finding new family traditions this Halloween.
Written by Sarah Antrim
Halloween means a lot of things: carving pumpkins, decorating the house, dressing up. But for kids, Halloween means one thing — CANDY.
Trick-or-treating is clearly the highlight of this holiday for most kids, I know it was for me when I was that age! To make the most of the holiday, here’s a few tips to keep in mind when getting ready to head out for treats:
1. Let the kids pick their costumes.
As adorable as a family with coordinating costumes can be, the kids usually don’t get quite as excited if they can’t pick their own costumes. This is the one chance of the year that kids get the freedom to be whoever and whatever they want! As a compromise, you could consider having the kids dress up with the family for pictures then change into their desired costume before trick-or-treating. And heck, if you’ve still got a little one toddling around, go ahead and milk that for all it’s worth!
2. Research neighborhoods and events ahead of time.
Since Halloween falls on a weekday this year, many towns have events planned for the weekend or days prior to the actual holiday. Contact your village hall and local businesses to see what sort of special events they have planned. Get some mileage out of that costume and make sure the kids get their candy fix!
3. Prepare for tired legs.
Bring a wagon, toddler carrier, or be prepared to be put on piggy back duty; especially if you have a kids of different ages. Be a good sport–Halloween is supposed to be fun, kids are supposed to wear themselves out!
4. Remember that it’s about the journey, not the destination.
Nothing can ever be perfect–they may not get their favorite candy bar, the weather might be yucky, the doorbells might not be answered–and that’s okay. Play games along the way, like who can guess what the next piece of candy is coming next, to make the experience more fun for everyone.
5. Hold off on the sugar overdose.
It’s tempting to tear into that sack of goodies as soon as it starts to pile up, but try to get them to hold off for a bit. Sugar highs are followed by crashes which will not make the night enjoyable for anyone. Making sure everyone has a hearty meal or big snack before hitting the pavement can help curb the urge to indulge. Just remember to be reasonable, having a few pieces throughout the night won’t hurt anyone!
Remember to keep it light-hearted and fun. Kids don’t want the perfect holiday, they just want a real one. So relax, have fun, and stay safe!
Manage back-to-school exhaustion and pandemic anxiety with grace.
Here are simple techniques to help us all get back on track using meditation from our friends at LoveHero.
Is it possible that we’ve all forgotten how tiring the first week of school or just visiting the office after being away for so long, really is? The 18-month long new normal’s transition back to the old and connecting with classmates and co-workers in real life has been much harder than expected for some of us. You are not alone.
1. Start with movement
For most young kids, attempting to sit in meditation without any exercise first will be a challenge. Kids understand energy. And, energy can be used as a vehicle to meditate. Start with 5-10 minutes of energetic exercises such as jumping jacks, scissor jumps or running in-place.
2. Use positive language
While exercising, maintain a positive attitude that will get kids thinking about their ability to monitor their emotions and tune into positive feelings. Affirmations such as “I am positive!” work great for this.
3. Use breathing to channel the energy
The next step is to start slowing down the intensity of the exercises and to start replacing them with breathing. Breathe with your belly holding the breath longer and making the inhales and exhales deeper each time.
4. Sit down, breathe and focus on the heart
The other thing that kids understand well is positive emotions. In a sitting position do a few more rounds of breathing, but this time, with the hands on the heart, imagine this energy you’ve built up turning into rays of green light that are shooting from the heart.
5. Become a hero
What good is love if you don’t share it? Kids love being heroes. Use the light shooting from your heart to send love to someone or something that might need it. It can be a group of people (frontline healthcare workers), a person you love, a pet or a plant. Become a hero using your heart to uplift others.
6. Sit in stillness
Finally, sit in silence and stillness for 30 seconds or longer if you can. It helps to play soothing music at this point. Each child is different, so start small and build your way up.
To practice more yoga and mindfulness, find a live instructor in-person or online from home with LoveHero and other yoga options on ActivityHero today.
Stress and anxiety is common for both children and adults. Butterflies before a piano recital or feeling nervous about a big test is a normal reaction to a stressful situation or event. As parents, we can’t eliminate stress in our children’s lives – only teach them how to manage it.
Triggers that can cause stress in children include major life changes such as moving or divorce, family financial problems, peer pressure or bullying, body changes, and worrying about schoolwork. Helping our children form coping strategies at a young age will set them up for long-term success as they encounter education, career, social, and financial decisions.
During 2020, the number of children expressing stress increased with schedule disruptions, school shutdowns, social isolation, virtual learning, and health concerns. According to a parent survey on ActivityHero, 86% of children reported the feeling of anxiousness.
Without healthy stress management, chronic anxiety could lead to behavioral and physical symptoms in children, according to MedLine Plus.
Decreased appetite or other sudden changes in eating habits
Frequent Headaches
Nightmares or Sleep disturbances
Upset stomach or vague stomach pain
Sudden changes in behavior that are out of character
New or recurring fears (fear of the dark, fear of being alone, fear of strangers)
Clinging, unwilling to let you out of sight (separation anxiety)
Not able to control emotions; Aggressive or stubborn behavior
Unwilling to participate in family or school activities
Stress management for Kids and Teens
Here are 5 ways to help your child manage every day anxiety and take healthy habits into adulthood:
1) Good Sleep Routines
Sleep is essential for your body and mind to recover and reset from the day. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), 9-12 hours of sleep a night is recommended for 6- to 12-year olds. Teens need 8-10 hours of sleep a night. Set a schedule and bedtime routine for consistency. For younger children, this could include a “wind down” time of bath and story time. For teens, limiting screen time and gaming before bed can support more restful sleep.
2) Physical Exercise
At least 60 minutes of exercise a day can have many health benefits for children, including relieving stress. This is a healthy habit for the whole family – hiking, biking, surfing, or other recreational activities are all great ideas to enjoy together.
Other fun, non-competitive exercise and fitness classes for your child to manage stress (and burn off extra energy), include:
Yoga: Online stretching and yoga classes are a relaxing activity for all ages. In yoga classes for kids as young as 4, students learn basic yoga movements and body awareness.
Dance Party: Toddlers to teens can enjoy a fun dance party, connecting in a safe environment led by an engaging instructor. Many dance and movement classes have fun themes and do not require any previous dance experience.
Karate:Introductions to martial arts classes online do not require previous experience, and can be a confidence builder for children.
We’re here to help your child become even more engaged, strong and optimistic during this unique time. We know that grit, resilience and laughter have never been more important than right now.
In addition to exercising your body, scheduling relaxing activities can also relieve mental stress. Art, music, journaling, and other relaxing hobbies all have therapeutic benefits. The most important reminder is to make sure there is zero pressure – these should be purely for fun!
Art Classes for Kids: Art can be a constructive outlet for children of all abilities to express emotions and relieve anxiety. Drawing, painting, clay modeling, and crafts are all great activities.
In addition, any relaxing hobby your child enjoys can help them socialize and unwind. Cooking, theatre & drama, music, LEGO or even making slime could be good options!
If your child is starting to feel overwhelmed, teaching them breathing exercises can help them work through their feelings. Taking deep breaths, visualizing themselves in a calming place, and listening to relaxing sounds are all strategies to help them refocus.
“We started using online classes on Activity Hero after schools closed and I was furloughed. My son especially enjoys Vibras Meditation (now LoveHero). Positive messages and empowerment are so good for kids right now (and always I guess.) The instructor is great and we will continue even after things move to the new normal.”
As parents and adults, modeling self-care and positive thinking is probably the hardest habit to implement. However, our children observe and absorb more of our adult stress than we realize. Some strategies include:
Talk with your children about how you have dealt with stressful situations and encourage dialogue about how they are feeling. Tip: Conversations can be more natural if you engage when your child doesn’t have to look directly at you – riding in a car, walking the dog, or sitting on the beach.
Be mindful of your reactions; take a deep breath before responding to stressful situations.
Avoid negative thinking; Model behaviors of self-care instead of self-doubt for your children.
Be Aware: Children are spending more time online and it’s important to understand (and teach) the dangers of cyberbullying, social media addiction, and predators.
If at any time you feel your child may have chronic anxiety or depression, please consult your healthcare provider. Some of the signs and symptoms of anxiety or depression in children could be caused by other conditions, such as trauma. If you need help finding treatment, visit MentalHealth.gov
As we all continue to adjust to an ever-evolving new normal, surviving a back to school season in the time of a pandemic, remains challenging.
From experiencing unexpected school quarantines (e.g. a student in your kid’s class tests positive for COVID-19) to being waitlisted for after school extended care and all the driving around for drop-offs and pickups, here’s how three moms at ActivityHero are managing the chaos.
1. Hacking (Unexpected) School Closures
Meet Kathrine: Mom to a Kindergartener (Los Angeles)
We were so excited to go in-person to the ‘big’ school this year. Just a few days in, school communicated that a child in my Kindergartener’s class tested positive for COVID-19, so the classroom was going to shut down for 10 days. My daughter was sent home with a computer for virtual instruction along with packets of information and materials for next two week’s instruction.
Solution: Register for last-minute online camps with classmates to squeeze in some virtual play dates.
Distance learning was scheduled for 9-11 am daily. With half the day still remaining, we found online classes to help with the afternoon so she wasn’t parked in front of the TV for all of that time. She really enjoys Minecraft and Roblox so finding social clubs or easy 45~min classes to support her favorite interests was easy. To help support some physical activity, we did also add an online Ballet class.
2. Mind the After School Gap
Meet Tabetha: Mom to a 3rd Grader (San Francisco)
After months of distance and hybrid learning, having school for a 6 hour block of time has been an amazing improvement. We were hopeful at first, then officially waitlisted for after school extended care to get us through to 6pm. As a household with two full-time working parents the 3pm pickup is challenging.With the luxury of school facilitated enrichment programs like Chess and Basketball (and this coveted time for when homework could be done with an on-site tutor) missing this year, panic-mode started to settle in. And then we chatted with some of my son’s friends and realized we could do online classes.
Solution: Find online extracurriculars for your kids so you can attend a meeting and make dinner. It’s a win, win situation for everyone.
Fun classes where learning looks like play is our usual approach for extracurricular activities so our son’s hobbies helped with the selection process. LEGO and Pokemon are his current favorites. Even better, the themed classes we found are actually great for problem solving, building and creativity. Dancing to burn off energy is also a must. Different than last year, only having a small window of online classes has been much more manageable.
3. Less Driving = More Learning
Meet Kristen: Mom to a 7th Grader & 11th Grader (Sacramento)
We couldn’t wait for in-person school to start this year. For my 7th grader, this meant going to a new school. With two kids at two different schools and two different sets of activities, we didn’t realize all the added back and forth driving until it was happening. Beyond the everyday drive to and from school, I now have to make a 3rd and 4th trip, 4 days a week for sports. This is in addition to the same daily drop off to and from school at a separate campus and several evening practices for club sports at least an hour each way. Today, we spent over 4 hours in the car driving back and forth and didn’t get home until after 9pm. The boys had to do their homework in the car and I won’t even mention what they had for dinner.
Solution: Fuel kids’ brains with fun online classes to minimize time spent in the car.
We never thought we’d say this, but we were missing online classes and virtual sports. (We saved so much time and gas last year!) To help offset the in-person activities, we decided to go back and add online classes into our weekend schedule. Online Drawing and Art classes have become our time together to connect as a family. The kids are also now signed up for virtual Martial Arts and Coding classes. All of which can happen in the comfort of our home.
Find your back to school solution! Create an account and profile for your kid to find even more personalized classes and camps atActivityHero.
boy student video conference e-learning with teacher and classmates on computer in living room at home. Homeschooling and distance learning ,online ,education and internet.
The Fall Activity Guide:
Online Classes Edition
The best online classes & activities for kids in Fall 2021 - including after school, weekend, and drop-in programs.
The Official Fall Activity Guide 2021 features our most popular and trending classes on ActivityHero that can be attended from home – including academic support & tutoring, music, coding, art, LEGO®, and more! Learn more about updated programs for Fall 2021 – including curriculum, group sizes, and flexible schedules.
The New York Society of Play provides online game workshops over zoom, focusing on social and emotional development for kids ages 6-13. Come play Dungeons and Dragons, Minecraft, Pokemon Battles, and more! Our childcare specialists are experts at fostering growth through cooperative gameplay.
Choreography by Rae is a performing arts & creative arts educational center that has provided self-confidence boosting programming since 2015. Founded by Rae Wilson (aka Ms. Rae) in New York City, as a way to help people of all ages amplify their voice through movement. Our motto is anyone can dance, even if you have 2 left feet. This 100% female-owned, black-owned business is proud to now offer more than dance.
Founded by former Google Product Director and Stanford graduates, Create & Learn is an award winning online computer science education program for grades K-12. We offer 25+ fun topics including Scratch coding, Minecraft coding, Python, Robotics, AI, Arduino, Cloud Computing and many more. Save 25% off, ending soon!
Experience Galileo-style innovation all year long with our online after-school club for Kindergarten – 5th graders. Designed to complement school-day learning with fun, hands-on projects, Innovator’s Club delivers joyful enrichment on a convenient weekly schedule. Give your kids something new to craft, construct or invent every week. Now through September 10, save 30% off the Fall session!
VoicED offers public speaking, grammar and academic writing classes, and SAT/ACT/PSAT preparation classes. All classes are led under the instruction of the CEO and Founder, Ava – Mariya Gencheva. Mrs. Gencheva has been an educator for the past 18 years, graduating thousands of students as a director and empowering a countless number of her students to debate, speak, write, publish, win competitions and get into Ivy League schools.
The Art in Science was developed by a scientist and an artist to Instill a love of science in young kids (ages 4-12) via an innovative curriculum. In this unique program, the kids learn various science topics (Astronomy, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Engineering, and more) with hands-on activities that turn into interesting artworks pleasing to the eye and intriguing to the mind.
Join forces with international award-winning astronomer and consultant to NASA, Kevin Manning, a man on no ordinary mission. Kevin founded Look Up to the Stars with a mission to generate interest and foster scientific literacy in students nationwide through the delivery of awe-inspiring, educational and entertaining astronomy programs.
Kiddy School offers one-on-one and group online classes for K-12 kids for the following programs: Programming (Scratch, Roblox, Minecraft, Python, Mobile App Development, and more), Math, Digital and fine art, Photo and Video Editing, Computer Science, SAT Prep, and so much more. Our teachers are regularly trained by our Lead teachers who are Google and Microsoft certified specialists.
Communication Academy offers specialized enrichment courses to grade K-12 students, including: Public Speaking, Debate, Writing, Reading and Math courses. Classes offer a new curriculum every week with experienced professional instructors in a small 12:1 ratio so that students can receive individual attention.
BrainStorm provides educational programs focused on creating the next generation of innovators and thinkers by allowing kids to explore the wonders of STEM during their critical formative years from 1st Grade through High School. BrainStorm’s programs allow students imaginations to come to life as they discover mechanical and structural principles of simple machines, build robots, create code or make their own video game.
Pretty Pony Pastures offers high quality, interactive programs for Scouts and anyone who enjoys being outdoors. Ms. Linda, lead instructor at Pretty Pony Pastures, is dedicated to encouraging children to learn about nature. She is a Project Wild, Wild Turkey, and Aquatic Wild facilitator as well as a life member of Girl Scouts. Virtual Scout Badges include topics such as Junior Gardener Badge, Brownie Bugs Badge, Junior Animal Habitats, and so much more.
NR Computer Learning Center (NRCLC) provides hands-on and online afterschool/weekend computer training to kids in coding, programming languages, Robotics, Video Editing, and Website design. NRCLC also offers live online exam prep classes for AP Computer Science and Microsoft certification exams.
Firecracker Math enrichment program offers kids Grades K – 11 a broad variety of age-appropriate yet challenging math topics and activities and enhances their natural abilities and understanding of mathematics. In our math classes, we will show your child that math can be incredibly creative, exciting, and fun. The Fall Term starts the week of September 13th.
Pintsize Fitness & Sports was developed in order to introduce children to exercise in a positive, fun environment where they will gain the skills to build healthy habits that will last them a lifetime. Studies show that children who begin exercising at a young age have increased self-esteem, earn better grades and continue to lead healthy, active lives into adulthood! Now offering virtual Sports, Martial Arts and Fitness classes for children age 2 to age 12.
Kodeclik is an online coding and math academy for kids and teens, offering online live and video classes in Scratch, Python, JavaScript, Minecraft, Roblox TinkerCAD, and more. The company was founded in 2015 by two parents who were teaching their 5 year old to code with Scratch Jr. Kodeclik shows kids the exciting and endless possibilities there are once they learn to code.
Give them something to look forward to after school! Dragonfly Designs offers virtual Afterschool Art Camps for ages 5 to 12 that let kids unwind, unplug and use their imagination. You (and they) will be amazed at what they learn to create. With projects in Tie Dye, Cartooning, Painting, Fashion Design, Clay, Jewelry Making and more, there’s something for every interest!
At ClasShare, we believe that every kid has the potential to become an author, a speaker, an entrepreneur, a leader, or an actor! Our classes have been carefully designed to help master skills and promote confidence, with offerings such as Public Speaking, Creative Writing, Acting, Money and Time Management, establishing friendships, filmmaking, and more!
At Toc Toc, we believe in learning Spanish the way we learn our first language: through games, music, having fun and getting fascinated by the sound of words. Our class is the perfect opportunity to expose your baby to a second language right when the “language learning window” opens – starting at 2 years old. Accompanied by parents or caregivers, children start learning Spanish through a variety of activities such as singing simple, rhythmic songs and dance, all from the comfort of home!
Cooking Round the World is delighted to be able to offer your children engaging, fun and delicious online classes. An online class includes map education, fun facts about the country or state selected, a slide show showing cultural nuances, cooking dishes representative of the country or state, and ending with a lively rendition of a country’s folktale.
Talentnook is a platform where you can find all the help and learning resources you need to guide your child towards success. We are here to be the personal guide for every learner, providing them with resources like tutors, programs, advice, consultation – helping them every step of the way to advance in their learning journey. Talentnook has tutors for different subjects like Math, creative writing, English, Spanish, vocal and so much more.
Classes and Camps at Young Creatives School of Art are designed to teach young artists how to create and learn skills in an encouraging, fun-filled environment. We explore favorite themes that include pets, wildlife, aquatic life, drawing inspiration from nature as well as kid friendly themes such as sweet treats and exploring imagination. We offer live online after school classes and semester art classes.
Evolution Academic Speaking Excellence offers virtual public speaking classes for kids after-school and during school holiday breaks. We are an educational institution focused on working with every student on their path and journey towards mastering the art and skill of communicating effectively. Class topics include TED Talk & Debating, Entrepreneurship, Project Management, and more.
Art~Design~Creativity offers meaningful experiences and services for the community. We are unique in our industry, with programs that bring art, design, and creativity to be incorporated into real life. Virtual classes include Art & Creativity Club and Spanish Club.
Super Skills with a Real Life Twist! In today’s busy world kids need a special place where they can learn, practice, and develop the leadership skills needed for a successful life. Kid Power Academy Coaching Center provides this opportunity! Our kids build confidence in their ideas and themselves during our “learn as you lead” program. Our experience-driven method literally transforms shy kids into confident kids as they eagerly exchange ideas as: Entrepreneurs, Senators, Authors and more!
At ALOHA Mind Math, we are passionate about visual math and inspiring kids to develop confidence and agility in math. Did you know math is rooted in our visual neural networks? This STEM program will present math in a hands-on, engaging and fun environment. Your child will learn to do math on the abacus and mental math techniques. Watch your child develop confidence and agility with numbers. This class will broaden your child’s understanding of math as they realize they can be math rock stars. Small, instructor led classes online.
InternMart cultivates high school students academically and professionally by connecting them to real-world internship experiences near them. We strive to offer quality learning opportunities for the youth of today, the future of tomorrow.
Wiz Kid Coding is one of North America’s leading Coding and STEM education companies focused exclusively on creating and delivering innovative coding and digital literacy programs for kids between the ages of 3 to 17. Our programs have won great reviews from parents, educators and, most importantly, many of the children who participate in our programs! Virtual classes include Roblox, Minecraft, Scratch, and more.
Code Wiz offers a wide range of individualized STEM programs for kids aged 7-17, each tailored to the students’ skill level. Watch your kids expand their creativity through computer science! Our approach is student-driven, project-based learning. We offer classes for Robotics, Minecraft modding, Roblox, Game design, Animations, Digital Art, Mobile app development, Java, Python, and more.
The road of American ingenuity runs through Silicon Valley, where the tech experts and thought leaders of today shape the future of the nation’s tomorrow. The camps and classes of Siliconvalley4u help aspiring engineers and seasoned tech professionals alike stay ahead of the ever-accelerating pace of technological development. Whether they’re learning to build apps in Java, Python, Mobile apps, operate 3D printers, or build robots from scratch, youngsters benefit from personalized, hands-on instruction from the center’s resident experts.
Founded in 2012, Coderise focuses on Software development training. It is our mission to teach kids age 8-12 the digital skills they require in today’s digitized world. They learn basic programming skills by creating websites and online games – including Minecraft, Roblox, and web development.
At Firefly Dance, we’re always grooving! There’s such an inherent joy in moving, one children can easily tap into. I strive to highlight that joy through imaginative games, songs, and stories while learning technique in a structured setting. Whether it’s your toddler or tween -or any age in between- we’re bound to get a little silly and make it incredibly fun to dance from your home!
With its high-end training, performance, structured, and progressive curriculum, One Voice Institute of Music and Art (OVIMA), is a global and full-scale complete performing and visual arts institute. OVIMA has three main divisions – Western Music, Indian Music and World Music, offering classes in all instruments, as well as in musicianship subjects such as music theory, sight reading, and more.
StudyPlum offers affordable online classes for K-12 with licensed teachers, small class sizes and live instruction. Classes include academic topics such as 1st Grade Reading, 6th Grade Math, 7th Grade Social Studies, American History, Geometry, and more. Get a heads start on the new school year with 20% off, ending soon!
Beyond the diverse set of online programs we have to offer, what is special about Ivy Camps USA Online is that we take an interdisciplinary approach to remote instruction whereby we foster growth, encourage exploration, and sustain motivation through play and thought-provoking games. Classes include a wide range of topics, including: outer space, public speaking, backyard biology, acting, and more.
Learn to Design, Build, Code, and build Cognitive and Soft Skills! at Wize Computing Academy offers a comprehensive and scalable form of coding education that encourages creativity and builds and strengthens logical reasoning in young learners. Classes in Scratch, Python, Vex Robotics, Roblox Game Design, and more are all fun and project-based.
Pixical Piano Learning strive to remove barriers of distance, time & boredom to help children enjoy the process or learning piano. We do this by delivering a masterclass experience through our empathetic & inspiring teachers, modern pedagogy, handcrafted product experience combined with loads of fun. The Pixical Curio online program offers 1:1 instruction, studio performance class each week, exclusive access to a community to discuss all things piano, and much more!
Lady V’s Finishing School believes that manners are a very important life skill. In the Manners Matter class, children will learn manners appropriate for the 3-10 age range. This will include what etiquette/manners are, what words are used to express our good manners, making introductions, and talking on the telephone. We will learn about setting a table, thank you notes, and much more.
The best classes, workshops & activities for kids in Fall 2021 - including after school, weekend, and drop-in programs.
The Official Fall Activity Guide 2021 features our most popular and trending classes on ActivityHero in the San Francisco East Bay area – including academic support & tutoring, music, coding, art, LEGO®, and more! Learn more about updated programs for Fall 2021 – including curriculum, group sizes, and available schedules.
Set in a fun, non-competitive environment, Super Soccer Stars, offers the nation’s most popular children’s soccer program for kids ages 1-18. Super Soccer Stars offers a unique, age-specific curriculum that is crafted to improve soccer skills, build self-confidence, and develop socialization skills. Check out one of our in-person classes, camps, or soccer pods this fall.
Here at Mathnasium of Newark-Union City, we help kids in grades 1-12 understand math by teaching the way that makes sense to them. Our specially trained math instructors will teach your child how to understand math in an individual setting – our unique approach enables us to effectively explain math concepts and lend a helping hand to every student. Our tutors foster a caring, encouraging environment that helps kids thrive and learn!
Firecracker Math enrichment program offers kids Grades K – 11 a broad variety of age-appropriate yet challenging math topics and activities and enhances their natural abilities and understanding of mathematics. In our math classes, we will show your child that math can be incredibly creative, exciting, and fun. The Fall Term starts the week of September 13th.
Next Level Sports operates locations throughout California – including Berkeley, Castro Valley, Moraga, and more . Our flag football, basketball and volleyball programs are available to all youth participants from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Prior experience is not required! We offer community centric league programs where kids play with their friends, classmates and/or buddies.
Whether you’re a beginner or intermediate artist, The Artist Center has an art education for you! Our students receive quality instruction that is sound in structure and unique in its training. We give the artist an opportunity to explore their skills, ideas and talents and grow throughout each class. They will also benefit by receiving individual guidance from professional instructors in all projects.
GrowFit Camp provides a safe place for children to learn and play. Our campers discover new passions, engage in a variety of sports and group games and learn the value of teamwork and sportsmanship. Our unique, age-appropriate games and challenges help children build self-confidence, develop relationships and have lots of fun!
Enjoy the benefits of playing tennis with Euro School of Tennis, located in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area. We offer a full array of tennis programs for children and adults including: Group Tennis Classes, Junior Tennis Development Programs, School Break Camps, and Private Tennis Lessons.
The best classes, workshops & activities for kids in Fall 2021 - including after school, weekend, and drop-in programs.
The Official Fall Activity Guide 2021 features our most popular and trending classes on ActivityHero in Dallas, TX – including music, coding, art, sports, fitness, and more! Learn more about updated programs for Fall 2021 – including curriculum, group sizes, and available schedules.
Next Level Sports operates locations in Dallas, University Park, and West Lake Hills, TX. Our flag football, basketball and volleyball programs are available to all youth participants from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Prior experience is not required! We offer community centric league programs where kids play with their friends, classmates and/or buddies.
Wize Computing Academy offers coding and robotics online classes, camps, after-school, in-school and weekend classes for kids 4-16. We are a project-based and student-orientated program that follows computer science standards and adopts best practices for creative learning used by MIT Media Lab.
Stage Notes is the highest-rated music school in the Hurst/North Richland Hills and Keller/N Ft Worth areas! We offer private lessons in a large variety of instruments as well as voice lessons, group classes, summer camps, and art!
MPM Conservatory (Music Place Mansfield) provides music lessons and acting lessons beginning age 5 through adult! Our goal is to help our students grow their gifts and talents, while encouraging a life long love of music, theatre, and the performing arts!
Our wide range of lessons include: Group Piano, Group Voice, Musical Theatre, Acting, Group Drums, Group Ukulele, and Private music lessons.
Urban Youth Park Denton is an an indoor recreation center and family fun center in Denton, TX.
We provide a great place where family and friends can try out the many fun activities we have on offer to stay active and fit – including Parkour, Bootcamp, and Educational Fitness for youth and adults. We have day care services where kids can enjoy our indoor playground or have a private and quiet space for themselves.
Pandemonium Music Academy offers Music Lessons, Summer Camps, RockStar Birthday Parties at our Keller Tx Studios. Our degreed instructors know their music and impart that on our students. We also know that an element of fun will foster their love for their instrument and a passion for music.
The best classes, workshops & activities for kids in Fall 2021 - including after school, weekend, and drop-in programs.
The Official Fall Activity Guide 2021 features our most popular and trending classes on ActivityHero in Los Angeles and Orange County – including academic support & tutoring, music, coding, art, sports, and more! Learn more about updated programs for Fall 2021 – including curriculum, group sizes, and available schedules.
Next Level Sports operates locations throughout California – including Bellflower and Santa Barbara. Our flag football, basketball and volleyball programs are available to all youth participants from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Prior experience is not required! We offer community centric league programs where kids play with their friends, classmates and/or buddies.
Set in a fun, non-competitive environment, Super Soccer Stars, offers the nation’s most popular children’s soccer program for kids ages 1-18. Super Soccer Stars offers a unique, age-specific curriculum that is crafted to improve soccer skills, build self-confidence, and develop socialization skills. Check out one of our in-person classes, camps, or soccer pods this fall.
The Los Angeles Music and Art School (LAMusArt) is a nonprofit arts organization whose mission is to offer young people throughout LA’s Eastside and beyond, primarily its K-12 population, with equitable and affordable access to multidisciplinary arts education programs. LAMusArt offers over 30 different classes within the disciplines of music, art, dance and drama. Programs start at age 4.
Jeanette Airen Performing Arts Studio is an award-winning music and drama studio that offers in-person and online classes including singing, acting and dancing. This session we will travel back in time to the 80’s for our production of Fame Jr.! Our small class sizes make it possible for more one-on-one attention and solo opportunities! Learn from professional performers in an encouraging and safe space while building self-esteem, teamwork skills, and most importantly, having fun!
4Kids Worldwide’s mission is to provide athletic, academic, mentor services to enhance our student-athletes, especially those living in economically deprived areas.
The Los Angeles School of Music offers fun and engaging music lessons and classes on piano, voice, guitar, and more! Our online classes are always live and interactive.
Our music teachers are professionals with at least a Bachelor of Music, and most have a Master of Music degree, from schools such as CalArts, UCLA, and USC. All instructors have years of teaching and performance experience.
Camino De Santiago Nature School provides parents of Orange County and the areas around Nevada City an alternative and unique educational resource where children can maximize their time outdoors and learn in a holistic manner. The students are immersed in nature all day, everyday.
Geek Girls Society is an after-school program for geeky girls ages 8-18. We are an elite group of girls who celebrate our fandoms, share them with one another, and learn all about what it takes to be an AMAZING Geek Girl.
Geek Girls Society Houses meet twice a month to discuss all things geeky, make fantastic crafts, play games, and explore the pop culture universe.
The mission of Strategic Kids is to be a positive impact on our community by teaching life strategies through games.
We believe there are games and activities that can naturally teach us valuable life skills. From problem-solving through teamwork, patience through visualizing results, confidence through achievement and sportsmanship through defeat, games and the strategies behind them have a way of teaching these life skills while having fun and exercising the mind.
Hero City Arts & Crafts LLC was created so that kids can get back to playtime without digital screen time. Imaginative and creative play activities that are influenced by the world’s best comic book characters and movies ever made. Our platform is about self-expression, educational learning from STEM workshops to exploring art and crafts.
Our philosophy at Pamper & Play is simple: parents need help and kids need entertainment and FUN on their days off during the school year! We know that parents want fun, enriching and most of all FLEXIBLE activities for their little ones while they are on break. That’s why we have jam-packed the school break camp with fun arts, crafts, games, music, dance, messy science and more.
Teach Communication through Science (TCTS) was established in 2018 as a private STEM educational company with the mission of inspiring and nurturing kid’s innate curiosity by giving personalized care to its students age 4 to 14. TCTS offers in-person programs like Tinker Club and hands-on STEM classes in Glendale, CA.
Role-playing is a fully immersive creative blend of game, improv, and writing. It’s not just fun – Luck of Legends games are Common Core aligned and designed to teach, emphasizing non-violent problem-solving, teaching kids to out-talk, out-think, or out-maneuver challenges as heroes on a fantastic adventure. The format lets kids experience powerful and dramatic moments together, which can do something that’s usually impossible online: allow for genuine relationships to grow.
Gymboree Play & Music offer a wide range of play-based classes for infants to experience and explore with mom and dad. Our dynamic classes support social, physical and intellectual development and give your infant the earliest start for the brightest future.
The Fall Activity Guide:
San Francisco & Marin Area
The best classes, workshops & activities for kids in Fall 2021 - including after school, weekend, and drop-in programs.
The Official Fall Activity Guide 2021 features our most popular and trending classes on ActivityHero in San Francisco & Marin area – including academic support & tutoring, music, coding, art, sports, and more! Learn more about updated programs for Fall 2021 – including curriculum, group sizes, and available schedules.
Mathnasium of Pacific Heights SF is your neighborhood math-only learning centers. We help kids in grades 1-12 understand math by teaching the way that makes sense to them. Mathnasium instructors use our unique assessment process to determine (with great accuracy) exactly what each child knows and what they need to learn. Next, we design a customized learning plan for teaching the concepts the student needs to master.
Set in a fun, non-competitive environment, Super Soccer Stars, offers the nation’s most popular children’s soccer program for kids ages 1-18. Super Soccer Stars offers a unique, age-specific curriculum that is crafted to improve soccer skills, build self-confidence, and develop socialization skills. Check out one of our in-person classes, camps, or soccer pods this fall.
Next Level Sports operates locations throughout California – including San Francisco, Mill Valley, Larkspur, and Greenbrae. Our flag football, basketball and volleyball programs are available to all youth participants from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Prior experience is not required! We offer community centric league programs where kids play with their friends, classmates and/or buddies.
Pinecone Active Learning provides after-school programs in Math, Reading, and Writing for students from three years old through high school. The younger students start by learning numbers and letters, then progress at their own pace through daily work and twice weekly classes to master concepts presented in step-by-step booklets.
It’s Yoga Kids® is a premier provider for quality enrichment, education and publishing. The IYK® System builds healthy habits to overcome challenges and increase confidence, resilience and JOY for all ages, abilities, identities and colors.
Firecracker Math enrichment program offers kids Grades K – 11 a broad variety of age-appropriate yet challenging math topics and activities and enhances their natural abilities and understanding of mathematics. In our math classes, we will show your child that math can be incredibly creative, exciting, and fun. The Fall Term starts the week of September 13th.
Rock Band Land is a unique creative arts program based in San Francisco that focuses on artistic collaboration through rock music, storytelling, visual arts, video production, and comedy. The program is wildly creative and wonderfully crazy. No prior experience necessary.
Always Learning and Growing provides outdoor camps and classes for children and families with the goal of giving children the developmental benefits of a significant nature experience.
Children hike, learn about nature and science, and learn new physical and social skills. Small group sizes and highly trained teachers. Classes for ages 18 months to 6 years and camps for ages 3-8 years.
The Fall Activity Guide:
Peninsula & South Bay Area
The best classes, workshops & activities for kids in Fall 2021 - including after school, weekend, and drop-in programs.
The Official Fall Activity Guide 2021 features our most popular and trending classes on ActivityHero in the San Francisco Peninsula & South Bay area – including academic support & tutoring, music, coding, art, LEGO®, and more! Learn more about updated programs for Fall 2021 – including curriculum, group sizes, and available schedules.
At Best in Class, our mission is twofold: build better teachers; build successful students. Best in Class Education provides math and English enrichment and private tutoring for K-12th grades. We promote critical thinking & problem solving, and build strong foundation skills. We also equip students’ strong writing skills. Your child excels because we use active teaching, university-educated tutors, individualized curriculum, weekly tests, and small classes.
Set in a fun, non-competitive environment, Super Soccer Stars, offers the nation’s most popular children’s soccer program for kids ages 1-18. Super Soccer Stars offers a unique, age-specific curriculum that is crafted to improve soccer skills, build self-confidence, and develop socialization skills. Check out one of our in-person classes, camps, or soccer pods this fall.
At Code Ninjas North San Jose, kids learn to code while building video games. They gain vital skills like problem solving and critical thinking in a fun, safe, and inspiring environment. Programs include after school, camps, birthday parties, and more.
Communication Academy offers specialized enrichment courses to grade K-12 students, including: Public Speaking, Debate, Writing, Reading and Math courses. Classes offer a new curriculum every week with experienced professional instructors in a small 12:1 ratio so that students can receive individual attention.
Fox Equine Rescue & SEL Solutions delivers fun & exciting programs that leverage the therapeutic nature of horses along with high performance coaching to draw out the best in everyone. We are dedicated to rescuing and caring for unwanted horses and educating the youth on horsemanship, leadership, values, and trust. This combination creates the optimal environment where you can plan your future and gain a deeper understanding of who you are, your strengths, and what you want in life. These opportunities allow you to discover your own values and challenge yourself in new ways that develop your skills Physically, Intellectually, and Emotionally.
Unified Studios offers dance classes starts at age 2. In our Toddler Turn Up (adult participation) and Preschool Dance classes we will focus on rhythm, coordination, musicality, and textures of movement. In our Rhythm & Vibes (Hip Hop) classes we will focus on foundations of hip hop, choreography, rhythm, coordination, musicality, and textures of movement.
Young Builders is a way to get your child to build a plane, boat or electric motor among many things while building self-esteem and confidence. Working with their hands with parts that can be picked up at any home improvement store will give them a sense of pride while building skills. The knowledge they get from building these models will help with math, geometry through the need for measurements and an introduction to engineering while having fun. A memory that will last a life time and a pride of saying “I made that.”
At BEan In Nature, our mentors facilitate activities that lead kids to love, care and connect with nature. We do this not by using a ‘teach at the child’ didactic model, but instead we use the skillful art of questioning, creative guiding and mentoring. We have an experiential child-led focus and facilitate learning by doing. We share our contagious enthusiasm, our imagination, and our own love of nature.
We help students develop the skills and knowledge they need for a bright future. Best in Class students benefit from individual attention, active instruction in small groups, and engaging course material aligned with common standards.
Our programs move K-12 students of all abilities towards the top of their class, but our mission doesn’t end there.
Super Skills with a Real Life Twist! In today’s busy world kids need a special place where they can learn, practice, and develop the leadership skills needed for a successful life. We provide this opportunity! Our kids build confidence in their ideas and themselves during our “learn as you lead” program. The Kid Power Academy Coaching experience-driven method literally transforms shy kids into confident kids as they eagerly exchange ideas as: Entrepreneurs, Senators, Authors and more!
Next Level Sports
Next Level Sports operates locations throughout the Bay Area – including San Jose, Los Gatos, Mountain View, Atherton, and more. Our flag football, basketball and volleyball programs are available to all youth participants from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Prior experience is not required! We offer community centric league programs where kids play with their friends, classmates and/or buddies.
GrowFit Camp provides a safe place for children to learn and play. Our campers discover new passions, engage in a variety of sports and group games and learn the value of teamwork and sportsmanship. Our unique, age-appropriate games and challenges help children build self-confidence, develop relationships and have lots of fun!
Pinecone Active Learning provides after-school programs in Math, Reading, and Writing for students from three years old through high school. The younger students start by learning numbers and letters, then progress at their own pace through daily work and twice weekly classes to master concepts presented in step-by-step booklets.
A TEAM has supported and encouraged homeschooling families for 7 years! We make it possible for families to homeschool, K-12th grade. With classes in core subjects and a wide variety of electives, students have plenty of choices to explore. Our Choir with Music Foundations class is held safely outdoors in San Jose, CA. If you love to sing, come join others and learn how to sound great together!
Carnatic music is one of the traditional music frameworks originating from South India having a rich repertoire of ragas and talas. We, at PrarambhCarnatic, strive to lay a strong structured musical foundation amidst making the musical journey a fun and joyful environment.
KCAT Channel TV15 is a non-profit public TV station and digital media center serving Los Gatos and Monte Sereno.
We proudly give voice to our citizens young and old, provide professional video production services to non-profits and small businesses, and teach filmmaking and broadcast media skills to all. Classes for kids include learning to podcast!
Evolution Academic Speaking Excellence in Redwood City, California offers public speaking classes for kids during school holiday breaks. We are an educational institution focused on working with every student on their path and journey towards mastering the art and skill of communicating effectively.
The seasonal change from summer to fall for you and your family can be overwhelming. Here are some quick tips to help make the transitional period more smooth (and even a little fun) for everyone.
1. Bike, walk, or scooter to school.
If you live nearby, beat the morning traffic by walking, biking, or scootering to school together. Start the morning with some exercise and burn some energy before getting to the classroom.
Quick Tip: Find neighbors and classmates to walk with to make it fun both before and after school!
2. Keep a checklist on the door.
Create a picture “checklist” on your kid’s door to review before school each morning: brush your teeth, make your bed, check your backpack, get your shoes on, feed the dog, etc. It’s really helpful in building personal responsibility and will minimize your having to say reminders like, “put your shoes on!” a hundred times.
Download our checklist >
3. Wear school clothes to bed.
Here’s a hack not many people think of! For younger kids or kids who are especially slow in the morning, put on your school clothes the night before. As long as the clothes are comfortable to sleep in, your morning routine will be faster with one less step. Forget about pajama tops and have kids sleep in the t-shirt that they are going to wear to school.
Quick Tip: This works really well in pre-school and before kids could dress themselves.
4. Keep a common calendar.
Make sure everyone knows what’s happening each day. Keep a calendar or schedule somewhere where everyone can see it easily, like on the fridge or the front door. Plan out lunch schedules, after-school activities, and special school projects. Use post-it notes or a whiteboard calendar to easily make changes and add reminders.
Quick Tip: For older kids, have a family calendar on your phone that you can all update!
5. Separate pre-packed bags for after-school activities.
Do your kids have a jam-packed after-school schedule? Save time by packing go-bags the night before and leaving them in a designated spot, whether that’s at the front door or in the car. If you have time in the mornings, you can add snacks to this go-bag and make the scramble of afternoon activities so much smoother.
6. Let your kids choose their own school supplies.
You may be tempted to shop alone and save yourself the trouble of searching for supplies with your kids there. However, bringing your kids along will help them organize their belongings independently and increase the chance that they’ll use all their supplies.
“They’ll be more excited about using the cool stuff they get to pick out.”
Marcella Moran, PhD, coauthor of Organizing the Disorganized Child
7. Use a portable homework station. Once you have your supplies sorted, make a caddy or use a wheeled cart to organize all your supplies at home. Easily bring all your supplies between rooms or on the go.
Quick Tip: For DIY options, use a muffin tray to organize small objects or arrange old tins and cups to hold your writing utensils.
8. Have your kids make their own lunches.
Let kids choose their own lunches, and they’ll be more likely to finish their meals every day. This is a great way to teach your kids how to be independent and start choosing their food for themselves. To make sure they’re still getting the right nutrients, have a designated food drawer or refrigerator section that you fill with the dairy, proteins, veggies, fruits, and grains that they need! Designate a space in your refrigerator or pantry for your kids to easily reach their snacks for self-service.
Quick Tip: Give your kids input on the weekly grocery list to better minimize food waste.
9. Start a file bin now.
Instead of waiting for the end of the year, start organizing finished projects and old handouts now! Decide which papers and projects are important to keep as they complete work during the school year. At the end of the year, the decluttering of old school supplies will be much easier.
Quick Tip: Organize for easy access: separate between long-term storage, frequent use (like a times table), and short-term storage (like handouts for each unit).
10. Sign up for online after school classes. Online after school classes are a great option for busy students. Instead of being shuttled from activity to activity, kids can join live online classes from home. Get access to the best instructors and classes that are available nationwide and have fun working with friends in online groups.
Create an account and profile for your kids to find personalized after school enrichment classes at ActivityHero.
Prepping for back-to-school means juggling after-school activities and loads more stuff. These 5 organization hacks will keep your family organized and ready for anything.
By Jillian Chamberlain
Where are my shin guards? Did you sign that permission slip? I can’t find my sheet music! When you’re trying to get kids out the door and to their after school activities, time is at a premium. Taking a few minutes now to modify your organization process can help streamline things when you’re in a rush. Here are some of our favorite ideas from parents and caregivers who’ve been there, organized that.
1. “Stuff Station” — The One Place to Keep Everything
Photo Credit: IAmNotTheBabysitter.com
There’s so much to keep track of during back-to-school season, it gets overwhelming. When school is back in session, so are all of those music lessons, soccer practices, and martial arts classes. As parents of active children, you are guaranteed to be dealing with more STUFF. How do you keep it all straight and teach your children to be responsible for their things on any given day? Keep it all in one place, and color-code it! Your kids’ activity station can come in many different shapes and forms, but here is one ‘stuff station’ idea we thought was appealing to the eye and highly functional. Check out this and more organization hacks from IAmNotTheBabysitter.com
2. There’s a Bag for That
Source: Momtastic.com
Once you create a ‘stuff station’ for homework, permission slips and projects are sure to add a hook for an after-school activity drawstring bag. If you have a child with a lot of various interests, consider making an individual drawstring bag that is designated as the one place to keep any and all equipment for each sport or lesson. On Mondays and Wednesdays, your child knows to grab the yellow drawstring bag with their shin guards and cleats for soccer. On Thursday the red bag is ready at the door for martial arts. Momtastic.com has a great DIY tutorial for customizable drawstring bags. So simple!
3. Car Homework Station
Homework happens. If there’s one thing to dread with the start of the new school year, it’s the renewed battle over nightly homework assignments. Convincing kids to sit down and do their work is one of the hardest parts of a parent’s job. One way to get them excited about homework is a comfortable and creative space dedicated to them…even if that is in the car. Consider creating a homework station in the car so that your little ones can knock out some homework while you’re on the road.
4. After-School Snacks on the Go
Kids start school relatively early in the morning each day. That means a big gap between lunchtime and after-school snack time. Kids need to refuel, and every parent knows how difficult it can be dealing with cranky, “hangry” youngsters. StuffedSuitcase.com has made it easy to steer clear of junk foods and other unhealthy quick fixes by gathering some easy-to-assemble snacks to keep ready in the car. After-school snacks can be healthy, fun and mobile!
5. Organize Your After-School Schedule, Too!
ActivityHero can help you find local activities that work with your child’s calendar — and nurture his or her interests! Whether your child likes to dance, sports, outdoor recreation, music, or computers, ActivityHero makes browsing and registering easy.
Getting organized is about clearing the space and time for your family members to meet their needs and find focus, in whatever way works for you!
Summer camp is almost over and your kids had a blast! As proof of said fun, all the exciting activities have accumulated to become a large pile in your living room. Now what? Here are some creative ideas to manage the chaos.
1. Double down. When kids develop an interest in a certain type of medium, like clay, double down. Exhaust every facet of clay while you explore new techniques and test new projects.
Quick Tip: Once your kids tire of the medium, use the opportunity to have conversations about organization and material attachment. Together, you can discuss why they may want to keep something or whether they can find new use for their old items.
2. Innovate. Continue learning! Kids can practice problem solving long after camp with a project that’s returned home. Using everyday household tools and materials available, your kids will think of new ways to improve a project by making it look and work better.
“My kid designed a backpack at an innovation camp this summer. He added small details after realizing the water bottle holder wasn’t strong enough. He also included a waterproof side pocket as a new feature.”
3. Repurpose. Channel your inner Marie Kondo. If it sparks joy, keep it to create a whole new personalized project. Finding new purposes for old items is a great way to give new life to items while preserving memories.
“I have a canvas in our living room that I decoupage paintings my kids did when they were toddlers. I also save artwork throughout the year to decoupage onto keepsake boxes and memory frames for our extended family.”
4. Personalize gifts. Kids’ art is great for everyday items like custom mugs, iphone/ipad cases, or mouse pads. It’s a quiet way to keep your loved ones close, wherever you go.
“My nephew took a lot of online art classes in 2020 and we used his drawings to create a custom iPhone case as a grandparent’s gift.”
5. Document the whole memory. Get pictures with your kids holding their designs. It documents the special creations and their ages of completion. It also offers the perspective of scale to show how large and small the items were.
This bridge lasted a while on his shelf but was eventually tossed to make room for LEGO builds. Looking back we’re so grateful to still have pictures of my son holding the special projects.
6. Practice postcards. Creating postcards or packages can be a fun project itself! Practice writing letters with old paper projects. Gather, cut and fold old projects to create a package for far away loved ones.
Quick Tip: Use this as a teaching opportunity about the postal service and how it works!
7. Host an art gallery. Celebrate a summer’s worth of artwork! Let kids choose their favorite pieces to display around the house for an art walk. Whether it’s with just the family or with more friends, a gallery day is the perfect way to give your art collection a send off.
Quick Tip: You can even make snacks and decorations to complete the “museum day” and spend time reviewing each piece of artwork.
Transform your kids collection of summer camp t-shirts into a quilt to use when they are cold or hang as a work of art to admire on the wall.
Breakdown and recycle the projects because there’s only enough room to keep a select few.
Now that all of your kids’ most recent art projects are organized, take some time to start planning their next round of enrichment camps and classes at ActivityHero.
Here are some simple tips to help your kids from experiencing brain drain during summer break.
Summer vacation is traditionally known as a time for kids to pause academic studies and just have fun. So while taking a break is important, preventing the Summer Slide is also a priority worth considering. In 1996, the first studies of the Summer Slide showed us that kids lose large amounts of knowledge in reading and math over summer break, which can contribute to an escalation of future skills lost.
Younger kids are more at-risk of experiencing learning loss. “In general, kids learn a lot more in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade than kids in middle school or high school, because learning follows a curve where it’s accelerated early in life and then plateaus,” says James Kim, Ed.D., an assistant professor of education at Harvard University.1
Summer Learning Loss Facts2
1 month (equivalent) of overall learning is lost after summer vacation
3 months of math skills + 2 months of reading are lost over the summer
6 weeks is spent re-learning old material in the fall to make up for summer learning loss
Yes, these numbers sound scary, but don’t worry! Being informed is the first step and knowing that we’ve got you covered with solutions is the other key part of this process. This summer, keep your kids engaged with these teacher-approved brain-building activities.
Read
60% of kids ages 6 to 17 say they love or like reading books for fun a lot.1 Kids gain more from reading when they actually enjoy it. Let them choose.
“Learning through play is about continuity; bringing together children’s spheres of life – home, school, and the wider world, and doing so over time.” Susan MacKay, Director of Teaching and Learning at Portland Children’s Museum.3 Kids’ math and vocabulary skills extend beyond worksheets and can be found in hobbies related to board games, S.T.E.A.M., sharing stories, and more.
Chess Camp by New York Chess Academy (2021 ActivityHero Best of Winner!)
Paul Harris, a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education who studies imagination. “The imagination is absolutely vital for contemplating reality, not just those things we take to be mere fantasy.”4 Through imagination, kids expand their cognitive abilities to think, know, remember and experiment with new concepts. Even though it may not seem like it, they are learning! Familiar skills are being used to develop new ones.
Through exploration, curiosity is encouraged. With that, more experiences and interests for your kids emerge. Studies show that exploration also supports social-emotional development by allowing kids to build confidence for both independent and collaborative interactions with others. Try something new today.
Find the best summer camps for kids in the Dallas TX Area for Summer 2021 – including Fort Worth, Plano, Frisco, Keller and surrounding areas.
Discover our most popular and trending camps in Dallas, TX – including outdoor camps, adventure camps, sports camps, LEGO® camps, maker camps, coding camps, and more! Learn more about camps updated programs for Summer 2021, including curriculum, group sizes, safety protocols, and cancellation policies.
Vision Martial Arts is a family-centered martial arts school offering in-person programs in Plano, TX and online classes to families everywhere. Vision Martial Arts specializes in character development and self-defense for kids of all ages and their families. Children become better learners through the development of focus, confidence, self- discipline and respect. They have camps all summer and classes year round, online and in-person!
Oklahoma Awesome Adventures presents the 2021 Junior Elephant Ambassador Camp! This one-of-a-kind experience includes a one week overnight camp (5 days / 4 nights) located in Hugo, OK, close to Hugo Lake and right next door to the Endangered Ark Foundation, one of the nation’s largest private elephant facilities in the United States.
Participants will have a unique opportunity to learn about one of the world’s most endangered species – the Asian Elephant – up close and in person. In addition to earning their Junior Elephant Ambassador Certification, Campers will also be provided with valuable lessons and enriching activities that will focus on Team Building, Leadership, Recreation Fun!
OutLoud Adventures was created by Jeffery Moffitt and Allison Caldwell to help youth form deeper connections with nature, build community, and explore the world around them. Jeffery and Allison have over 25 years of combined experience working with teenagers. They know that the key to an amazing summer adventure is the right route with the right people, and they take great pride in designing trips that are well paced, strike the perfect balance between challenging and rewarding, and are led by incredible educators that are experts at creating a sense of community from our very first meeting with the group. Their Summer 2021 small-group outdoor adventures depart from the DFW Airport and include options for epic explorations to the West Coast, Sedona, Seattle and Yellowstone.
The United States Youth Volleyball League provides every child between the ages of 7 and 15 a chance to learn and play volleyball in a fun, safe, and supervised environment. While the program teaches children the skills necessary to excel in the sport of volleyball, the focus remains on participation, cooperation, sportsmanship, responsibility, and, of course, fun! Volleyball camps are being held in both Dallas and Cedar Park, TX for Summer 2021.
STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning is more important than ever before. At Destination Science, we say “Science is a Way of Thinking!” When we know how to “do” science, we know how to be creative, critical, and organized thinkers and problem solvers. In all of our activities, we teach children how to ask great questions and how to wonder out loud. Every day provides opportunities to create new things and imagine. At Destination Science, we use science to prepare your child for life! We’re safe, non-stop fun, so kids can’t wait to go every day! In-person Destination Science camp locations include Plano, Dallas, and Frisco, TX for Summer 2021.
Challenger Sports, the largest soccer camp company in North America will run over 1,200 camps this summer and utilize over 30 years of coaching experience! Locations in Texas include Rockwall, Frisco, Carrollton, Coppell, Flower Mound, Keller, and more! Challenger’s International Soccer Camp will contain a selection of age & ability appropriate drills and practices being used by five of the world’s top soccer countries (Brazil, France, Spain, UK and the US). Camp programs will include the innovative TinyTykes program, for ages 2-5. TinyTykes will feature fundamental soccer activities, games, and stories that have been designed to develop the technical, physical and social aspects of young players. The half-day and most popular player development program, for ages 5-16, will run for 3 hours each day and focus on coached skill development, games, challenges and competitions.
Breakthrough Basketball conducts quality, high-intensity, drill based camps that focus on not only bettering a players skill set on the court but also building character and confidence off the court. These camps will strengthen your athletes mentality while boosting their confidence to become more aggressive and skilled players. Our camps will provide a focused, fun learning environment that cannot be rivaled. Breakthrough Basketball has camps across the country, including Texas locations in Abilene, Amarillo, Duncanville, Fort Worth, Houston, Iowa Park, Killeen, Lake Dallas, Lubbock, Perryton, Round Rock, and San Antonio.
Choose from USA Chess Camp or 7 different Video Game Creation Camps. Mix and match to create a fun-filled day for your child. At USA Chess Camp, professional chess instructors teach children of all abilities to play and improve their games. Each day consists of chess lessons and competitive play. Instructors are selected by USA Chess for their ability to make chess fun and teach the game to players of all levels. Our popular video game creation and animation camps let kids create & program their own video game. Using our custom curricula, children learn Minecraft, GameMaker, Kodu or Scratch as they create their very own video games that they can actually play!
KidzToPros has built a trusted brand as an after-school and seasonal camp provider, partnering with over 400 schools in 14 metropolitan areas – including Dallas, TX. KidzToPros offers programs for grades K-8th, including: outdoor sports camps, LEGO® Masters, Minecraft and Roblox game design, art skills, graphic design, and more!
Code Wiz offers a wide range of individualized STEM programs, each tailored to the students’ skill level for kids aged 7-17. Watch your kids expand their creativity through computer science with a student-driven, project-based learning approach. Code Wiz programs include online camps and and single-day class programs for Robotics, Minecraft modding, Roblox, Game design, Animations, Digital Art, Mobile app development, Web development, Java, Python, etc.
The goal of iCode Sugarland is to enrich the educational experience and capability of tomorrow’s entrepreneurs, engineers, artists, scientists, economists, thinkers and doers. Our students gain skills in collaboration, creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, through a process and proprietary curriculum that equips them with knowledge, confidence, leadership and project management skills. These skills are critical, as the global workforce increasingly demands innovators to solve ever-changing needs and crises. The demands are endless and through technology, so are the possibilities. Summer 2021 Camps include Minecraft Modding, LEGO® Robotics, YouTube production, and more!
If you love CSI and forensics, this online STEM camp is for you! Taught by current and former detectives (how cool is that!), this camp is packed with hands-on activities to learn what it takes to become a crime scene investigator. Each student gets their own CSI Lab Kit shipped to them before the virtual class.Lift your own fingerprints and classify them, solve a missing persons case, analyze handwriting, and so much more! Ideal for students in grades 6 to 12 with an interest in law enforcement, science, and forensics. Each camp is capped at 10 students ensuring plenty of one-on-one guidance and mentorship from practicing CSI professionals – build your STEM skills and connections needed to succeed in the field.
Homework happens. If there’s one thing to dread with the start of the new school year, it’s the renewed battle over nightly homework assignments. Convincing kids to sit down and do their work is one of the hardest parts of a parent’s job. One way to get them excited about homework is a comfortable and creative space dedicated to them…even if that is in the car. Consider creating a homework station in the car so that your little ones can knock out some homework while you’re on the road.
ActivityHero can help you find local activities that work with your child’s calendar — and nurture his or her interests! Whether your child likes to dance, sports, outdoor recreation, 
