Team Building For Kids

When is it the right time to get kids involved in teamwork and what it means to be part of a team? There are many great ways to introduce kids to team building. Use team building games and activities to get kids understanding the meaning of being on a team. There are several ways to do this. Choosing team activities should be done with your team in mind. Gear games towards certain purposes or outcomes. Kids do not take long to catch on and they tend to be very eager learners. Capture their attention with fun, intriguing activities and your team will come together in no time.

Try to find some games that get kids working together on some kind of problem solving. Children can naturally have a shorter attention span than adults so you want to present this type of activity in a fun manner. Create a reward system for teams that are able to work together in order to reach a common goal. When they solve the problem and receive a reward, it gives them initiative to keep working hard and co-operating with the others on their team. The best games are those that require direct interaction between team members.

Organize a game of 20 questions for the kids to play while team building. Draw up a series of cards with different questions on each. Have each child select a card and then ask another the questions from it. It's a great way for the kids to share and discover common interests. Children need to be entertained and social when in a large group. This will lighten the mood considerably and help the quieter team members to come out of their shell.

Have the kids sit in a circle or around a table and share their favorite things. Start with something like movies or books and move on to anything from toys to animals. Sharing interests creates discussion. When you share interests with someone, it is easier to relate to them. Kids ultimately want to be friends with most other kids. Encouraging them to get along socially is always positive. By sharing interests they can form valuable bonds that will serve them as both individuals and as a team.

Organize a scavenger hunt of some kind that requires the kids to work as teams. Give each team a list of items that they must find and a time limit that is the same for all of them. Have a prize for each team regardless of who wins. It is all about having fun and learning to work together to solve a problem or make a discovery.

Have idea sharing time so that the kids can give valuable input they may otherwise keep to themselves. Sometimes encouragement is needed to get people of all ages to open up and contribute without fear. It is even more so with kids. Team building for kids should be fun and positive but also be effective. Teaching kids how to work as a team now will serve them throughout their adult, professional life.

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Best Shoes For Kids

Doctors and other health professionals have anointed minimal shoes as the best for children's feet development and growth. The number of companies and shoes being designed in support of this theory has grown phenomenally in just the past few years. Here are some of the most popular shoe brands that subscribe to the new minimal theory.

#1 - Vivo Barefoot Shoes

Vivo Barefoot Shoes is a unique shoe brand that operates on the philosophy that cushioning and padding in shoes is actually unnatural for your feet and may increase the risk of injury. There byline is "No heel, no midsole, no arch support, no gimmicks!" Vivo Barefoot calls its technology "Pure Barefoot Technology." They believe that your body already has all the built-in mechanics that you need and they give come compelling evidence on their website. Their shoes strive to not interfere with your body's natural mechanics.

Kids, who spend more time than adults in bare feet, love Vivo because they provide protection while being as close to bare feet as possible.

#2 - Merrel BareForm

Merrel BareForms also subscribe to the minimal mechanics and have a very thin sole with a lightly padded layer. They give kids a close to barefoot experience with protection from the occasional stone. This is a very popular shoe with kids because of its natural, barefoot feeling and its easy-to-wear strap-on design.

#3 - Soft Star

Soft Star concentrates on shoes that feature free movement, soft soles, and natural, breathable materials. Soft Star believes that barefoot is best to promote healthy feet and development. They believe healthy shoes for kids are roomy. The younger the child the roomier the shoes. Young children's feet are developing and should be allowed to develop in as close to a barefoot environment as possible. Soft Star also provides the unique service of allowing you to design your own Soft Stars by choosing colors and motifs for an additional fee.

#4 - Skidders

Safety is at the core of the Skidders line of gripper shoes and grip socks. Skidders has grown from the original Skidders shoe that features a soft flexible rubber sole and great traction indoors and out. They've only been around since 2008 but, they now have 18 collections and over 550 styles of shoes. They design comfortable socks and shoes that are versatile, stylish, and safe. Skidders shoes are machine washable making them a big hit with parents. Skidders are easy for kids to put on by themselves which makes them very popular with kids.

#5 - Robeez

Robeez believes that footwear should mimic bare feet by being flexible, supporting growing feet, promoting good balance, and protecting. Kids shoes need to stay on and Robeez has designed elasticized ankles to make sure the fit is always comfortable. They only use the highest quality leather and other materials in their shoes. Robeez designs promote comfort and durability by using soft cushioning and gripping soles. No matter what phase your child is in, Robeez will support crawling, cruising, walking, or running both indoors and out. Robeez is a very popular shoe with kids and parents alike.

If you haven't looked into minimal shoes for kids, you should check them out. I hope this article give you a place to look and compare.

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