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  • 5 Reasons Why We Should Be Playing Ping Pong

    5 Reasons Why We Should Be Playing Ping Pong

    Ping pong or table tennis is a sport we all played at a certain time in our life. Maybe your parents had an old table in the basement or maybe your childhood memories revolve around this game, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that it doesn’t take long to learn it, and anyone can join in.

    5 Reasons We Should Be Playing Ping Pong

    Image credit Pixabay

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    But besides being extremely easy to learn, there are other benefits to consider before tossing the paddles away.

    #1:  General Fitness

    First and foremost, this is an aerobic exercise you do with pleasure! So, if you hate running on the treadmill or working on the stationary bike, ping pong is a fantastic way to improve your fitness. Furthermore, if you play it like a pro (meaning fast), your heart will get a fantastic exercise out of it and you’ll sweat like you never did in the gym!

    #2: A Sport for the Family

    In today’s day and age, it is difficult to get the entire family involved in one activity. Sure, you can take the kids to park, but they won’t lift their eyes from their phones!

    On the other hand, a good outdoor table like the ones I saw on bestpingpongtables.io and a few warming sets will get the ball rolling. Once you get the kids hooked on ping pong, you’ll never have to worry about them spending too much time in the house ever again!

    #3: A Non-Contact Sport

    Jogging can be rough on your joints while lifting weights or doing cardio in the gym can be quite strenuous on the muscles. This is a problem that doesn’t show up when you play table tennis. You don’t need to force yourself to play very fast and you can still break a sweat and feel the action.

    Not to mention, there is no risk of getting bruised or pushed while playing because there are no teammates to get in contact with!

    #4: Mental Sharpness

    Besides all the physical benefits, ping pong was proven to sharpen the mind and improve memory and focus. The action stimulates the only portion of our brain that is still capable of producing neurons and forming new neuronal pathways. As a result, people who play ping pong constantly will get smarter and will focus better. This is also why some specialists recommend the sport to children since they are still able to develop their brain.

    #5: Hand-Eye Coordination

    Have you ever tried to toss a ball in one direction and it went in a completely different one? Or maybe you keep dropping things and bumping into obstacles that you see but don’t really register correctly.

    This is what we call clumsiness and I was one of the biggest butterfingers ever! But with ping pong, my depth perception improved, and my hand-eye coordination got better. Now, as a fully-grown adult, I can drink my coffee without spilling and I can shoot a bow and arrow with high accuracy.

    Ping pong is one of the most fun ways to help your clumsy kids get better at interpreting the world around correctly.

    In Conclusion

    As you can see, table tennis is a fantastic game for both kids and adults. It’s also a way to spend more time with the family and teach the kids a bit about staying fit and healthy. So, whip up that old table and have at it!

  • Robot Turtles on the Road

    Robot Turtles on the Road

    When I was a kid and we’d go on vacation we always made sure to bring a bag of games. Hotels rarely had more channels than the local news to watch, and after a long car ride, no one really wanted to watch TV when we got there.
     
    As we got ready to move our family 900 miles, with many nights in a hotel I knew I needed to set aside some games. We ended up staying in a hotel 4 nights, with not much to do on any of those nights. The kids were more active and bouncy then normal from abnormal daytime naps and having nowhere to run around the majority of the day. I was really glad I packed this game bag come 9pm at the hotels.
    Pack Robot Turtles in your game bag for nights at a hotel

     

    We had recently got Robot Turtles from ThinkFun in the mail, and although the kids and Dad had played it, I hadn’t had a chance to sit down with them yet. The game promotes basic coding skills for kids ages 4+. With my new found love of computer oriented stuff and HTML coding I periodically have to figure out with the blog, I was really excited for this one. Especially if my 4-year-old could also play with us.
     
    Seriously, such a fun game!! It wasn’t coding like I thought it would be but really is just the basics. The kids are “Turtle Masters” while an adult or older child is the “Turtle Mover”. Or think of the kids as the programmers, and the Mover as the computer. The kids really wanted to move their own
    turtles, but when I explained it as me being the computer, they really got into it and loved giving me commands.
     
    There are 3 levels to Robot Turtles. We’re currently mastering Level 1 still, but eventually, we’ll add laser beams, and ice blocks and crates. Obstacles the kids must learn how to program around.
     
    Night 3 in the hotel was draining on everyone’s patience and attitude, so thank goodness I had Robot Turtles packed. We sent Prince L off with Mark, while the girls and I got some sillies out playing.
    Robot Turtles teaches basic coding skills to children as young as 4

     For more fun games check out ThinkFun on social media 

     

    I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

  • Dance the week away

    Dance the week away

    Shortly after we moved back to Utah County (or as I call it, back to society), one of my old high school friends hosted an ice cream social. It was exciting to get together with these friends I hardly ever see anymore, and meet their spouses and kids.
    While at the ice cream social, a Wii was pulled out, and the game Just Dance was turned on. My kids love to dance. Most nights they perform little dance shows for us, and get all dressed up. They will spend their weekends “practicing” for the dance shows to show “our audience”.

    I’m sure you see where this is going right? So Just Dance is put into the Wii. I’ve heard of it, but never actually seen it, or played it. I found it to be a lot of fun, and of course my kids too. I think Princess V and Princess C took over 2 of the wii-motes for the rest of the night.

    As soon as we got home, I started looking into Just Dance. We’ve really been getting into the Wii lately, and playing family games, but I wanted something a little more active for them, that didn’t take a lot of strategy.

    Initial Concerns:

    Music? With Mark holding a BA in Music Education we are pretty picky about they genres of music we let the kids listen to. That’s not to say we don’t let them enjoy kid music, but we want it to be quality.
    Lyrics? Lyrics were a big concern. I want them clean, and I want them about something good.
    Dance Moves? Especially with how often I see videos of little girls dancing suggestively, this was important to me. My little girls do not need to know how to shimmy, and shake their booty.

    With these concerns in mind, we decided to hold off on getting Just Dance for the kids. But then I heard about Just Dance Kids 2014 coming out, and I knew we should at least check it out. If it didn’t meet our standards in music, lyrics and dancing, we could just pass it on.

    I am really happy to tell you all, that as a picky parent, I approve of Just Dance Kids 2014, and so do my kids.

    Watch this video of the kids jamming out to some of our favorite songs on the play list to get a good feel for the different types of songs, and dance moves you can expect from Just Dance Kids 2014
    How did Just Dance Kids 2014 do?
    Music: I was sold when I found the opening and closing theme to Fraggle Rock on the play list. A little disappointed when I found out Magic Carpet Ride is not from Aladdin, but still good music. 
    Lyrics: Completely clean. The songs are all uplifting, or just plain fun, with selections like “I Like to Move It” and “Walking On Sunshine”, I am pleased. 
    Dance Moves: A few of the songs in the “All Ages” play list contained moves just a little out of my comfort zone, but nothing suggestive or aggressive. 
    Keep up with all the latest happenings for Just Dance on the Ubisoft Blog
    Or purchase a copy of Just Dance Kids 2014
    for your own system (Wii, XBox 360, and Wii-U) on Amazon.

    I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

  • Our Top 15 Family Favorite Games #ATVIFamGames

    Our Top 15 Family Favorite Games #ATVIFamGames

    *I was compensated with an activision gift package to help promote this event. All opinions are my own, and not influenced in any way.  I received this opportunity as a member of Business 2 Blogger. This post contains affiliate links.

    Before sitting back to relax and watch the Live Activision Family Game Summit, I thought I’d take a moment to tell you our families Top 5 favorite Games!

    The Kids Top 5

    1. Hide and Go Seek. A total riot in our house! I love the minimal work I have to put into finding as I reach 10, and Princess C jumps out of her hiding spot “Here I Am!!!”
    2. Kick the can. Oh man, sometimes I wish Mark hadn’t taught them this one yet. We had an empty #10 can flying around our living room for a couple days, until I confiscated it for Halloween candy.  I see many future games of this, but played outside when the weather is warm.
    3. Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey
      for Wii.  We bought this for Princess V a couple years ago, and she really loved it. Now all 3 Princesses enjoy playing it. We found out there’s even a 2 player version, which leads to a lot of fun for Princess V and Princess C.

    4. Hungry Hungry Hippos, for Ipad. Mark recently downloaded this, and the girls have had a lot of fun playing it. We used to have the actual game, but half the hippos were falling apart, and the little balls were getting thrown around. I may need to look into finding a new one.
    5. Chutes and Ladders. A classic, easy game for all of us to play together. I especially like that this game teaches us turns, and that we don’t always win.

    Mom’s Top 5

    ABSTRACTS: "The Game of Absurd Logic"
    1. Scrabble. I’ve always enjoyed a good old game of scrabble. Building vocabulary, and finding just the right spot to squeeze in a word and win major points!
    2. Abstracts. Probably my favorite game of all time! I grew up with this one. I was so excited a couple years ago when I found a used copy at our local thrift store. This is one I think everyone should have.  It helps build teamwork, and because of it’s date, you can learn about some interesting things/people/places.
    3. Clue. Always a favorite! Once I learned how to keep track of all the clues, it became even more fun.
    4. Imaginiff. This has quickly become a favorite over the last few years. Finding out what you’re family really thinks of you, can be hilarious!
    5. Risk. This is one I always enjoyed playing with my brothers…for days on end. We’d set it up, and then become very protective of it as we played for days on end, between chores, school and homework. Some nights, especially on vacations we would stay up all night just to finish playing.

    Dad’s Top 5

    1. Mario Kart Wii.  Who doesn’t love this? Especially when you can party with the whole family.
    2. Scene It DVD. Always a fun one, and there are so many versions you can find the perfect fit for your family. I’m partial to the Disney Scene It
    3. The Great Dalmuti. One of the best card games ever. We attempted to make and market our own version once, based on biblical authorities.
    4. Life. Again, a classic. Driving through life, getting married and having kids pop into your car whether you wanted them or not.
    5. The Legend of Zelda(All of them).  You do know why we named our son Lincoln right? So we could call him Link of course!  Well, that’s one reason at least. A fun clean game for the family, with a princess to round out the genders.  For the time being the kids enjoy asking Daddy to play so they can watch.

    What are your Family Favorite Games?
  • Renew Family Game Night with Activision #ATVIFamGames

    Renew Family Game Night with Activision #ATVIFamGames

    This Tuesday join in on Activision’s Family Game Summit.  If you live in or around New York City, you can attend the LIVE event!!  (and they even have childcare provided!)
    If like me, you live on the other side of the country, you can attend the event online.  How cool is that?
    In case you can’t read all that tiny writing, here is what you need to know
    RSVP/Register online at www.activision.com/family
    Date/Time: Nov 13th at 1pm. If you’re going in person, the doors will open at 12:30.
    Located: Metropolitan Pavilion, 2nd floor
    Online? Follow @ATVIFamily  and #ATVIFamGames
    Hope to “see” you all there next Tuesday! Let’s bring back family game night!

    I personally love family game nights. My family could always, and still is found sitting around the dinner table playing games. Some of my favorites as a kid were scrabble, Parcheesi, clue, and snirts.
    I’ve found it difficult to play games with my kids now, though, because of their age, and desire for more technology.  Our oldest loves playing on the Wii, and at 6 years old, is pretty good at manipulating the remote.  Our 4 year old loves computer games (we like starfall, and PBS kids).  What I really love though is that they all like to play together. Even if they only play one at a time, they will gather around and watch and wonder when it will be their turn. I’m hoping to learn of some more kid friendly games that my kids can all play together, as well as ways to get the whole family in on some fun!

    Do you have a family game night?  

  • We’re going on Vacation and I’m bringing…

    We’re going on Vacation and I’m bringing…

    Ever play that road trip game? I’m going on vacation and I’m bringing an..Apple! Then the next person says something that starts with the letter B, and repeats the letter a. So on until you get to the letter z and you have to remember all 26 items that have been said.

    Princess V packing for the trip. She is such a little fashionista.

    I have some fun memories of going on vacation it’s my family. So when we had the opportunity to go with Mark to an interview, I thought it would be a lot of fun! Boy, was I mistaken in how easy I thought it would be. Within the first 3 hours, 2 of the princesses had thrown up. I’m guessing car sickness brought on by too much sugar and lack of sleep.
    I digress from my real intent of sharing this post with you, though. I wanted to tell you about how even while staying in a hotel, you can make it a home. I was lucky enough to have a friend who had lived in Spokane. So she told me about the hotels. We were able to get a 2 room suite for an amazing deal! Full kitchen included!
    Having 2 rooms has really given us the gift of sanity after our 15 hour car drive. The
    Princesses shared one queen bed together, while Mark and I had a bed in a separate room with Lincoln. This really helped when Lincoln woke in the night and wouldn’t go back to sleep. The separate space allowed the girls to continue sleeping through his midnight play.
    When planning the trip we decided to bring the princesses pillow pets. It’s what they sleep with at home, so it provided a comforting object in a strange place. Thank goodness for hotels with on site laundry services though, since one pillow had been the victim of car sickness.
    To save money we brought a lot of food with us. 2 coolers actually. 1 was solely for drinks, and the other for food. When we got to the hotel the first thing the Princesses wanted to do was stock the fridge. They opened thse coolers and got everything put away. It was so fun to see them working together on a chore, and one so similar to putting the groceries away at home.
    So despite the craziness if taking 4 kids on a 15 hour car ride in one day, holing them up in a hotel room for 7 hours, and no regular naps for the baby, it’s still been a lot of fun. We’ve made some memories that I hope the kids remember.
    We were planning in making our return trip last 2 days, but Mark got anther interview a little closer to home, so we’re getting ready for another 15 hour car ride in one day. Wish us luck!
    I think I just might try and teach the kids the trip game. Or the alphabet game, since they know all their letters. Perhaps we’ll just play a bunch of I spy with my little eye. Of course 20 questions is always fun too. Maybe we’ll get lucky though and they’ll just decide to sleep the whole way.