For those rainy days when you and your kids are stuck inside for the day, try some of these Ninja-inspired crafts to pass the time! Share photos of you and your Ninjas crafting together on Instagram and Facebook. Make sure to tag us! Ninja Paper Plate This craft is fun for Ninjas of all ages. Find instructions here. Ninja Finger Puppets The finger puppets are perfect to act out all of your Ninja moves on a small scale. Find instructions here. Ninja LEGO Models If your Ninja has a big LEGO collection, try building these. Find instructions here. N is for Ninja If your Ninja is in the process of learning the alphabet, this is a great project for you to do together. Find instructions here. Ninja Stress Balls Even if you aren’t stressed, these little Ninjas are fun to squish and play with. Find instructions here. Ninja Lollipops Satisfy your sweet tooth with these adorable Ninja suckers. Find instructions here. Ninja Craft Sticks Use these for play, or string a bunch of them together to make a Ninja garland. Find instructions here. Paper Bag Ninja How cute is this craft that can even do Ninja moves? Find instructions here. Ninja Origami Star This easy paper craft will allow your Ninja to sport the sacred symbol of Ninjas everywhere. Find instructions here. Flexible Ninjas This craft is a bit more advanced, but the fun will be well worth it. Find instructions here. Ninja Face Help your Ninja learn shapes with this easy craft. Find instructions here. Ninja Bots Have a blast with these paper cups-turned-robots. Find instructions here. Ninja Toilet Paper Rolls Reuse those old toilet paper rolls to create some awesome Ninjas. Find instructions here. Wobbly Ninjas Repurpose those Easter eggs sitting in your attic by making these fun Ninja eggs. Find instructions here.

As parents, we are thankful for a digital age in which we can simply Google search dinner recipes, easy crafts, and advice. That is why we have compiled a list of 5 parenting blogs/websites that we have found useful in being awesome Ninja parents. Check them out! 1. Dirt & Boogers 2. Bounceback Parenting 3. Scary Mommy 4. Lucie’s List 5. Mama Smiles

Some of our advanced Ninjas performed impressive tricks on Saturday, May 20 at our NinjaZone Academy at Grand Park. Check out their awesome moves!

Are you stuck in the house and have no idea how to keep your kid entertained? Well have no fear, the Ninjas are here with 50 activities to do at home. And of course, you can tweak these ideas to make them your own and fit your needs! So, take these activities and start having some fun at home! Have a scavenger hunt Blow bubbles Decorate a picture frame Play hide and seek Wash the car Start a garden Tie-dye a Tshirt Camp out in the backyard Have an egg-toss Build a couch fort Have a dance party Make a homemade pizza Write a story Film your own action movie Make your own puzzle Put together a puzzle Make paper airplanes and race them Cloud watch Make your own slime Make a bird feeder Have a water balloon fight Make a house out of cardboard boxes Make popsicles Draw chalk murals in the driveway Bake some cupcakes Decorate cookies Play some board games Try to learn some magic tricks Act like the floor is lava Make a friendship bracelet Put up a lemonade stand Learn origami Learn how to hula hoop Act out a book Play dress up Try different foods Have a movie night Create cards for family and friends Write a song Design and create bookmarks Make sock puppets Create a secret language Make a paper chain Make your own coloring pages Make shadow puppets Read Minute Mysteries Play charades Have a picnic in the backyard Make boats out of paper and see if they can float Go and dance in the rain!

Water! It is so important for us but we sometimes forget to drink it regularly. If we aren’t careful, we can become dehydrated and suffer from some unpleasant symptoms. These symptoms can range from headaches to having a feeling of hunger. Dehydration can be hard to catch but we have provided 5 signs of dehydration to look for! Know the Signs!

Sun’s out fun’s out! It’s summer time and the outdoors are calling your name. Summer is the perfect time to go out and play! But before you head out here are 5 safety tips to beat the heat!

It’s summer time and kids are going to be burning off their energy with bike rides, water play, and loads of other activities! Having fun during the summer is a must! Being fueled by the right food will help them enjoy their time out and about! To get your kids ready why not fuel them up with some energy bites!? These energy bite recipes are super easy to make, don’t require any cooking, and can be modified to fit your kid’s personal taste! Here are three of my personal favorites! Recipes Cranberry Almond Energy Bites 1 cup of dry oatmeal 1/2 cup of ground flax seeds 1/2 cup of peanut butter (or almond butter, sunflower seed butter, etc.) 1/3 cup of agave nectar (can be substituted with honey or maple syrup) 1/3 cup of dried cranberries, roughly chopped 1/3 cup of almonds, chopped Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Energy Bites 1 cup of dry oatmeal 1/2 cup of ground flax seeds 1/2 cup of peanut butter (or almond butter, sunflower seed butter, etc.) 1/3 cup of agave nectar (can be substituted with honey or maple syrup) 1/3 cup of chocolate chips Coconut Chocolate Chip Energy Bites 1 cup of dry oatmeal 1/2 cup of ground flax seeds 1/2 cup of peanut butter (or almond butter, sunflower seed butter, etc.) 1/3 cup of agave nectar (can be substituted with honey or maple syrup) 1/3 cup of semisweet chocolate chips 1/3 cup of unsweetened coconut, shredded Preparation After you have chosen your energy bite variation simply mix all the ingredients in a medium size bowl. Once mixed, place into the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Then, take the mix out and begin rolling into small bite sized balls. The recipe should yield 16-18 energy bites! Enjoy! These are just three of my favorite energy bite variations. Feel free to mix things up or substitute out different ingredients in the recipes! Also, these are easy recipes to try with your kids. Energy bites are a healthy and tasty way to fuel your children for the summer!

I don’t like losing. I mean, no one likes losing, but I find it a particularly hard pill to swallow. I always have. Do you know how every person has that one story about themselves that is told so frequently that it becomes a part of the family myth? You know the one. The story that is told to your close friends, to the first real boyfriend you bring home, even retold to your children. Mine is about losing at Candy Land. One infamous night in the late eighties my family gathered around our kitchen table for a spirited game night. Most likely I chose the red gingerbread and set my sights firmly on Candy Castle by way of Gumdrop pass. But that fateful night I did not emerge victorious. I lost, and then I proceeded to throw that board game across the room, launching Lord Licorice and Princess Lolly through the air, and landing myself in timeout with a very stern talk about “gracious losers” on the horizon. I remember that night pretty distinctly, not only because I have heard the retelling more times than I wish to count, but also because I truly remember the pain (and embarrassment) I felt when I realized I was not going to win. As a parent I have a newfound perspective and appreciation for the situation. First of all, it is not easy to see your children lose. It’s not really ease to see anyone lose. Have you seen the closeups of professional athletes when they don’t win, on their knees, hands covering their faces for all the world to see? It’s brutal. There’s something about grown men in uniforms crying that makes me weep. Want to add more emotion? Turn those grown men into sweet, hopeful, and vulnerable children who really, really want to win the big game, and just keep the Kleenex coming. But guess what? The losing doesn’t stop. We lose games, contests, friendships, family members. It’s a lesson we need to learn because life is going to be full of losing, even for those lucky few who seem to catch all the breaks. Chances are, we will lose more than we will win in this game of life. It sounds harsh, I know, but it’s true. So, let’s lose around people we love who won’t disown us when we throw board games and who will know just what to say when being a runner up feels like just about the worst thing ever. My Dad didn’t let me win. Not that night in Candy Land when an impending meltdown was probably very apparent to him, not ever. My Mom thought he should. Sometimes I wish he had. But now, I am so glad he didn’t. To be completely candid, I’m pretty sure I inherited my competitive streak from my Dad, so I’m not sure if he was motivated by good parenting or simply didn’t want to lose himself, but nevertheless I am glad he gave me lots of practice losing. He let me sulk (momentarily), and then he challenged me to a rematch. In another life I was a teacher and coach, and I saw many parents try very hard to shield their children from disappointment, to try to avoid losing. At the time, childless myself, I underestimated the primal instinct to protect and certainly didn’t understand the secondhand pain of watching a person you created suffer disappointment, but I also witnessed the entitlement and the complete unpreparedness for life that comes with not learning how to lose and lose graciously. My daughter, a spirited and dare I say competitive four-year-old, played in her first soccer league this past summer. I was taken aback by how hard it was for me to watch her falter and sometimes fall. For now, I think it’s still harder for me when she “loses” because she didn’t seem to care much about the eight unanswered points scored against her team as long as she had some “good snacks” for which to look forward at halftime. But I have a feeling she will have her own Candy Land moment at some point, and I can only hope when that day arrives that I will have the grace and patience to let her lose and then help her pick up the pieces.

From a young age, we are told by society how life should be lived. It all becomes monotonous, dull, and interesting. But, what if there were something to help break the cycle of living in a predetermined box? What if from a young age, kids could explore more than what society tells them they can? To live outside the box means to go against the flow. Standard rules, practices, and ways of thinking do not hold you back! NinjaZone believes that a child’s energy to grow and explore should not be shut down but rather allowed to flourish. Our mission is to turn energy into ambition one awesome kid at a time! Here are 5 great outcomes of allowing them to live outside the box! 1. Confidence Cool flips and rolls don’t come without a little bit of rejoicing afterwards. Confidence is built through encouragement from Trainers and peers when they accomplish a new skill. The no I can’t turns into a yes I can. 2. Creativity How can we get from point A to point B? Whether it’s scaling the sides of walls or flipping over obstacles, the curriculum that we use shows that there is always more than one to get somewhere. Problem-solving is built and creativity is sparked! 3. Pushing themselves to the “limit” Now, within the realm of also being safe, Ninjas can push themselves to the limits. Their bodies can do so much more than we give them credit for! Back flips, handstands, Ninja rolls, and so much more! 4. Courage It takes incredible courage to do all the skills they are taught. Attempting any new flip can be very intimidating and scary. But once they attempt and accomplish that flip or whatever new skill they have so much more courage to take on the next new skill! 5. Freedom NinjaZone has so much to offer! And it allows your Ninja’s to reach their full potential. They are given freedom to try new things be all that they can be! It can be very easy to fall into the rules and structures that society has set for us. NinjaZone wants to break that pattern by turning energy into ambition one awesome kid at a time.

When you think of your own body, what comes to mind? How do you feel when you look in the mirror? How do you feel when you see pictures of attractive people in magazines, on TV, or online? What do you think other people think about how you look? Do you often feel critical about the way you look? How do you usually reply when people compliment how you look? Can you list your three favorite things about your body? Do you often feel jealous of other people for the way they look? If your thoughts aren’t always positive, you’re not alone. Glamour Magazine surveyed over 300 random women, finding that women have an average of 13 negative thoughts about their body each day. Even more surprising? 97 percent of women admitted to having at least one negative thought per day about their bodies (Dreisbach, 2011). Certainly, this isn’t “okay,” though it may seem normal. And unfortunately, your personal body image concerns could be affecting more than just you. A recent study found that young children are developing body image- positive or negative- much earlier than most parents believe. Author Janet Liechty says that children aren’t immune to body-image awareness: “Aspects of body-related self-concept such as healthy sexuality, body confidence, body acceptance and early signs of body size preference are all influenced by family socialization processes beginning as early as preschool” (Leichty, Birky, Clarke, & Harrison, 2016, para. 4). Of 30 parents of preschoolers ages two to four, a majority of the parents mentioned in an interview that they believed their kids were too young to be concerned about body image. However, 40 percent of the same parents described at least one occurrence in which their child showed some body-related behavior, like talking about weight, imitating comments about size or weight, or seeking praise for their appearance (Leichty, Birky, Clarke, & Harrison, 2016). Another study at the University of Central Florida found that nearly half of three- to six-year old girls were worried about being “fat.” A third of the children said that they wanted to change something about their bodies (Tatnleff-Dunn & Hayes,2009). While these results might be surprising and disheartening, such research can be to your benefit. Awareness of these feelings and thoughts gives you an opportunity to foster body confidence and acceptance in young kids. An interviewee in Liechty’s study says, “As a parent of preschoolers, it was empowering for me to realize that body image is being formed in these early years and to know that I can create a positive environment in my home to help my sons develop positive body image” (Leichty, Birky, Clarke, & Harrison, 2016, para. 4). Besides the harmful psychological results of negative body image in kids (self-consciousness, anxiety, isolation), kids with poor body image are at greater risk for developing eating disorders or gaining excessive weight. But, kids with positive body images are more confident and comfortable, allowing them to thrive and enjoy all of the things they love. How can you make a difference in your child’s body image? Focus on what your child can do. Kids should be confident in their physical capacities.   Bringing the attention to what your child’s body is capable of, rather than focusing on appearance or size, and reinforcing these abilities promotes better body image in kids’ subsequent teen and young adult years. Be proactive. Body image shouldn’t be talked about only if and when you perceive it as a problem. Take advantage of opportunities for fostering a positive body image climate in your household. Build intrinsic validation and self-confidence. Contrary to popular belief, frequent comments about children’s physical appearance can do more harm than good, since kids may start to focus on external validation or become preoccupied with their physical appearance. Develop positive body image in yourself. There are various ways to combat the negative perceptions, often misconceptions, women have of their bodies. For starters, take the same approach as you should encourage with your kids: concentrate on what your body can do rather than how it looks. Still stuck? Appreciate your body. Exercise. Focus on your strengths. Bring the emphasis to health.

On My Radar As a self-diagnosed social media and blog junkie, I’m constantly finding content online that I love to share with others. Here is my compilation of some trending fitness, sport, kids, and education topics that I’ve been loving lately! 1. The Cross Fit Open Right now is CrossFit Open season; The Open is a series of workouts spanning over five weeks in which anyone in the world can participate! The goal is “to find the fittest on earth,” and I’m not vying for that title, so for me, it’s a fun and empowering way to challenge myself to do workouts at an intensity and level that I don’t usually do! I registered this year- it cost just $20- and have been completing the workouts as they are released each week. One of my favorite parts of being in on The Open action is keeping up with the media- videos, memes, and more- that is posted in relation to each workout. Maybe it’s something that only CrossFitters completing the WODs can relate to, but I’ve loved the inspiring stories of unexpected athletes competing, and hopefully you will too! 2. SI Kids Website As a teacher-turned-sport management student, I love when my worlds and interests collide. SI Kids is a great website offering current sport event news that is age- and content- appropriate for all ages. I’m all for magazine subscriptions, and most of the content on the website is also featured in Sports Illustrated for Kids, but I love the accessibility of the site. The articles are free, which is a bonus for non-subscribers. I especially enjoyed these articles that are written by “kid reporters,” and the magazine is actually accepting applications now for new kid reporters for the future! 3. Aerie’s Campaign for National Eating Disorder Awareness Week This past week was National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. Aerie, the sub-brand of American Eagle Outfitters, is known for its including of models of all sizes and does not retouch photos of models featured in their ads. Aerie teamed up with the National Eating Disorder Association to lead an inspiring campaign encouraging body positivity. Aerie featured a special t-shirt reading “Strong, Beautiful You,” and all profits from the sale of that particular shirt were donated to the NEDA. 4. Eating Disorder Screenings The university that I work at and attend featured several discussions and sessions for NEDA Week, and the counseling center was also administering free eating disorder screenings. While I don’t think that I’m affected by a disorder, I did the screening just to see and to promote the theme of the week: “It’s time to talk about it.” Eating disorders affect approximately 20 million women and 10 million men in the United States. The mission of the NEDA is to support individuals and families in recovery from these mental and physical illnesses. You can take a free screening online here. 5. Run, Selfie, Repeat Sticking with the theme of loving your body, I’ve been an avid follower of Kelly Roberts’ Run, Selfie, Repeat blog since I started running a few years ago. With a (disclaimer: sometimes crude) sense of humor and spunky attitude, Kelly shines the light on the realties and struggles of running and loving your body. Right now, the blogger is training to qualify for the Boston Marathon, and she posts frequent updates via podcast about her “BQ or Bust” journey.

If you were in a room with 20 adults, likely at least 10 of them played a sport in high school.   The benefits of sport are plentiful. Sports promote self-esteem, leadership, and relationship building, accountability, and grit, to name a few benefits. Since 1987, when approximately 18 million US youth participated in sport, the number has grown to 60 million in 2008 (Caruso, n.d.). However, as more children are involved in sports, multisport athletes, or those who play multiple sports, are diminishing in number. Sport specialization, rather than sport diversification, is known to lead to minimized interest in any sport or activity, an increased risk for injury, burnout, and irregular growth patterns (Caruso, n.d.). When youth specialize in sport, they often miss out on major gross motor skill development- think running, jumping, throwing, hopping, and hand-eye coordination. “Adolescent bodies are not prepared to be treated like an adult’s body” (Caruso, n.d., para. 18). On the contrary, when youth are diversified in sport (in other words, playing as many sports as often as possible), kids typically are in an environment that nurtures a genuine love for a sport and acquire transferrable sport-related, mental, and physical skills (Caruso, n.d). Still not convinced for sport diversification? Much of the science behind sport diversification comes down to child development. Children who specialize in a sport make up 50 percent of overuse injuries in youth. Kids who limited sport participate to just one sport at a young age are more likely to be inactive as adults and are more likely to be the first to quit. Youth athletes who specialize in a sport are 70 to 93 percent more likely to be injured than kids who play multiple sports. And, early sport specialization leads to a greater risk for burnout due to stress, decreased motivation, or lack of enjoyment (O’Sullivan, 2014). Beyond avoiding the negative effects of sport specialization, the benefits of diversification in activities and sport are well-researched as well. Kids who participate in more than one sport likely have better overall skills and ability because of their better overall motor development and transferrable mental sport skills. Multisport youth athletes are more creative, make better and quicker decisions, and note patterns– all things that benefit their athletic AND non-athletic careers. Thinking that chances of collegiate play will decrease if your child doesn’t specialize? 88 percent of college athletes participated in more than one sport in their childhood (O’Sullivan, 2014). If you’ve followed along with The Ninja Zone for a while, you likely know and understand the goals of the program: to foster discipline, focused energy, and skill in young bodies. The Ninja Zone employs exercises inspired by gymnastics, martial arts, and obstacle training involving tumbling, strength training, agility, and more. Variation is far from lacking and multiple muscle groups and mental and physical skill sets are incorporated in each session. Ultimately, free play and activities that are intrinsically motivating, prioritize fun, and are enjoyable are the way to go… Sounds a lot like the Ninja Zone philosophy! Congratulations: you’ve made a great choice by encouraging these activities for your little ones!