Looking back, I felt a little bad for the boys. Winter was pretty quiet activity-wise, mostly because I was being a bit of a germaphobe about indoor places and didn’t want them freezing outside or in some icy pool. But I couldn’t ignore that my oldest was starting to get a little… soft around the edges. He was just dragging more, got tired super fast, and his mood? Let’s just say it wasn’t sunshine and rainbows. It clicked that he just wasn’t moving enough! And even though I had that New Year’s resolution to find more for them to do, I wasn’t exactly on top of it at the start of the year. My serious search for activities started right when spring break was on the horizon!
Spring break gym camp
Okay, so I wasn’t exactly on top of the spring break planning. The camp idea didn’t really grab me at first, but then it hit me like a ton of bricks – the boys needed to get active! While our usual park visits and impromptu soccer games are okay, I was really hoping they’d try something new and meet some different kids. So, about a week before spring break rolled around, I finally started looking… and yeah, big shocker, everything good was already full.
So, the day I was actually looking for a spring camp, I had to take my oldest to the dentist. While he was getting his teeth checked out, I was still scrolling on my phone, and wouldn’t you know it, I stumbled upon this gym camp just five minutes from the dentist’s office! As soon as my older one was done, I literally swung by to check it out. First thing I noticed? It was SO clean – major bonus points! Not a huge place, but it looked really neat and safe. I asked if they had any spots left, and get this, there were exactly three when I wanted to sign up both my boys! I just went for it and signed them up for the whole week. It was perfect because my 6 and 9-year-old could even take the class together!
So, I ended up signing the boys up for a spring break camp at KidStrong Bothell right here in Bothell. It ran from 9 to 2:30, and it was $325 per kid for the whole week. Bummer alert: my youngest got sick halfway through, so he only made it for one day. But my oldest? He went the full five days and absolutely loved it! He was raving about how they did all the activities – super unique and fun. From my side as a parent, I really appreciated that all their programs were actually based on science and research – not just random exercises, but stuff with a real purpose for kids’ development. When I’d pick up my oldest, I could tell he was really connecting with his coaches and had made a ton of new friends, which was the highlight for him. I always tell my kids that school isn’t the only place to make friends, and I think he really got that! They even had a cool little closing ceremony on the last day, and my oldest got an award for “caring for his friends”! I was so proud, and he was beaming. Seriously, so glad we found KidStrong!
Parkour
You know parkour? I actually just learned about it recently, and wow, it’s seriously cool! Okay, so imagine trying to get from point A to point B, but instead of just walking, you’re like a real-life video game character! That’s kind of what parkour is. It’s all about moving around using only your body, and the world is your playground.
Think running, jumping over stuff, climbing walls, swinging from things, landing smoothly – basically, being super agile and efficient in getting from one place to another. You know those crazy cool moves you see people do in movies jumping over rooftops? That’s often parkour (or inspired by it!).
Instead of seeing a wall as something to stop you, someone doing parkour sees it as something to climb over or jump off of. It’s about using your body to overcome obstacles in your path, whether it’s in a city with buildings and railings or out in nature with rocks and trees.
It’s not really about competing with other people, more about challenging yourself and getting better at moving. It helps you get super strong, have awesome balance, and be really aware of your body. Plus, it looks pretty cool when you get good at it!
So, when my boys are doing parkour, they’re probably learning how to do those basic moves safely and build up their skills at a place that has stuff set up for it. It’s like they’re learning to move like little ninjas!
So, we ended up signing up for daily classes at MoveFree Academy in Woodinville. We started both boys with the 60-minute intro class, and that was it – they were hooked on parkour! Now we try to go once a week after school during the week. They have this cool 60-minute class for kids aged 6 to 12. My youngest is just six, so he looks a little small in the group, but the coaches are great about splitting them into two groups, which makes me feel totally safe, even for him! They do tons of different movements and challenges that my boys are actually super motivated by. The coaches are all awesome – really nice and supportive. And the best part? If the class isn’t full, you can just sign up that day, which is so convenient. We’re definitely making this a weekly thing, especially since the boys are so into it!
Track & Field
Think of Track & Field as a bunch of different sports all lumped together, and they usually happen either on a running track or out in a grassy field in the middle of it. It’s like a sports buffet where everyone can find something they’re good at!
So, the elementary school my boys go to has this awesome spring Track & Field program every year. We missed out last year ’cause there was no head coach. But guess what? It’s back this year… because I’m the head coach! Ha! Yep, me – head coach for 3rd to 5th grade Track & Field! It actually turned out amazing, with tons of kids signing up, including my oldest. They get to try everything: long jump, high jump, triple jump (which I honestly had no clue about!), ball kick, ball throw, and all the dashes – 50m, 100m, 200m, and 400m – plus relay, which is optional. It’s a pretty big deal, right?! We even have competitions with other schools – practices and meets! My oldest loves to run, but hasn’t had much chance to race others, so this is such a cool opportunity for him. Overall, this program is just fantastic!
So, when my boys are doing Track & Field at their elementary school, they’re getting to try out a bunch of these different events – running fast, jumping high and far, and throwing things! It’s a great way for them to discover what they enjoy and what they’re good at. And yeah, the relay is super fun because it’s all about working together with your teammates! It’s a pretty cool sport with a lot of variety.
It’s funny how everything seems to kick into high gear as soon as spring arrives! Ha! I can see the appeal of focusing on just one sport so kids can really understand it deeply and enjoy it fully. But I also think there’s a real benefit to trying a bunch of different things to help them discover what they truly love. There’s no right or wrong approach, as long as we’re all getting the good stuff out of it – fun, health, a good mental attitude, everything! So far this spring, we’ve dipped our toes into gym, parkour, and track & field, and we’re planning on exploring even more. If the boys find a sport they’re really drawn to, we can definitely focus on that. If not, we’ll keep enjoying the adventure of trying new things!
