Exercise - Boys And Girls Do It Differently

We are all probably aware that men and women are very different when it comes to losing weight. Women struggle through the week and have a miserly one kilo weight drop. Men seem to slide through the week and they drop four kilos or more! But how does it work for children?

According to research reported in the NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey report, primary schools girls tend to be less active than the boys. 52% of boys do the right levels of physical activity, as compared with 41% of girls. This also may account then for there being more obese girls than boys at present.

To counteract this, sports teachers are recommending that the sexes should be segregated if only for these exercise sessions. They suggest adding diversity to the range of exercise and sports activities on offer.

It makes sense. If you think about it, much of the sport is very physical and involves strength as well as speed. Think about games like football or softball. Often boys tend to excel at these while girls lag behind.

Girls love skipping and activities that need coordination rather than strength. A cool way to get kids up and moving is to give them something to do that is fun. Trying out zumba lessons will get any girl on her feet. The report suggests adding zumba along with yoga or pilates as forms of exercise to interest girls.

Yes, most boys will run a mile at the thought of ‘dance’ exercise but what’s the problem with that? A run will do them good, too!

Fussy Eaters Need Some Encouragement

The problem with some kids is that they become very fussy about what they will eat. Some will narrow down to a selection of about four different foods and this is bound to drive mums crazy. We know that kids need to eat from all the food groups, but how can you get them to do this when all they want to eat is chips and snacks?

Well, there is a solution here and that is to make their lunch enticing and exciting. How to do this? Get some cool cutters to make their lunchtime snack fun and delicious at the same time.

Lunch Punch cutters can be found at About A Boy and we have several different sets to choose from. One set has transportation themed cutters: an airplane in a cloud, a train with a caboose, a car and a truck with cargo. Another includes the critter cutters that have all shapes and sizes of animals from fish to elephants. Or perhaps try the jigsaw puzzle one to make that all important lunch into a game as well as food.

Imagine then getting your kid to help with preparing their lunch snack every day and letting them choose which shapes they want to take to school. They will get so carried away by showing others what they have that they will forget that it is filled with nutritious and tasty food that is (...wait for it) good for them! What a sneaky parent you are!!

New Look Website

Have you noticed that our website has had a makeover?

We are very pleased with the new look but more importantly, the new site is much easier for us to work with behind the scenes.

We can show you our new products so you can see them properly and get information about them straight away. We have a new review section so you can leave your comments about our products. You can use this section to find out what other people think of a product before you commit to buying it. A little research can sometimes go a long way when it comes to online purchases.

If you are placing an order with us you will need to register again and enter your details, seeing this is a whole new system. The good news however is that the whole process will only take you a couple of minutes to do.

This system lets us stay on top of orders and monitor our processing and mailing times. It lets us give you a much higher quality of customer service.

If you haven’t seen it yet, pop in to About a Boy and have a look around. We’d love to hear what you think of the new site.

Simple Science Experiments You Can Do at Home

Science is not always something you need to learn in school and science experiments don’t always have to be done in a lab. With these simple science experiments you can do at home, you can impress your friends, parents, and learn something new, too.

The Rock Candy

You need a long piece of string, pencil, paper clip, 1 cup of water, 2 cups of sugar, and a glass jar.

Start by tying the string around the middle of the pencil and tie the paper clip at the other end of the string. Position the pencil over the opening of the jar so that the string hangs down in the jar, making sure it doesn't touch the bottom. Put aside.

In a pan boil the water and pour 1/4 of the sugar into the water until it dissolves. Keep adding all the sugar making sure every bit dissolves. Pour the hot sugar solution in the jar and submerge the paper clip and string in it. Allow it to cool, and in about a week you'll have rock candy to eat.

Soda and Mentos Geyser

Kids will definitely love this one and it's so easy to do. All you need is big space where you can make a mess, a 2-litre bottle of soda, and a packet of Mentos.

First thing you need to do is open the soda carefully and then unroll the Mentos candy. Drop all the candy in the soda bottle and step back a few paces - quickly. Watch the geyser blow up and measure the height. The current record is 21 feet.

Of course, there are all the simple things you can do like sprouting carrot tops or putting white daisies into coloured water and watching the petals change colour. Remember, just because you’ve done them before doesn’t make them any less exciting to your children.

Make science fun and play with it at home.

What Do Boys Want In Fashion

If it itches, they won’t wear it. If the tag rubs and scratches, they won’t wear it either. Boys love fashion, but only if it feels as good as it looks! None of this suffering for the sake of looking good that girls do.

Clothes for boys have to be functional, practical and comfortable first and foremost, while at the same time being cool and showing their individual taste.

Shoes are not just about how they look. Boys choose shoes with ankle support and cushioning as well as style so they can be safe and less likely to injure themselves whilst they hang and skate with their mates.

Boys are not afraid to accessorise, with wrist bands and neck wear becoming more popular, as long as it doesn’t get in the way or make too much noise. It has to feel good as well as look good. Boys who love fashion also love a good hat, which is a fantastic thing. Fedoras are not just for old men anymore, and caps with big peaks are popular too.

Boys know they need to be sun safe if they want to hang outside. Sunburn is definitely not a fashion statement.

You won’t see a boy going cold or struggling in shoes that hurt for the sake of fashion. Nope. Boys have got this looking cool whilst feeling comfortable thing all sussed out, and girls could sure learn a thing or two from them!

Marble Runs

It’s raining outside and the kids (and you) are going crazy.

Got some marbles? Why not make something before you lose yours altogether?

Grab some painter’s masking tape - the kind that won’t damage the walls, empty toilet or paper towel rolls or some tubing, some cardboard or heavy paper, some imagination, a sprinkle of nostalgia and make a marble run.

Choose a blank piece of wall or even the back of a door to begin. Start at the bottom with a marble catcher. This can be any shape you like, as long as it is big enough to catch the glass cannonballs as they hurtle down the dark channel. Make sure it is not too big as it won’t attach to the wall.

Work your way up from the bottom using tape to attach the tubing of plastic or cardboard, attaching it to the wall in any shape you like, with twists and turns and funnels and tunnels. Be sure to test each section as you go so you can make any adjustments along the way. Roll up pieces of heavy duty paper or cardboard into cones for even more action and variety.

You are limited only by your imagination and your wall space. Girls and boys of all ages will love this activity rain, hail or shine, and I suspect you might enjoy it too. Don’t leave the tape up too long or you might damage the paint, and anyway, you’ll want to make a faster and more exciting version next time you need an indoor activity. Even if the kids are not home to help.....

Playing Skittles

Wooden toys such as skittles hark back to good old fashioned childhood fun. They are a firm family favourite perfect for both adults and children of any age. Skittles are great for coordination and promote physical activity whether playing outdoors or inside the house on a rainy spring day. They also teach important life lesson skills such as turn taking and learning to lose with grace.

The concept of skittles is extremely simple – to try and knock over as many skittles as possible with the wooden balls. You can set them up like a traditional bowling game or you can vary it and have them set in a straight line either horizontally or vertically.

The thing I love most about skittles is their ability to be taken anywhere. They are perfect for a day at the park or the beach and can be easily packed up for a quick trip to grandma’s house. They can also be brought out a child’s birthday and can be played in teams rather than individually to increase the entertainment value.

Our Pirate Skittles Set is reminiscent of the painted bollards often seen at seaside resorts. They are vibrant and colourful featuring swash buckling attire and retail for $55. The set also includes five pirates, one sailing ship and three balls with skull and crossbone images, all packed neatly in a wooden storage system. It is beautifully hand painted and would make a perfect Christmas or birthday gift for the little boy in your life.