5 Simple Kid's Outdoor Games

Guest post by Goodkin

Summer is finally here, and our children have the whole summer off to enjoy! Although it would be nice to have the summer off with them, a lot of us aren’t that lucky. Since we’re not home to take them places and to spend time with them, they need to find ways to entertain themselves. A lot of children have trouble with this, but if they have a few friends or family members around, they can entertain themselves quite easily, and for free!

All it takes sometimes is for a child to have a good imagination! If they can find fun in anything, their summer will be even better than the last. If they're looking for easy ways to keep entertained this summer, there are several fun outdoor games for them to consider. Some fun and free ideas:
 

• Water Balloon Toss Playing with water balloons is always fun, especially on a hot day! Have two teams separate on each side of the grass. Throw the water balloons back and forth, and the ones who miss it are out. Soon people will be eliminated and it will be down to two. Once there is a winner, they are allowed to create their new team and start the game once again.
• Sports Games Does your child love a certain sport? If so, let them get together with their friends or family members to create a sports team. They can meet up once or twice a week and play the sports they love. This is not only good exercise, but it’s a nice way to spend time outdoors with their friends!
• Hide and Seek We all love the game of hide and seek. Create two teams and make one person on the team the seeker while the rest are the hiders. Use your imagination and your yard to come up with clever hiding spots. The last person found wins the game!
• Three Legged Race There is nothing more fun and more fun to watch than a game of three-legged race. Get some children together, tie up their ankles and see who can make it to the finish line the fastest. They will have a blast while trying to run and beat their other team members.
• Kickball Kickball is always a fun game to play! It is very simple, only takes a ball and just a few people to play! You play just like baseball, but instead you will kick the kickball instead of batting. Your goal is to run home and score a point for your teammates.

As you can see, there are endless opportunities when it comes to having fun outside. Getting your friends and family together to play with your children is a great way to enjoy the summer, a nice day and to get out and get active. For each game you can come up with something creative for the winners, whether it be ice cream, a few bucks to spend or a couple dollar store prizes. Prizes make it even more fun and more of a challenge! Enjoy your summer, and continue to think of ways for your child to have fun outdoors.

What are your favorite simple, free and fun outdoor games that you and your family enjoy? Do you have anything to add to our list? Be sure to also check out our post 10 Eco, Outdoor Kid Items for more outdoor fun to have with the kids!

Lauren runs FindMyCarSeat, a toddler car seat website that helps soon-to-be parents find the perfect car seat for their child, while giving them tips and advice on everything from pregnancy to caring for your baby. Lauren is a stay-at-home mom that works part-time on her website. She enjoys spending time with her children, taking walks around the neighborhood and scrapbooking.

Goodkin is a website devoted to family.

The definition of what matters most in life, the connection with those we love, has broadened and made room for people to create worlds that feel right to them; that fit and bring out the best in them. Goodkin wanted to hear those stories, feel their magic, and bring it to you.

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The World Collection Hits Roots!

The World Collection by Roots represents a variety of countries in the form of t-shirts, track jackets, baseball hats and polos (for men). The World Collection is a great way to show support for your country, or a perfect gift for someone. 

            Women's World Germany                         
                   Track Jacket, $70                            Men's World Mexico Polo, $46

       Women's World South Africa                  Men's World France T-Shirt, $34
                      T-Shirt, $34

This is only a selection of items that will be in the World Collections for men and women. Stay tuned to Roots.com for more.

Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue Join The Roots Team

Roots Canada is pleased to announce that it has signed the Canadian ice-skating sensation Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir to the Roots team. The partnership is the latest achievement for the two athletes who captured a Gold Medal in last month’s World Figure Skating Championships in Italy. A few weeks earlier in Vancouver, Tessa and Scott made sport history when they became the youngest skaters and first North Americans ever to win a Gold Medal in Olympic ice dancing competition.

From left: Olympic gold-medal figure skater David Pelletier, Gold-medal ice dancing champions
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Roots Co-Founder Don Green
*Picture from the Toronto Metro

"As someone who grew up wearing Roots, I'm thrilled at the opportunity to become involved with such a respected and intrinsically Canadian brand," says Tessa. "I'm looking forward to working with a company that has always been a great supporter of Canadian athletes and so involved in the community."

In late February at the Winter Olympics, Tessa and Scott completed a near flawless skate at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum that featured their trademark intricate spins and high-risk lifts that helped them capture the Gold Medal and win the hearts of millions of Canadians. Their heartfelt program, both athletic and artistic, displayed a technical mastery and inventive virtuosity that were a perfect compliment to the powerful personal chemistry they exude on the ice.

The duo’s recent Olympic and World Championship triumphs represented the latest achievements in a skating partnership that began 13 years ago. Tessa, 20, and Scott, 22, both grew up in the small town of Ilderton near London, Ontario where they practiced at the same skating rink. It was Scott’s aunt who first paired them together on the ice in 1997.

"It's an honour to be associated with such a great Canadian company as Roots," says Scott. "I've always respected the style, culture and the commitment to social responsibility of Roots which makes it a perfect fit for Tessa and me."

“We’re proud to be associated with true champions like Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir,” says Roots Co-Founder Don Green. “We have great respect for their talent, incredible spirit and strong sense of dedication. The values they represent are true to the culture and heritage of Roots.”

Roots has a long tradition of supporting with highly gifted Canadian athletes. Going back decades, the company has worked with athletes involved in summer and winter sports including many Canadian Olympic medalists.

Read more about Scott and Tessa on The Buzz:

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir Reflect on the Past Year
Team Canada at the World Figure Skating Championships
Guess Who Stopped By: Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue!
Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue "Drop the Puck" in Gretzky Canada Jackets

Canadian Government Pledges $17 Million to Right To Play

Yesterday, the Canadian government pledged $17 million to Right To Play over three years following a meeting with Right To Play CEO Johann Olav Koss.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to be here today to thank Minister Oda (Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation) and CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency) for this significant contribution which will enable Right To Play to continue to reach children and youth in Western and Francophone Africa," said Mr. Koss. "We are thrilled to be strengthening our relationship with CIDA and thank them for recognizing the importance of sport and play in the development of children and youth."

 
Defense Minister, Peter McKay (front row, centre), Right To Play CEO Johann Olav Koss (front row, right) and several Right To Play Ambassadors in their Right To Play Track Jackets from Roots *Photo from Right To Play

Check out the Right To Play Collection for men and women.

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir Reflect on the Past Year

The CBC recently posted an interview with Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue on CBC.ca taking a look back on the amazing year they've had.

In the video, Scott is wearing the Men's Scotia Softshell Jacket from the Canada Collection By Roots and Tessa is wearing the Right To Play Hoody from the Right To Play Collection.

Congratulations to Scott and Tessa on a truly impressive year!

Hockey Legend Igor Larionov Stops By!

Hockey legend, Igor Larionov (known as The Professor) stopped by Roots in his Roots Russian Awards Jacket. Larionov won three Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings (in 1997, 1998 and 2002). He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 10, 2008.

Below, he is pictured with Roots Co-Founder Michael Budman in his Gretzky Canada Jacket.

The Right To Play

Guest post by Goodkin

The right to play—it should be every child's inherent birthright, right? Of course it should be. But did you know that while playing sports, or just downright playing, is fun, it is also the way young children learn best? In fact, many experts now truly believe that "play" fuels our intelligence and happiness throughout our lives.

At goodkin, we also believe that so much can be learned from sport—social skills, problem solving, team work, creativity and a connection to your team or "family" on the field. For girls, there is even a whole other level of importance as they learn to understand their bodies and what they are capable of. So when we heard about an organization called Right To Play, we wanted to make sure that our community was made aware of it, too. 

Right To Play goes to places in the world that are riddled with war, disease and poverty, places where play is just about the last thing on anybody's mind. While the distressing elements are very real and very heartbreaking, there are still children who need love and caring for. Many of these children have known only strife their whole lives, been orphaned or even worse, seriously abused.
What can a program based on sports bring to such places? It may not be the number one idea for aid that comes to your mind when it comes to helping a country or its people in need, but it shouldn't be the last either.

The miracle of a soccer ball should not be underestimated. Just something as simple as that can restore the feelings of childhood. This is what The Right To Play is all about.

Norwegian Johann Olav Koss, the founder and CEO of Right To Play has devoted much of his life to bringing structured play to kids who need it most. A gold medal winning speed skater three times over in the 1994 Olympics, Koss now devotes his energy to overseeing the seven Right To Play offices in Europe, the United States and Canada—with 64 paid staff and 90 volunteers.

At these Canadian Olympics, Koss has been able to pull in some amazing athletes to participate as ambassadors for Right To Play, including Chelsea Football Club (UK), Team Columbia, Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia), Jose Calderon (Spain), Constantina Dita (Romania), Anja Parson (Sweden), Alexander Ovechkin (Russia), and Steve Young (USA), among hundreds of others.

Organizations like MasterCard and Roots have also been key in getting the word out during these Olympics in Vancouver. Roots has designed a line around the organization called The Canada Collection where a piece of each item sold goes to Right To Play. Koss says, "Roots, MasterCard and Right To Play are perfect partners for this project because of our shared values, our understanding of the importance of play, and our desire to give back to others, especially to children living in disadvantaged areas of the world. I hope this campaign will help Canadians further understand the power that sport and play have to change outcomes for children and communities everywhere and how they can help by supporting Right To Play.”

Goodkin wants to recognize families and organizations that are doing good in the world and make you aware of them. We believe in the power of play, and hope you check out the Right To Play.

[Photo: Flickr member Maria Hsu]

Goodkin is a website devoted to family.

The definition of what matters most in life, the connection with those we love, has broadened and made room for people to create worlds that feel right to them; that fit and bring out the best in them. Goodkin wanted to hear those stories, feel their magic, and bring it to you.

Get more Goodkin:

Goodkin: Family Living, Modern Style
Goodkin on Facebook
Goodkin on Twitter

Guess Who Stopped By: Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue!

Look at who stopped by the Roots flagship store at 100 Bloor St. in Toronto - Ice dancing gold medalists Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue.

Scott (wearing a Canada T-shirt) and Tessa

 Scott, showing off his Roots purchases and wearing a Roots Canada Hoody

Tessa, showing off her Roots purchases

 Scott, outside the flagship Roots store at 100 Bloor St. in Toronto, Ontario

Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue "Drop the Puck" in Gretzky Canada Jackets

Ice Dancing Gold Medalists Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue dropped the puck at the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators game on Saturday.

In line with hockey fashion, they were wearing their Gretzky Canada Jackets from Roots.

*Above photo from mapleleafs.nhl.com

There were joined by Women's Hockey Gold Medalist Jennifer Botterill.

Soaking up the final days in Vancouver

Roots Co-Founders Don Green and Michael Budman with son Matthew Budman and German figure skating champion Katarina Witt.

Roots Co-Founder, Don Green and daughter Sophie Green with Roots Executive Director of Retail Operations, Jarar Kazmi who caught puck that left the ice surface at a game! Lucky Jarar!

Roots Co-founder Michael Budman and his son, Matthew along with Jari Kurri, five time Stanley Cup winner

From left to right, Roots Co-founder, Michael Budman, Ilya Kusnirovich and his father, Chairman of Bosco Sports, Mikhail, President of the Kontinental Hockey League, Alex Medvedev, retired NHL player, 'The Professor', Igor Larionov and Roots Co-founder, Don Green for breakfast at the Roots Chalet in the sky at the Shangri-La.

Diana Larionov sporting a Roots Poorboy cap in the Roots Chalet in the sky at the Shangri-La