How Sports Bring People Together

People around the world of all ages and backgrounds enjoy sports. From cheering on teams in the World Cup to celebrating our favorite athletic heroes in the Olympics, sports create an atmosphere of pride, an appreciation for athleticism, and a togetherness that’s hard to top.Sports bring schools and workplaces together, building a sense of community between strangers. But why exactly are we so obsessed with sporting events? Here are a few reasons why it’s more than “throwing a ball around:” 

They’re Family Friendly Events

Most sports, whether you’re playing or spectating, can be fun for the whole family. People of all ages come together to cheer on their favorite team or players. Watching sports together allows families to bond over mutual interests. Many games have teachable moments (one of our favorites is when two collegiate runners helped an injured runner cross the finish line), so parents can use this time to teach children life lessons.

We’re Unified in Collective Physical Activity

When looking for something for the family to do, you may end up defaulting to watching movies or eating out. However, there’s nothing quite like getting the neighborhood together for a round of football or playing basketball with some friends at a local court. Playing sports allows the whole family to exercise together while getting some sun. It’s also a great way to bond with one another. Wherever your child’s passions lie, see if they want to invite friends or neighbors to join in on the fun.

It Inspires Us to Improve Our Health 

As long as athletes play safely, sports can improve physical and mental health. Athletes build healthy bones, joints and muscles and often have better heart and lung health. Exercising regularly can also help relieve stress by releasing endorphins. Children who play sports learn about discipline, leadership and social skills early on in life, which can get them ahead of their peers. Athletes also develop self-confidence as they learn new skills and eventually master them. Even just watching a sport can inspire someone to get up and get active like their favorite players. The health benefits of playing sports leads to more positive interactions, which can help children become productive members of their communities.

They Help Us Find Community

Becoming a fan of a sports star or team gives you an instant community. That can be your child’s school, your state, or even the entire country. Whether the team is good or bad, everyone feels like part of the team’s successes and failures. The whole community cheers together when the team is up and comforts one another when they’re down. Watching games up close or from afar, you can feel the community’s collective energy.

North Tampa Christian Academy has a variety of sports programs and partnerships to give students the opportunity to join great communities and work toward health goals. At our Tampa private school, students thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

Planning the Perfect Vegetarian Summer Picnic

Nothing makes a trip to the park great quite like blankets and homemade food. Summer picnics help create some of the best family memories. Putting a picnic together doesn’t have to be difficult. You just need to make sure you have everything you need to have homemade lunch in the great outdoors. Here’s our guide to planning the perfect vegetarian picnic for your family.

Packing for a Picnic

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a picnic and forget something you need. While food and drinks make picnics fun, you need more than that to keep your family safe and comfortable. Here are a few items we recommend bringing with you to your picnic:

• Sunscreen

• Bug spray

• Cooler

• Ice

• Water 

• Blankets, pillows, etc., to sit on

• Foil or plastic wrap to cover food 

• Plates and utensils

What Food to Bring

When you’re planning a picnic, food is the most important part. You may be tempted to pack all your child’s favorite foods. However, you need to consider a few factors. The food you prepare needs to hold up until you reach your destination. It needs to travel well and taste good if it reaches room temperature. Finger foods are a safe bet, as they’re easy to transport and popular with people of all ages. You should also pack water, as well as drinks that have salt, sugar and electrolytes so everyone can stay hydrated and replenish nutrients used up by doing outdoor activities.

Planning the Day

One great thing about picnics is that they can be fun for any number of people. If you’re thinking “the more, the merrier,” send a fun invite to family and friends. Try to plan the picnic far enough in advance for food preparation but also close enough to anticipate the weather. Try getting to the park late in the morning to avoid spending all your time in the heat of the day. Pick a shady spot, or (if your family’s not the picnic- blanket-and-pillows type) see if you can reserve a shaded canopy in advance. 

Recipes

Homemade food is what makes picnics so special. Here are a couple vegetarian recipes that you can bring to a picnic and may find yourself craving later on:

Strawberry Fruit Leather 

Ingredients

• 4 ½ cups hulled strawberries

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• 2 tbsp lemon juice

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Line two 12 x 17-inch baking sheets.

3. Blend ingredients together, straining seeds if desired.

4. Divide mixture between 2 pans, spreading evenly with a spatula.

5. Bake for 3 hours, rotating pan halfway through. 

6. Transfer to a cutting board, slicing into desired sizes.

7. Wrap with parchment paper and store in an airtight container.

Hummus with Veggies 

Ingredients

• One 14-oz can of cooked chickpeas (retain the liquid)

• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 1 tsp tahini

• 1 crushed garlic clove

• (For dipping) sliced vegetables like carrots, cucumber, peppers, celery, sugar snap peas

Directions

1. Put everything except the olive oil in a blender, blitz until smooth. Drizzle oil a little at a time while blending until all ingredients are combined.

2. If hummus is too thick, add in some of the chickpea liquid. 

3. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until picnic day. It can stay in the fridge for up to 5 days.

At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, students thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

Crafting Traditions in the New Year

During the holiday season, you and your child most likely spent a lot of time behind screens. Shopping online for gifts, watching your favorite Christmas movies, and checking for social media updates are typical holiday hobbies. In the New Year, consider limiting screen time to spend more quality time as a family. Find a cereal box, grab some glitter, and get ready to get crafty.

Cereal Box Aquarium 

Growing up in Florida, your child most likely has a shell collection, possibly even a rock collection. From their numerous school arts and crafts projects, you may also be able to find construction paper, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes around the house. A cereal box aquarium can be made using just these objects, maybe adding a few more like paint and kinetic sand for dimension. Your child can get creative by using their favorite colors, types of fish, layouts and more. You just need to hold the hot glue gun and help with cutting out shapes. For step-by-step instructions, go here. 

Galaxy or Nebula Jar

Maybe your child is more enticed by stars in the sky than life under the sea. With a nebula jar, your child can hold the whole galaxy in the palm of their hands. In case your child asks, a nebula is an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen and other particles. This beautiful to observe project requires simple materials you may already have: a jar, water, glitter, paint and cotton balls. Once this jar is made, it doubles as a nice decoration and a calm down jar, which your child can lightly shake and watch to relax. For step-by-step instructions, go here.

Glitter Slime

Wondering what to do with all that extra glitter and confetti from past crafting projects? Try making it into glitter slime. Just add a few common ingredients: 4 oz. clear school glue, 1 tbsp contact solution and 0.5 tbsp of baking soda. Mix these ingredients first, then add the glitter, and add the confetti as a finishing touch. While this particular recipe calls for shamrock confetti, any confetti will do. This slime is easy enough to make, and it will provide hours of screen-free entertainment for your child. For step-by-step instructions, go here. 

At North Tampa Christian Academy, a Tampa private school, we strongly believe hands-on learning is essential to a well-rounded education. Educational projects are an important part of our teaching philosophy. Our service-oriented approach builds Christian leaders who think deeply, choose wisely, create beauty, and use their dreams to solve problems. Want to learn more about what makes us different? Contact us today.