Fun Activities for Florida Families in the Winter

While Florida isn’t the first destination you may be thinking about for your family vacation, there’s plenty to do in the Sunshine State this time of year. Whether you’re looking for a warmer winter wonderland or something uniquely Florida, there are plenty of places you can go on a tankful of gas. These are some of the most unique family activities Florida has to offer during the winter. 

Swim with Manatees in Crystal River

As the weather changes, so do the habits of many different types of animals. Manatees, for example, can be seen roaming around Florida from around April to October, but when the weather starts to drop, they move to the springs where the temperature is more moderate. Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River is one of the best places to go see the manatees in the winter months. You can swim, snorkel or paddle alongside these majestic animals. No matter how you choose to navigate the manatee-filled waters, it’s sure to be a memorable experience for the whole family. 

Watch the Surfing Santas at Cocoa Beach

Florida is home to all kinds of peculiar sights, from the mermaids of Weeki Wachee to the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters in Ochopee. While some are permanent installations, some of the more unique ones can only be seen once a year. Every Christmas Eve starting at 8 a.m., hundreds of surfers dressed as Santa show off their surfing skills at Cocoa Beach. Families gather each year to enjoy the spectacle and participate in family friendly activities on the beach. 

Tour One of Many Florida Citrus Groves

Florida citrus is in peak season during the winter months. This makes it the perfect time to explore one of the state’s many citrus groves. If you want to pick your own fruit as a family when it’s the freshest it will be, there are plenty of places you can go. At citrus groves, you can often tour the space and see where your favorite fruits come from. Some of the most notable orange groves are The Orange Shop in Citra and Hancock Grove in Dade City. 

Enjoy the Snow at Pensacola Winterfest

Walking through a winter wonderland is always better with snow. Bring your family to Pensacola this winter, and your family will have the opportunity to experience artificial snow. Families with younger children will have plenty to do at Pensacola Winterfest, which offers plenty of family-friendly activities, including photo ops with Santa and the Grinch, a Polar Express Tour and more. 

We encourage our students to experience all Florida has to offer, especially during winter break. At North Tampa Christian Academy, we offer more than a place for children to learn. Students at our Tampa private school 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.

5 Important Lessons Taught By Collaborative Learning

Have you ever heard that two heads are better than one? Collaboration is one of the keys to solving problems and creating meaningful work. Children who learn through project-based learning team up with classmates and teachers to achieve great things together. While collaborative learning can prepare students for success, it’s not always easy. Sometimes, teammates don’t get along, or a project doesn’t turn out the way it was planned. Read on to learn about some of the most important lessons students can learn from collaborative learning. 

How to Interact with All Kinds of People

In a collaborative classroom, anyone could be your next partner on an assignment. People from all walks of life come together to create group projects. For children who are new to interacting with others outside of their families or neighborhoods, this can be a challenge. Learning these lessons from a young age helps children learn how to communicate with anyone, even if they have completely different personalities and perspectives. 

How to Communicate Thoughts and Ideas

People of all ages sometimes struggle with putting their thoughts into words. Children may find this especially difficult when interacting with new people. Through collaborative learning, they figure out how to best explain their ideas and how to listen. They learn that each of these is as important as the other. The art of talking and the art of listening are invaluable skills. Every group member has valuable ideas, and it’s important to make sure everyone is heard. 

How to Be More Confident

Children often feel like they’re not being listened to when they speak. Collaborative learning gives them an opportunity to be heard and know they’re being heard. As the project comes to fruition, they also see how the ideas they contributed worked out. This helps build confidence over time. Seeing what works and what doesn’t helps them understand the subjects they’re learning on a deeper level. They also feel empowered to help others who may be struggling. 

How to Think More Creatively 

There’s nothing like another person’s perspective to help you see things differently. Students who work in groups hear a range of ideas. Not all of them will make it to the final project, but any idea can spark another idea that could answer an important question. When students work together toward a common goal, they quickly learn that creativity is key. Making a project that truly stands out means thinking about it differently. 

How to Be a Team Player

One of the most important lessons children learn from collaborative learning is how to be a team player. If everyone doesn’t work together on a project, parts of it will fall on others. When a student sees this happening, they’ll need to learn how to navigate it, whether it means talking to the teacher or reassessing who is doing what. This helps students build leadership skills and learn what it means to be an effective member of a team.

At North Tampa Christian Academy, we believe collaborative project-based learning can help children succeed in and outside the classroom. We offer more than a place for children to learn. Students at our Tampa private school 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.

How Educational Innovation Helps Children Thrive

School is a place where children go to learn, but it can be so much more than that. By changing the way we think about education, we can change children’s lives, thereby creating a better future. At North Tampa Christian Academy, innovation and project based learning are at the core of what we do. Read on to learn about a few of the ways we’ve seen our students thrive over the years. 

Sparks Imagination

Traditional learning methods focus on rote memorization and test preparedness, which doesn’t leave much room for creativity. Project-based learning encourages students to think outside the box. Problem solving becomes part of the journey, rather than the means to an end. The more students think on their own, the more successful they will be. 

Encourages Questions

When the focus is on having all the right answers, there’s not a lot of room for asking questions. However, deeper learning happens when students ask questions to explore each lesson beyond the scope of what’s taught in the textbook. They can ask more about how it applies to their lives. Through questions and curiosity, innovation happens for teachers and students alike. 

Inspires Growth

Children naturally grow as they gain experience in life. Innovative learning takes that an extra step, encouraging students to develop their own genius. Having more classes available to them and learning project-based lessons allows students to understand who they are and grow into the best version of themselves. 

Allows for Unlimited Achievement

At schools that encourage collaboration and project-based learning, student achievement has no limits. Students aren’t bound to learning the lesson plan and moving on to the next one. In fact, teachers actively encourage students to expand their horizons every time they begin a new project. When students know they can achieve anything they set their minds to, you’ll be amazed by what they can accomplish. 

At North Tampa Christian Academy, we offer more than a place for children to learn. Students at our Tampa private school 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.

Helping Your Child Reframe Mistakes as Learning Opportunities

Everyone makes mistakes. However, this doesn’t stop making mistakes from being an isolating experience, especially for children. While adults have years of experience making and recovering from mistakes, children are just starting this journey. As the trusted adult in your child’s life, you can help your child reframe their mistakes and make them into learning opportunities. Here are a few ways you can work together to transform mistakes into lessons. 

Show Empathy

When facing disappointment, the last thing anyone wants to be told is not to be disappointed. Sit with your child in their initial feelings on a perceived mistake. Talk through it, and help them figure out why it’s bothering them. Active listening shows your child that you care and that they can trust in you next time they make a mistake. 

Be a Role Model

Talk to your child about small mistakes you’ve made that are on the scale to what they’ve done. They might not understand that everyone makes mistakes. Even if they realize that no one’s perfect, they may not feel that way in the moment. If you talk about mistakes and the steps you took to overcome them, your child will learn about ways to do the same. 

Help Them Find the Lesson

Some lessons are simple. If your child fails a test, next time, they’ll have to study harder. Others require a little more exploration. When your child asks for your advice after making a mistake, help them navigate through it. Let them steer the conversation, and provide helpful input where they need it.

Focus on the Positive

It’s important to remain upbeat when your child makes a mistake, as difficult as that may be. Almost any mistake your child makes is not the end of the world, even if your child feels like it is in the moment. Look forward, and focus on what can be learned from the experience. This may mean taking a deep breath before you respond, or it could come naturally to help your child find the positive in the situation. 

Practice Coping Methods

Help your child learn about healthy ways to process their emotions. These skills will become crucial when they make a “world-ending” mistake. Talk about the benefits of coping methods such as talking it out, private journaling and going for a walk. The more tools your child has in their arsenal, the better prepared they will be for next time they need to turn a mistake into a life lesson. 

At North Tampa Christian Academy, we believe learning from mistakes is an important way for children to grow. Our school offers more than a place for children to learn. Students at our Tampa private school 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.

How to Nurture Your Child’s Mental Health

Adults have a tendency to remember childhood as an easy time. However, children can struggle to cope with a world that always seems to be changing around them. They may also be influenced by outside influences, such as being bullied and the pressures of social media. You never know what your child is facing unless you talk to them. Here are some important steps you can take to nurture your child’s mental health. 

Practice Active Listening

When your child talks to you, listen. Pay attention to tone, body language and other indicators of how your child feels. Consider how they’re saying what they’re telling you. If your child tells you they’re not doing well, they’ve taken a brave step that they may have mulled over for a while. Let them know you’re there for them, and if action is required on your part, take it as soon as you can. 

Provide Sufficient Structure

Children thrive when given routines and activities that keep them engaged. Making plans with your child — and keeping them — can set you apart as a solid foundation in their ever-changing life. Being reliable may not feel like much if it comes naturally to you, but it can make all the difference in a child’s life. This is especially true when things don’t go their way.

Avoid Over Scheduling

Scheduling is good, but over scheduling can lead your child to be overwhelmed. If your child is never bored, they don’t have a lot of time for independent thought. Having time to themselves to do whatever they want is essential to having balance in life. People of all ages could benefit from setting aside a little more time for play. 

Allow for Failure

It can be hard to watch your child fail when it’s something they’ve put a lot of time and energy into. However, failing is an essential part of life. Your child needs to know how to fail and overcome their failures after feeling what they feel in the moment. Giving your child permission to fail is as important as celebrating their accomplishments. This is the only way to build resilience, which will become essential as they grow older and more independent.  

Encourage Healthy Habits

Taking care of your body is crucial if you want to have a healthy mind. Children may not make this connection. When they lose a few nights of sleep to their new favorite game, they might be perplexed about why they’re starting to feel depressed or anxious. Encourage your child to get in a few minutes of moderate physical activity a day, eat nourishing foods and get adequate sleep every night. This can extend to personal hygiene as well, especially for teenagers who often let it slip. The better your child feels physically, the better they’ll generally feel mentally. 

At North Tampa Christian Academy, we recognize the importance of mental health for students, especially as they grow and develop. Students at our Tampa private school 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.