Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services’ Post

Children's growth depends on socialization and enjoyment. This summer is a great chance to spend some time with our little ones participating in activities that will benefit them in all areas, especially communication, cooperation, and teamwork. Here are some fun-filled suggestions for an awesome summer: Outdoor Sports and Exploration: Play sports like basketball, tennis, baseball, or soccer to develop teamwork and fitness. Go hiking, fishing, and toast marshmallows while camping for lasting memories. Enjoy scavenger hunts, park walks, or visits to botanical gardens and wildlife reserves. Arts, Crafts, Baking, and Cooking: Create a space for arts and crafts where kids can express their creativity through DIY projects, painting, sculpting, or drawing. Also, encourage children to participate in the kitchen by baking or cooking simple recipes. Reading: Visit the local library for storytimes, book groups, or summer reading programs. Volunteering: Inspire children to engage in volunteer work or community service, such as park cleanups, visits to assisted living facilities, or helping at animal shelters. Whatever you choose to do, we at #PavingTheWayFoundation hope you and your family have an amazing rest of your summer before the new school year kicks off!! #empower #prevent #educate #pavingthewayfoundation #PTWF Parent Tool Kit: https://lght.ly/0og5ah Our Website: https://lght.ly/lngdknn

Easter and Spring are a lovely time to be outdoors. #Nature is precious in itself, but did you know it's also key to well-being and human health? Recent research by Chilterns National Landscape shows that it's a core factor for an inclusive society (link in the comments) What holds communities back? - Lack of information and access, - limited transport, compounding lack of time - safety concerns, especially for women and children, or with fear of free running dogs - and physical ability. These things resonate with me, especially as I often tend to #WalkWoodHP5 alone, and feel a duty of care to our #volunteer community. At Walk Wood, we also want to do our part. - our bridleway is well maintained and wheelchair accessible most of the year - we registered an additional permissive footpath to keep walkers off the road - our dead hedges keep walkers on trail, protecting bluebell and wildflower beds, and creating habitats. Access to nature should not come to its detriment and some spaces should be off-limits - we kindly ask walkers to keep dogs on leads during nesting season, and promote community awareness on topics such as asian hornet, why it's important to clean your boots, and more - we partner with local organizations and run volunteer and educational activities How do you enjoy nature, and what are your tips to support our outdoor spaces? Wishing a happy Easter weekend to all who celebrate it or are spending it in nature. #nature #inclusive #outdoors #community #health #wellbeing #accessibility #sustainability #volunteer #education #partnerships #ChilternsNationalLandscape #WalkWoodHP5

"Exciting news! This vacation, I'm eager to give back to my community and make a positive impact. I'm looking to volunteer my time and skills to a worthy cause and organization. If you know of any opportunities or organizations that align with my interests and skills, please reach out! I'm open to various types of volunteer work, im interested in technology, children(preschool),oil and gas and food and nutrition Let's connect and make a difference together! #Volunteering #GivingBack #MakingADifference"

Summer learning doesn't have to stop! ☀️ Libraries offer a world of adventure for young minds. From preventing the "summer slide" to fostering a love of reading, libraries are essential for children's growth. Check out here: https://lnkd.in/ejJxJkZM #summerlearning #libraries #kids #importanceoflibraries

🌿 At Farm & Wilderness, we've always known the transformational power of summer camp. Now we have the research to prove it! 🗺️Today, we're thrilled to release "Decoding the Magic of Camp," a report that combines insights from our campers, community, and child development experts. We've uncovered how our camps foster crucial areas of youth development: 🏎️Self-Efficacy: 71-87% of campers cite skill development as crucial. Our campers are conquering challenges they never thought possible! 🏡Community Mindedness: 86% of Tamarack Farm campers emphasize the importance of community building. They're learning to be part of something bigger than themselves. 💗Authentic Identity: 1 in 5 campers highlight identity development as key. At F&W, kids discover who they are, free from social media pressures. 📡Curious about how summer camps are shaping the next generation? Dive into our full report, linked in our bio! #SummerCampMagic #FarmAndWilderness

Explore gratitude-focused content and work on fostering positivity in your life. Download Innergy for more! #Innergy #NewFeatures #StayTuned #SuperCharged #DownloadNow #InstallApp

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READ OUR ARTICLE TO LEARN ABOUT the importance of community engagement to find the resources, information, and support parents need to help their child's development. Who are the people you'll want in your network. How they can help you. Where you can find them. #autism #autismacceptance #autismfamily #autismmagazine

Today is Summer Solstice, but also Bring Your Dog to Work Day. I love having the flexibility to work at home, volunteer at @Ashwells Greyhound Kennels, and spend time with my three rescue greyhounds, Mia, Cole, and Teddy. Every day is Bring Your Dog to Work Day at Blue Flamingo. #blueflamingo #virtualassistant #doglover #animallover #animalrescuevolunteer #volunteering #flexibility #virtualassistantforfinancialservices #financialservicesvirtualassistant #rescuegreyhounds

💛Transitioning from Foster Fridays to Fearless Fridays! As I wrap up my time fostering Santiago (my last foster for a few weeks), I’ve been thinking about the term “foster fail”—which actually has a positive spin in the foster community. It’s when someone decides to adopt their foster animal. I love how the word “fail” is reclaimed here, turning what could be seen as a mistake into something meaningful and full of love. It’s interesting how we’re often so afraid of failure in our own lives. It reminds me of something I mentioned in Monday’s post about Sarah Blakely sharing that her dad asked her regularly, “What did you fail at today?”—encouraging her to see failure as part of growth, not something to fear. In this week’s Fear Less Friday, let’s embrace the idea that “failure” is just a step toward something better, not a roadblock. Think back to Monday’s post—what’s one failure you can reframe as an opportunity for growth? #FearLessFridays #FailForward #EmbraceGrowth #FosterFriday