2 . Outdoor play is beneficial for children beyond the physical activity it provides. It helps them socialize, understand their bodies better, engage in imaginative play and enjoy the outdoors.     1     However, in today’s busy world, it can be difficult to schedule so much outdoor time with your child. But, it is something you should prioritize because it is really important.

First, physical activity improves the health of your child. It reduces the likelihood of obesity(肥胖)and weight-related health concerns．    2       Outdoor play also improves mental health as a result of physical activity.

    3     Scheduling time to actively play outdoors sets a natural limit on the amount of time your child can spend with a device (such as TV, smartphone or video game). It promotes active engagement with their peers(同龄人)and the natural environment.

Furthermore, outdoor play can improve sleep, mood and social skills. Physical activity during the day helps children sleep better at night.    4     Perhaps the greatest health benefit is in a child’s ability to learn how to engage with others while having fun. It helps them grow socially, build relationships and solve problems.

Knowing why outside play is important to your child’ s development is the first step.     5     To find ideas for places you could go and activities you may want to try with your family, visit your local parks and recreation website or the visitor centers of towns and cities near where you live. Look for things like public parks, zoos, botanical gardens and wildlife centers.

7 . Top After-school Programs in NYC

The Art Farm

Animal lovers get hands-on time with turtles (乌龟), rabbits and bearded dragons while learning science skills such as classification. Babies (and caregivers) also hang out with various creatures in Rocks and Animals, a mommy-and-me class that combines animal visits with music and stories. If your kid shows interest in cooking, consider the Farm Foodies Cooking Class. Ages 14 months~8 years.

SciTech Kids

Trained scientists and engineers answer students’ questions like “How would a superhero’s heart be different from a normal human’s heart?” or “Can 3-D printers be used to help save the environment?” in Sci Tech Kids classes. Offerings include “SciTech Explorers” where students can discover natural phenomena and “SciTech Investigators” for students who are curious about what is going on within the field. Ages 3~15.

JCC Manhattan

Enjoy a traditional after-school program experience, complete with creative play, homework help and tasty snacks. Kids looking for extra activities can also sign up for special courses (at an additional fee), which include kung fu for energetic kids and coding (编码) classes that use Minecraft. There’re also courses that teach swimming techniques to all levels of swimmers. Ages 4~11.

MoMath

Mathematics may be a serious subject in a typical classroom, but MoMath teaches the subject in a fresh and exciting way. Through weekly courses that are broken down by experience level, the program covers the subject’s wonderful topics. Parents must fill out an application for their child to be considered. Grades l~12.

8 . It was sunny last Sunday. Freddy’s_______，Mr. Lance, took him and his classmates to Jurong Bird Park. They didn’t feel _______ on the way to the park because they sang a lot on the school bus. The ride _______ about 40 minutes.

At the park, Freddy and his classmates saw many different kinds of _______. They were very beautiful. Then they went to _______ a bird show. The birds performed(表演)so_______. Freddy loved the show a lot. Before they_______，Mr. Lance took the students to see flamingos (火烈鸟). Freddy and his classmates _______the flamingos very much. They wanted to stay there for a long time, _______Mr. Lance said that they had to leave.

Back on the bus, they all said it was a(n) ________ trip. Mr. Lance was happy that Freddy and his classmates enjoyed________the bird park.

“We will have a competition (比赛). Write a composition (作文) on your________ to the bird park. The student who writes the best________ will get a free ticket (票) to the bird park!" Mr. Lance told his class, It was really ________. Freddy wanted to go to the bird park ________, so he would try to write a good composition.

10 . Fun Indoor Activities for Kids to Do At Home

Indoor days can be just as fun as the get-up-and-go ones, with a little planning and preparation. These are some of the most fun indoor activities for kids.

DIY Your Own Masterpieces

Time to bring out all your markers, glue, paint, paper places, and whatever other odds and ends you have around the house and let the kids go to town. When you’re done, take the works of art and display them on shelves.

Start an Indoor Garden

You don’t even need empty planters to get the garden growing — an old egg carton will do the trick at first. To make it more of a STEM activity, give kids journals so they can take notes on what they’ve planted and keep track of their garden’s progress. Bonus: Plant basil seeds or other herbs, and you’ll have delicious ingredients for a cooking project.

Break out the Board Games

It’s the oldest idea in the book, but if you really want some screen-free family time, old-fashioned board games still do the trick. Get your competitive spirit up and get ready to play.

Indoor Obstacle Course

This activity is great for young ones working on their coordination (协调) or older ones who might need to get some energy out. Cardboard boxes can transform into tunnels to crawl through. You can tie strings around furniture and pretend that they’re laser beams that kids have to step over or crawl under. See who in the family has the fastest time getting through the obstacles.

Stock up on the materials now — though you might have what you need lying around the house already — and you’ll never fear an indoor day again.