Getting kids to live active lifestyles this early

The next Supertrikids event will be in Subic, to be held simultaneously with the Subic International Triathlon.

If I could turn back time and be a kid again, I’d choose to be the same age as my youngest daughter Athena, who turns three next month.

She wakes up with a big smile to begin every bright new day. Quite independent and very sociable, she’s had her share of exposure as the Nivea Baby spokesperson and by coming to the “Celebrity Duets” tapings last year.

Her social skills are beginning to show signs of a little Sea Princess in the making, thanks to regular sessions at The Little Gym. It is a perfectly safe, non-competitive environment that nurtures children’s motor skills, physical development, social skills and mental development.

TLG’s programs not only entertain but also educate kids. This summer, they have various day camps consisting of special theme-related and structured activities. Parent-and-child camp classes are just a couple of hours but are filled with fun activities for children ages three and above.

Athena and I will join the hip-hop dance camp. Since children don’t have to be members to join the camps, my 10-year-old, Annika, will join us. For more information, call their branches at Makati at 8151735; Alabang, 8504060; and Pasig, 6372463.

This is the 13th year of TLG in the Philippines, and there are lots of happy kids and contented parents to attest to their great classes.

Athena is such a TV addict. She usually watches the same videos over and over again, but her favorite is “Dora the Explorer.” Seeing Nickelodeon’s “Dora the Explorer Live! Dora’s Pirate Adventure Show in Manila” was awesome for her. The whole gang of Dora, her cousin Diego and best buddy Boots the Monkey are performing live daily at the Aliw Theater until April 27.

The music-and-pirate adventure is highly entertaining and very animated with super graphics. The colorful stage is filled with jungles, beaches and rainforests, all designed to engage the kids and teach them to love nature.

Catch the exciting trip to Treasure Island. Tickets are available at SM TicketNet outlets or by calling 9115555 or 3749999. “Dora the Explorer Live!” is presented by Nickelodeon, Hapee Kiddie, Selecta Moo and Promil Pre-School.

Action-packed week

Although Athena clearly gets the most attention from everyone in the house, my 12-year-old, Tyrone, had an action-packed week himself. He recently scuba-dived the sunken Japanese WWII wrecks in Coron Bay and, presenting his school-year highlight, portrayed Everest climber Sir Edmund Hillary in the school’s Night of the Notables.

NON is a cool annual event of the school, where the kids get to research on notable personalities then present their findings.

Tyrone grabbed his Everest gear from R.O.X. at The Fort. This awesome, multilevel shop is the largest outdoor gear store in Asia, featuring North Face and other trail and hiking gear. They also have the latest in swimwear and scuba gear in cooperation with Pacifica Dive Shop.

Last year, Tyrone started with Tutoring Club, a skill-based tutoring service providing individualized instruction in reading, math and writing for all grade levels from kinder through high school. Its goal is to bring each student to the desired academic level as quickly as possible. Within 32 hours of tutoring, the child’s skills improve at least one full grade level.

Thanks to Tutoring Club, Tyrone has improved with his study skills, is less stressed and is more confident with his academic skills. The TutorUp program also assists him with science and higher math, helping him comprehend his schoolwork better.

For more information, check out their website, www.tutoringclub.com, or visit their branches in Bonifacio High Street at The Fort, Madison Street in Greenhills and Alabang Town Center.

Summer is also the time for kids to learn new things, like how to make cupcakes. Cupcakes by Sonja at Serendra is having its Create-a-Cupcake creative experience for kids all summer. As chefs for a day, kids get to create cupcakes of different colors and designs. Call 9152936 for schedules.

The small class sizes ensure that the kids come home with new stories, skills, friends, and, of course, their own cupcake creations.

Triathlon for tykes

Once they’re done baking, it’ll be time to exercise the weight off. Gaining popularity are the special kids’ races hosted by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines. Their recent Supertrikids Multi-sports Festival attracted over 110 participants, with over 70 kids in various distances for the swim, bike and run legs. The kids’ proud parents joined as support groups, ably assisted by the TRAP expert staff and volunteers.

The brothers tandem of Kai and Eirik Stroem did their father, elite triathlete Rune Stroem, proud when they ruled in their respective divisions at the Supertrikids Race held inside Ayala Alabang Village. It looks like they are destined to be current and future tri-champions, as Kai won the 9-to-10 category while his brother made his mark in the 11-to-12 age group.

Present at the awarding ceremonies were TRAP’s kids’ coach, former national triathlon champion Ani de Leon, and special guest Rob Pickard, a high-performance international triathlon coach who is currently supervising a training camp for national triathletes. TRAP president Tom Carrasco was very happy with the successful turnout of kids, who were so adorable. Some of them even had training wheels on their bikes.

These young triathletes will surely bring continuous energy and spirit to future triathlon races. Check out www.superkids.triathlon.org.ph for the race results and some tips on getting kids into this fun fitness program.

The next Supertrikids event will be in Subic, to be held simultaneously with the Subic International Triathlon.

It is never too early to get kids into active lifestyles. Parents, do encourage your kids to take time off from their Playstations and get into sports! That way, when it is their turn to turn back time and look back, they’ll all see how they got started living their healthy lifestyles. By Tessa Prieto-Valdes - Philippine Daily Inquirer