Where Does All That Energy Go on a Day Off?
School's out for Veterans Day, and the couch cushions are already nervous.
THE PARENT PLAYBOOK: THE ENERGY HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE
You know the morning. School's out, it's 8:15, and somebody has already asked "what are we doing today?" three times.
Wednesday, November 11 is Veterans Day. In a lot of Bakersfield houses, that means a whole school day with no school in it.
Kids wake up on a day off with a full tank. That energy doesn't disappear just because there's no recess. It goes somewhere. Usually the couch cushions. Sometimes the hallway. Occasionally a little brother.
Think about the foam pit at our gyms. Kids launch into it at full speed and nobody yells "slow down," because the pit was built to catch them. Same with the trampolines and the ninja course. It's the exact same energy they'd bring to your living room. The only difference is it has somewhere safe to land.
The CDC recommends that kids ages 6 to 17 get 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day. On a school day, PE and recess cover part of that. On a day off, it's on us. (No pressure.)
For the littlest ones, the CDC says preschoolers should stay active throughout the day. That's the whole idea behind American Kids Preschool, our fully licensed preschool right inside the gym. Our slogan is "Active Kids, Active Learning," and our playground is the gym. (Good luck topping that at recess.)
So be honest: what does your kid's next day off look like by 2 p.m.? If the answer involves a tablet and a pile of snack wrappers, you're in very good company.
You don't need a big plan. A few things that help on any day off:
- Get them moving before lunch, while the tank is fullest.
- Give the energy a job: a backyard obstacle course, a race to the mailbox, a living room dance party.
- Let them play with other kids. They play harder and longer together.
- Save the screen for after they move, not instead of it.
And don't forget why there's no school. Veterans Day exists because a lot of men and women gave up a lot more than a day off for this country. The freedom our kids run around in every day is something veterans earned for them. Two of the most important people in my life served: my grandfather and my best friend. If there's a veteran in your family or on your street, take the kids over to say thank you. They'll remember that a lot longer than whatever they did on the iPad.
And if that 8:15 "what are we doing today?" turns into a plan with a real place to land, everybody wins. The couch cushions most of all.
See you around town, Bakersfield.
— Matt Williams, Director of Operations, American Kids Sports Center
PS. Our Veterans Day Camp is Wednesday, Nov. 11 at both gyms, the first of this season's EPIC! Holiday Camps. Kids get gymnastics and NinjaZone, trampolines and foam pits, camp games and holiday crafts.
- Where: Northwest – 3622 Allen Rd. or Southwest – 5010 Young St.
- Times: Half day 8:30 AM–12:30 PM ($57) · Full day 8:30 AM–3:30 PM ($72) · Extended day 7:30 AM–5:30 PM ($95)
- Ages: 3 (fully potty trained) through 14
- Sign up: aksc.com/camps. Walk-ins and same-day sign-ups are welcome.
PPS. More days off are coming: Thanksgiving Break Camp (Nov. 23–25), Black Friday Camp (Nov. 27), Christmas Camp (Dec. 21–24) and New Year's Week Camp (Dec. 28–31). Sign up for just the days you need. 📱 American Kids app · 📞 (661) 589-2100
The Parent Playbook Blog
