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Video Game Testing: A Real Modern Career

By Jason on September 5, 2019 0

The world is quickly changing, and the job landscape is changing with it. What would have been entirely unthinkable a few short decades ago could very well be a stable and lucrative future nowadays. For example, consider the concept of testing video games.

On the surface, it may seem like a silly thing, but once you get down to the details, it begins to make a lot of sense. It’s a job, just like any other, dedicated to testing the quality of a product and offering feedback to the design teams. You need people to check a car or washing machine, you need people to test a game. The big difference is that while testing an appliance can be done entirely by automation, entertainment products require that human touch to get the right sort of feedback. To get a better idea of precisely what testing video games entails, here’s the rundown.

What is a video game tester?

In essence, a game tester plays a game and determines if it functions correctly, if it has the flow that the developer intends, and, to a lesser extent, whether it’s fun. Their job isn’t to sit there and have a good time— it’s first and foremost to make sure that the game functions on the most basic level.

In many cases, this means doing the exact opposite of what most players would consider enjoyable. When you sit down for a game at home, you play through it and experience the variety and progression that the game offers. When you do it for a job, you can be repeating the same tiny bit over and over for hours on end to make sure that it works down to the smallest detail. It’s a task that could get repetitive after a few minutes, but a tester could be doing it for hours on end.

How common are video game tester jobs?

As a pretty young industry that is moving towards more and more indie projects, the role of the game tester is a little hard to pin down. Professional testers are standard for any project by a big studio, often with dozens of testers working on a game at any given time. These testers can be working on a section one day that might be eliminated the next day as the project goes in a different direction.

However, the indie development scene is a little different. When budgets are tight, and games are getting made from home, it becomes a little harder to justify the salary of a tester. In many cases, this is made up for by letting members of the public try the game for free (to get their feedback). For some of the more established indie studios, some testers get paid. However, it’s also common for the developers themselves to take on the role of testing.

What are the requirements to be a game tester?

Contrary to what one might expect, making a career out of testing video games is more or less the same as making a career out of any skill. Testing games isn’t just about playing—it’s about being able to organize your thoughts and comment accurately on the sort of problems you’re facing. Companies don’t want testers that say, “This isn’t fun.” They want testers that can say “This isn’t fun because of X, Y, and Z. I recommend changing A to B.”

Video game tester requirements mean that you’re probably going to need a decent amount of higher education and/or training to secure a position and beat the competition. Nowadays, this is a lot simpler than it seems. Many colleges offer degrees in game design or broader fields like software development or software engineering. You don’t need to get a degree related to video games to become a game tester. But it may be a good idea to pick a broader option. It will give you more leeway in the future especially if you want to move into a different field, or advance within a video game company.

How does one become a game tester?

Once you have an education firmly in hand, you’ll need to apply just like with any other job. For established studios that are offering competitive pay, this can involve travelling to interview at the location of the game studio. Their website should list any such requirements for job openings. They’ll specify whether the process can get done entirely online or whether it requires you to travel there in person.

When picking which studios to apply to, it can help to target those you are familiar with. After all, if you can bring knowledge of their products to the table, you’re already demonstrating your skills when it comes to testing their games. The more you know now, the less they’ll need to teach you. If they want to get insight from loyal players that are familiar with their products, then they may need a tester like you.

How much does a video game tester make?

In short, a video game tester’s salary is often in the neighbourhood of £40,000 to £48,000 ($50,000 to $60,000) per year. It may not sound like a lot compared to a senior engineering position, but it is a lot more than many areas, such as being a teacher.

However, that’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to game testers. One of the real benefits of the position is that it offers you an entry point into the company where you can potentially work your way up. You may start as a lowly game tester that makes £40,000 ($50,000) a year, but you can move up the QA ladder and find a sizable income waiting.

On top of that, if you decide you want to switch into another aspect of the gaming industry (or the computer industry in general), you will have a lot of valuable experience to draw from. You may find it a lot easier to get a little extra education and make a lateral career move.

Can you be a video game tester from home?

For many, one of the biggest draws of video game testing is that you can do it from home. Historically, this was true, but only in a certain light. Plenty of game testers could work for home, but they often made less than their counterparts.

Today, that’s a thing of the past. The modern job industry is favouring telecommuting more with each passing day. Tech industries, including the gaming industry, are among those who now favour telecommuting. You can be a fully salaried member of the team and work from the comfort of your own home. Video game tester jobs at home are not only viable but normal.

What is a video game beta tester?

One of the significant subcategories of game testing is beta testing. Alpha testing takes place early in the development process and when much of the game is subject to change. Beta testing gets done near the end of a game’s development process. Some beta tests nowadays are mostly previews of the finished product. They are used to entice the public with an opportunity to take an exclusive look before the game officially comes out.

With beta testing, it’s common to use those unpaid members of the public to get mass feedback on the state of the game and gauge its reception when it gets launched. Paid game testers are still necessary at this stage, especially when it comes to fixing problems the unpaid testers manage to find and identify through sheer volume of gameplay. Ten thousand people playing for a few hours can uncover hidden issues that one person playing for ten thousand hours might not have found.

Is game testing a viable career?

In this modern age, video game testing is just as legitimate as quality assurance in any other industry. For products to be right, you need to have testers do the dirty work in finding any kinks for the developers to hammer out. It may sound like video game testing is being paid to sit around and play games all day. In reality, it’s being paid to bang your head against a wall while you try to reproduce a tiny error for hours on end.

All You Need to Know about Yoyos – from Beginners to Advanced

By Diana Miron on March 8, 2019 0

Yoyo is a toy that has been around for many years, long before it was even named “yoyo”.

Yoyo History

The Flores Company, owned by a Filipino named Pedro Flores, developed the modern yoyo. The company was later bought by an entrepreneur named Donald Duncan. But they are not the ones who invented it. This toy already existed in ancient times. It is considered the second oldest toy in history after the doll. While there was no recorded evidence that it existed in China, there was proof that it was in Greece since 500 BC.

The Chinese and the Greeks were believed to have invented this toy. However, it is more plausible that it was developed by both cultures unknowingly. It was called “diabolo” in China. Street entertainers mainly used them.

The yoyo travelled from the Orient to Europe and then to other parts of the world. This is how it slowly became a popular toy for all children.

Back in the days, the yoyo meant different things for different social classes. The rich thought it was a fashionable thing to own. It was made from all sorts of nice materials. As it was regarded as a fashionable toy, it was meant for noble people. In countries all over Europe, kings and queens used it to relax and to display that they had it. For the poor, the yoyo was a means for stress relief, a way to loosen up when they faced difficult times.

Were yoyos used as weapons?

While they are believed to have been originated from China, they were first mentioned in Greece. The toy was called a “disk”. They date back to 400 – 500 BC when the Greeks used them for entertainment purposes.

The disks were initially made of terra cotta, a kind of clay. As the clay was rather fragile, they were offered to gods when the child turned of age. If a child wanted to play with them, the mother had to buy one every day. It seemed impractical so people starting looking for other materials to use like wood and metal. The terra cotta version remained but only as offering to the gods as a rite of passage.

Some accounts in the early 16th century Philippines noted that hunters used this as a weapon. A rock and a 20 feet long cord would be thrown at their prey as the hunters hid up in the tree. This gave rise to the idea of the true purpose of the yoyo. However, there was no real basis for it.

But it can be true that from ancient China, it travelled to Greece and the Philippines, where people used it as a means of entertainment. Playing with the yoyo is called yoyoing. Though this toy was mainly developed for entertainment, it has other benefits. It helps develop a better eye and hand coordination. Good for socializing, you can participate in competitions and meet other yoyo enthusiasts. Playing the yoyo challenges you to improve your skills.

What are yoyos good for?

There are many reasons people choose to purchase a yoyo these days. Some of them are childish while some of them are quite serious. The truth is, it has been used as a stress reliever toy since early times. It was not only meant for children but also for people that were stressed, or gearing up for battle. Napoleon and his army were said to have been relaxing with the yo-yo before the Battle of Waterloo started.

Playing with a yoyo will give you and your children these benefits:

– It can boost confidence in learning new things.

– It can help children socialize.

– It helps build hand-eye coordination.

– It keeps kids away from the TV and outdoors more.

– It enhances you and your child’s need for perfection.

Best yoyo brand

Yoyo Factory

According to Ranker, the best yoyo brand right now is the Yoyo Factory. A rather young company founded in 2004, it aims to improve the playing experience with its functional technology through thorough research. The result is a durable and reliable toy for every user.

Best yoyo string

While the main body of the yoyo has been made out of different materials, the string, since the first yoyo factory appeared, has been made of pure Egyptian cotton.

Some use synthetic strings, but they tend to be a bit harder to use and more difficult to perform.

Choosing a yoyo as a beginner

As a beginner, what does a yo-yo feels like in your hand? Choosing plastic or a wooden one makes no difference as you haven’t tried any of them yet. You will get acquainted with whatever you choose.

You most likely wouldn’t want to spend too much on a yoyo if you are still a beginner. A plastic one will suffice as it is handier.

Another difference between the yo-yos is their responsiveness. Some are more responsive—it comes back to your hand on its own, while others are unresponsive—you’d need more tricks to make it come back to your hand. It is best to choose a responsive yo-yo for beginners. You won’t need to learn tricks yet on getting back the string but just focus mainly on the basics.

5 Best yoyos for beginners

Fizz Yoyo

What makes this the ideal yo-yo for the beginners? It has a F.A.S.T. (Fully Active Starburst Technology) response system. This technology enables the yo-yo to be durable, needing no replacements nor requiring maintenance. You only need to change the string occasionally.

One great thing about this yoyo is the design. It is slim, perfect for kids and beginners. Performing basic yoyo tricks come easy with this yo-yo.

Sage Yoyo

The Sage Yoyo is another great yoyo for beginners. It is inexpensive and durable. This yoyo plays great and easy to use without modifications. However, it can also be modified to perform difficult tricks.

It comes with a thin bearing for responsive plays. It can sleep for 30 to 45 seconds with a good throw. Though this yoyo was conceived after its predecessor, the Luminator, it was made better because it was patterned after the Protostar—considered one of the best yoyos ever made.

YYF Replay – Responsive

This yoyo had a good reception when it first came out of the market. It has maintained its status as one of the most responsive yoyos there is. The specs are suitable for beginners but the total look and package is that of a professional. It is one of the top-performing plastic yo-yos out there.

It promises long spin times, which will make beginners enjoy their time to practise some techniques. It does not require much maintenance.

First Base Yoyo

This is another great yoyo choice for beginners. The first thing you will notice is the shape—it’s perfectly round, giving a very comfortable feeling when you hold it in your hand. While it’s not the lightest, it is just perfect for one to learn new tricks.

It comes with a slim bearing to help the beginners have confidence in their tricks. It also promises to give you a long sleep time. It also comes with an unresponsive bearing, which makes it great for advanced users as well.

Yomega Brain XP Transaxle Yoyo

This yoyo boasts of being a great choice for young children. It gives them the chance to learn tricks without getting too frustrated if they don’t turn out the way they expected it to. It comes with a manual and auto return clip that allows one to test the trick he learned.

It’s transparent plastic design allows one to see the inside and makes it very appealing to children. They are very light and very small, perfect for children to hold them easily with one hand.

5 World’s best yoyos

Yoyo King Green Merlin Professional Responsive Yoyo

This is a great yoyo as it is rather light and small-sized. It offers you the possibility to easily perform various tricks like Trapeze, Split the Atom, Braintwister, or the Double or Nothing. Its silicone response system and the narrow C sized bearing helps you get the responsiveness you need for your tricks.

Yoyo King Merlin Pro Yoyo with Ball Bearing Axle

Same weight as the above one, it is also light and easy to handle. Made of durable plastic, it comes with a silicone response system and a ball bearing axle for super long spin times. It also has the narrow string size C bearing to be able to offer you the experience of the nonresponsive yoyoing.

Yomega Spectrum – Light up Fireball Transaxle YoYo

This is a great choice for intermediate and advanced play. Made from durable polycarbonate, this yoyo is light. It can do long smooth spins due to its transaxle, plastic sleeve placed over the axle. However, the transaxle yoyos will not return automatically. They rely on the experience of yoyoing of the player to make it return by moving the wrist. It comes with LED lights that help you play any time of day and night. It activates the lights when you move your wrist.

MAGICYOYO K1 Responsive Yoyo

While it is heavier than before, it is a perfect toy for kid and families. It comes with the free glove and 5 different strings which makes it worth buying.
It is an all-plastic yoyo and plays rather fast. However, it is an unresponsive yoyo. You will have to bind to wake it up. It is a great yoyo to develop your motor skills.

The Sidekick Pro Unresponsive

Another great unresponsive yoyo is the Sidekick Pro Yoyo. Made of aluminium alloy body, it uses a C track ball bearing. It is for sure recommended for the most advanced players, as it requires practice and knowledge beforehand to be able to use it. Perfect for learning new tricks all the time due to the wide ball-bearing axle.

Even if it’s pricier compared to the other brands, this toy will remain in the long run.

What is the most expensive yoyo in the world?

Anglam TiSS Black

Though Duncan has its most expensive yo-yo from the collection, the newest and currently most expensive is the black Anglam TiSS. This bi-metal yoyo was released in 2015 during the World Yoyo Contest.

It is manufactured by sOMEThING by YoYoAddict. It is made of titanium with stainless steel weight rings. This black version is polished by the professionals for a smooth and luxurious finish. It costs $900.

Basic yoyo tricks

There will be no problem making some yoyo tricks like basic throw, sleeper, winding the string or even walking the dog.

Basic throw

This may not seem as easy as it sounds. The first thing to learn to be able to make a basic throw is to know how to hold the yoyo correctly. If the palm is up, the correct position of the string should be going over the yoyo. The string should come over the top of the yoyo.

When learning yoyo playing, you should adjust the string to your height. If you won’t, you will have problems like the yoyo may hitting the ground. You will have to keep raising your hand higher and higher every time.

When the string is adjusted, you throw it out and turn the hand over to catch it as it comes up.

Wind the string

Winding the string like a pro means knowing some three more principles to tackle with—the spin, slack and straight. This trick is important for all the rest of the tricks one can do with a yo-yo because it helps the string wind after it was let loose.

If the yoyo does not spin, it will not wind up. The string should have a slack bigger than the distance between your hand and the yoyo. You have to keep the yoyo’s staring straight in perfect alignment with the yoyo.

Sleeper

If you have the throw in place, then you are ready for the next trick—making the yoyo sleep. The sleeper position is when the yoyo just spins at the bottom.

When trying to make it sleep, the harder you throw the yo-yo, the bigger the tendency for it to bounce back. It ends up getting loose in the string again. The only thing it will do is come back up. Making the sleeping position means you have to control the yoyo’s movements with your hand. You have to do an up and down motion with the hand when throwing it.

Walk the Dog

Though it seems quite easy, you still need the steps above to be able to do this trick.

When leaving the string off from the yoyo, it is important to swing it a little bit to make sure it will have some direction to walk in and spin. The yoyo must be in front of you, leading you as this is the right move. Other variations of this are walking the cat—it walks in the opposite direction, the creeper—you will kneel at the level of the yoyo and it will come straight back to you, and the walk the dog around the park, where you begin like walk the dog and continue with the yoyo moving around you.

Intermediate yoyo tricks

Thread the needle

You have to throw a sleeper then place the finger of the free hand under the string and lift it. Then slide the string through the channel from the behind to the front. Holding the free hand’s forefinger between the strings, move it outward and upward. You pull the yoyo hand backwards to make the yoyo walk until it reaches the forefinger of your free hand, then let the yoyo wind back up.

Hop the Fence

This is a rather simple trick but you still need to have some knowledge of yoyoing.

You have to throw down the yoyo. As it returns, let it “hop” over your hand. Then send it back to the floor and “hop” again.

Loop the Loop

Though it seems easy, it really isn’t. You need to have good wrist coordination.

The first pass is forward. As it comes back to you, do not catch it. Let it pass over your hand on the inside arm. Make a circular wrist motion and then send it out again. Repeat this. You may not get it the first few times, but practice makes gold.

Advanced yoyo tricks

Through the Tunnel

This allows you to send the yoyo through the tunnel instead of the one known as “walking the dog”.

You should throw the yoyo down and swing it back. It should come in front of you. When it gets in front of you, swing it through your legs and let it slowly land on the floor. Walk it along the floor and in the end, bring it back to your hand.

Shoot the Moon

As this is a rather difficult yoyo trick, it should be done with a yoyo you have complete control over.

You first have to throw the yoyo up like in a forward pass. As it returns, send the yoyo straight up by doing a semicircular motion. This will bring it rather close to your face, so be careful. When it comes down, you have to move your wrist to send it out in front of you.

Rattlesnake

It is best performed when wearing loose pants. It starts by throwing a sleeper with a sideways gesture. You do not have to pick the y-yo up, but let it spin on the side.

If you move the leg and the string touches your pants, it should make a “rattling” sound.

In the past, things were simpler as you did not have that many options to choose from. Various options are available now as many yoyo manufacturers try their best to come up with a new and improved yoyos for all playing levels.

Conclusion

Yoyos are a great way to develop your skills and to spend your free time in a more useful manner. If you and your kid think of trying it, do not think twice. While there are many games out there, this is one worth playing and investing your time in.

Horse Riding Lessons for Kids

By Jason on January 14, 2019 0

Horseback riding is for all ages

Horses are one of the animals that you can meet anywhere and simply enjoy their company. They are very smart animals and apart from this, they have very well-developed senses. Learning to horse ride offers countless benefits, and stoke a passion that can last for life. In this article, we’ll cover many associated topics to help give you an overview, or even some new ideas!

Horses sense smell at a higher level than humans do. They have more than 360-degree sight. They have that sense of defending their young ones when danger is near. Apart from this, if a horse is well taken care of and fed and cleaned, he is one of the cleanest animals that exist. Domesticated and well looked after horses are used for leisure activities. Your little one might want to have a horse as a pet, for sport, such as equestrianism, horse racing, horse training, and horse tack and as with working activities. Some horses are workhorses such as the ones kept by mounted police.

Your kids can start to learn to ride a horse or pony at almost any age. The people in the stables will choose a smaller and good-natured horse for children. Did you know that horses have personalities, just like humans? You can find a loving and gentle horse to bond with!

There are many reasons to love horses. Below are some reasons for which I love horses:

They are there for me in any possible situation. They become more than horses to whoever has them. They easily become friends, companions when you are alone, and fitness instructors when I ride along.
When a child asks you for a horse, it means they are ready to mature. Horses will surely teach them to take care of and care for someone else rather than themselves. A child can become very responsible when it comes to having a horse to take care of.
Mainly taking care of horses, we will live a healthier and fitter life. I do not have time to waste as taking proper care of horses means a lot of things.
They improve my social life. There are many activities to do while having a horse—hanging out at the stables with my friends, go to different competitions or shows.
It is said that they give you a positive attitude and mental health. It is like natural medicine, as their mere presence is said to lower blood pressure and improve your mood. They also seem to sense when you are depressed or sad. They can react in many ways you did not think possible, and your problems just vanish.
I can find myself. They make no difference between human beings—they see me as I am no matter my social status.
They just take me flying. Without any problems on board or with problems on board, after riding the horse, all other issues seem to have vanished.
They teach me what real trust is. I just had to trust them and I was proven right. I trusted an 1200-pound animal that is big enough to kill me but still, I trusted it. I climbed on its back without any second thoughts or fear.
They teach me to overcome fear. Despite the fact that I fell the first time I was on it, I climbed back on and again until I managed to do it well.
They bring you close to nature. Just taking the horse and riding along the mountain paths is a wonderful feeling. It also lets you become closer to nature and what it has to offer.
They are just what you need to feel yourself. They are strong, powerful, sleek, and beautiful. When they gallop, it’s the most wonderful thing especially with you feeling their strength and power beneath you.
They are your partner in the long run. If you commit to them, they can feel it. They will get to know you and your feelings, more than you thought they could.
They offer relaxing moments when just brushing them, covering their hooves with shiny oil. They can be your partner or your baby. They are family and I love showing them a little love from time to time.

Bringing a horse into your family

We live in a world where we want more and more to have space around us. Many moves to the countryside to be able to have this physical space. Anyhow, living in the countryside allows us to have more than just one animal.

Apart from making the usual pet choices, we can also have others, uncommon ones. If we have space, having and caring for a horse and more can prove to be a full-time job. It offers both a lot of work for it and as well a friend to go to and recharge the batteries when we need this.

Getting to love a horse is an easy job as they are very beautiful animals and they help us with many things. But we should give them more than just love—we have to give them the care and the things they need to stay healthy.

The barn for a horse, no matter what type he is, should have the basics such as:

Enough space for the equipment.
Space to store the food.
A grooming space (this can come in as optional).
A wash stall.
A space for rest.
Enough space for the horse to lift their head up.
Natural light and air.
A good anti-rain and anti-snow stable.
Easy to clean and quick-drying floors

Seeing above, we should realize that the bigger the horse is, the larger the stall should be, and the amount of care for it. After having the above, we need to make sure we have the necessary things to maintain the barn at a certain required level.

Therefore, let us look at some of the necessary supplies:

Pitchfork
Broom for the stable (it should be harder than the usual one)
Wheelbarrow (we need to carry the food and make it easy for us)
Manure fork
Some insect spray (just in case, so that the horse will not experience any uncomfortable situations)

Now let us take the next step—the feeding equipment you need for a horse. For starters, the basics to have are:

Feeding tub
Large buckets for the water, to keep the horse hydrated
Water heater (for those cold days of autumn and winter)

While we have a grooming space, we also need some grooming tools.

Curry comb
Brush for the body
Cloth to wash and wipe the horse
Fly repellent for the hair
Breakaway halters
Rope (for leading the horse)

When ready to ride, we need some extra help to be able to hop on to him. Buying the saddle will be a hard thing as it needs to go well with the horse. They need to fit together. Good luck with that!

Saddle
Blanket or saddle pad
Helmet (that will be for us)
Boots with a one-inch heel

To be fully functional, a horse also needs a blacksmith from time to time, once every six weeks. He needs to have the routine hoof trimming or shoeing done. Moreover, while we also take him for rides and strolls, for those days when we don’t, he needs to have his exercise done. For this, he would use a paddock where he can relax and stroll all day long.

We should not forget the veterinary care every now and then. A horse needs care and check-ups to make sure he did not get any parasites or diseases. A veterinarian can vaccinate the horse against problems such as tetanus, viral respiratory disease, and strangles. As far as the health and the general condition of the horse, owning a horse implies checking the teeth, feet, worming, overall body condition, and laminitis (for the fatter horses).

Having the horse microchipped is an option if we want to cover emergencies as well. This will help identify the horse and the horse owner, and where the property is.

Taking into consideration all the above, it is basically impossible not to be able to enjoy the satisfactions a horse brings us.

Educate Children to Stay Active with a Healthy Eating Lifestyle

By Diana Miron on April 29, 2018 0

Every parent wants what is best for their children. Practising sports since early ages, may it be just for fun, is a healthy way for children. This will prepare them for the future and will help them manage the challenges that come along their way.

There are various benefits related to their health and well-being as well. You can see these in the previous article.

However, we will focus now on how to educate children for sports and help them get that sense of responsibility in eating healthy while staying active. One cannot exist without another.

Healthy eating lifestyle

Any kid that wants to take up sport should have healthy eating habits. This comes from their parents and this is where the responsibility comes in. If you want to prepare your child to take a sport or some, you should make sure he has a healthy eating lifestyle.

Proper nutrition is not good just for sporty people, but it is good for every aspect of life. A healthy eating lifestyle will have positive effects on both studying and sports.

Healthy Eating Tips

Choose healthy fats such as vegetable oils, avocados, oily fish, and nuts.
Vitamins, minerals, and iron can be found on lean red meat, turkey, fish, eggs, dark green vegetables
Calcium can be found in low-fat milk, yoghurt, puddings, cheese, nuts, and fruit juice
Water is the most important when it comes to fluids.

Rules for a Healthy Lifestyle While Being Active

An active teen should have a very organized lifestyle. They should watch what they eat, how they eat, when they eat, and what is good or bad and what is bad for his body. The rules below are to be followed both by young people as well as by parents, for them to set an example to their kids.

Never skip a meal. This is important especially breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day. It gives you the energy to continue the day in a positive mood. Make sure your child knows this and develops this sense of being responsible in never skipping a meal.
Drink lots of water. Water is important for all the functions of the body. Make sure you have a bottle of water at hand all the time.
Eat some protein daily. This is important for young active people as protein repairs the muscles and helps them grow.
While carbohydrates are known to be bad foods, there are the good carbs that are a must throughout the day. They will give the needed energy to the muscles.
Eat at least 5 portions of fruits and vegetables per day. This will give you the vitamin boost your body needs.
Take your daily intake of healthy fats. They will give you the energy to stay active.
On top of this, you have enough sleep and rest. You could eat as healthy as you want, but without enough sleep, your body won’t function well when tired.

Parents know-how list

As a parent, do not over exaggerate when trying to make your child love and practice sports. Sport should be regarded as a game, and games usually are supposed to be fun. This is why pressure never works in trying to convince children to do anything.
Let your child see and decide for himself what is the best sport that he likes and he would enjoy practicing. Not every child should practice sport in a professional manner. Moreover, the vast majority do not take it as a profession. Practice it to stay active and all the other benefits it brings. Each one finds different benefits in sport.
As a parent, you should not be overprotective and be present every time he goes to practices. Let him be with his peers and the coach. Make sure you are present when there are important games going on.
As practicing sports is a very healthy way of living, parents should encourage their children to play, not to necessarily be in a competition.
However, if he likes participating in competitions, encourage him to win, not just get comfy with losing. This should never be an option.
Make sure you are the one that your child looks up to. Do not be a lazy couch potato if you want your child to take up some sport. Stay as active and healthy as you can.

An active teen girl should consume as much as 2400 calories per day while an active teen boy between 2800 and 3000 calories per day. These calories should not be randomly consumed, as there are bad and good things for the body to eat. The more bad food he eats, the less likely he will get good results in his sports activities or any other field in life. Eating right will help your child perform at his best.

Make sure they take the proper carbs, have some soup per day, eat healthy fats, take the proper vitamins and minerals from the food, and proper calcium intake. Water consumption must not be forgotten. An important takeout for water is not to wait until you are thirsty. Make sure your kids are hydrated enough.

Conclusion

Sports will raise many good qualities in a child even though he does not make a profession out of it. Creating a healthy lifestyle and an environment that respects physical activity will prove good for your child in time. It is important that a child is raised to eat healthy, to stay active, and to respect his body. Tips above will help you as a parent in educating your child in this regard.

With a right mindset even from the early ages, children will be more opened to practicing sports. Paving their way into educating about the connection between staying active and eating healthy; will prove to become a lifestyle for them in the future, without putting to much effort into this.

Why Should Teenagers be Encouraged to Practice Sports?

By Diana Miron on April 22, 2018 0

We live in a very tech world and this makes us become less and less physical active. However, if for us there is not such a big problem, as we have practiced sports in our younger years back in the days, today’s children and teenagers, seem to prefer being online rather than being outdoors.

Mainly due to this we should make sure we know and explain to them the big benefits sports can have for one. These benefits are both for them and their life now as well as for their coming years.

However, making it easier for them to understand is important for them to see the benefits for them as teenagers and how sports can improve their life in all its aspects.

According to the Council of Europe, sports means “all forms of physical activity […] aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being, forming social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels.”

Sport is essential for the development of young people. It is good for various reasons that you will see below. If your teenager does not have the taste of it yet, this means he just has to try various till he finds what is the right sport for him. Sport is easy and becomes a pleasure once you get the taste of it.

Sports to choose from

Between the ages of 13 to 15 it has been demonstrated that girls involvement in sport drops more than in boys. This may be due to the transformations their bodies go through. However, this is not a reason good enough not to practice sport.

As a teenager you have various possibilities of sports. Whilst the best sports in this period of life are the outdoor ones, there are some indoors sports that can also be practiced and bring good results.

Some of the sports to choose from as a teenager are hiking, mountain biking, cycling, resistance, handball, football, volleyball, basketball, aerobic, fitness, tennis. Some can be practiced with your family, some with your peers and colleagues and some with a trainer. Whichever you choose, it is important to fit your needs and your capacities.

Sport benefits for teenagers

Sport contributes to the teenagers well-being overall. Encouraging teenagers to practice sports is important as sport brings many benefits.

Physical health
- First and foremost, practicing sports will have a good effect on a teenager’s metabolism, heart rate and overall physical condition. Sports will increase the energy level and improve movement and motor skills while still developing. It will give a balance to the organism; a balance that is needed while passing through the teenage years changes.
Improve the social life
- As a teenager you are not entirely formed, you pass through a lot of changes, some that relate to the friends you have around you. Practicing a sport can be a social activity and an easy way for the young people to make friends that have the same passions and form long lasting friendships. Team sports are mainly important for this.
- Communication is very much influenced by sports. It helps young people form connections and improve their socializing skills.
Good for the mind
- Being a teenager and going though all the changes in your life can be a challenge for some. Sports is a good answer to cope with these changes. It can help one beat the anxiety, depression, eating disorders, attention deficit and even hyperactivity disorders.
- As we live in a very stressful world where everything happens faster than we have the chance to chew on, sports will help one maintain a positive mental health. Young people can reduce their anxiety, love problems, school problems teenage problems and many others through sport practicing.
- Sport increases their self-esteem. Contributing to one’s mental-well-being, the young will have an increased sense of pride and purpose. It will boost their self-confidence.
- As it affects the levels of the dopamine and serotonin hormones, sports contribute to mood improvement. When practicing sport brain chemicals are triggered and this lead to one feeling happier and more relaxed.
Better school results
- All the above lead to the most important effect on a teenager – increasing concentration; this will help them in their critical thinking and a better and easier learning.
- An improved energy will make them learn better
- Have a higher discipline in their program
- Be more competitive
- Increase their sense of discipline
Good behaviour changes
- Having a teenage is a hard job and no one can deny this. They think they own the world and they are the only ones that know what is right and what is wrong. We’ve all seen that and been through that. Anyhow, sports can have a good effect on their behaviour and thinking.
- It can help them adopt healthier decisions, have a better sleep, choose not to smoke or drink, overall, make the right choices for their life as future adults.
- This will help them to a healthy development in the future and a good health.
Maintain a healthy weight
- As hormonal imbalances are often in this teenage period, it is important to maintain a healthy weight. Practicing sports will help one stay in the recommended weight range and reduce the chance of developing other diseases in the future.
Increase the leadership skills
- Sports contribute a lot to the development of teenagers as people. Participating in sports and mainly team sports, will increase the leadership qualities in a young.

Takeaways

The above are just the main benefits your teenager can have from practicing a sport. It is important to know that the younger the children will start participating in sport activities, the more likely they are to stay active as they grow old.

Even the small reason to keep them away from TV or computer, should make you want to give your teenager a stimulus to start some kind of sport. However, sport practicing in teenagers means so much more than this.

2 Player Games for Kids

By Diana Miron on January 21, 2018 0

Kids are always excited to finish up their homework, their errands and go back to play. They can play games at home, on the road, or the plane. To maintain and develop their social interactions, they can choose to play the 2 player games for kids. This is a great way to have fun while also sharing it with a friend and making new ones.

The 2 player games for kids offer them everything they look for. They can play shooting games, intellectual games, fun games, wrestling games, and sports games. There is a wide range of games you can think of.

Apart from the virtual 2 player games, some games can be done such as snooker, billiard, table tennis, cat’s cradle, hide and seek, marbles, etc.

Online, your kids can master their soccer skills, hockey skills, and even pool skills while playing with their best friends or even with you.

Here we will focus on the 2 player games kids can play virtually. They can be in the same room using the same computer but with different keys to control the characters or they can be kilometres apart and still be able to play online. Not all 2 players game need to be competitive. There are also those games that focus on teamwork, on the squad. Whichever type of game a kid prefers, he can find everything online and the majority is for free.

See some of the games below:

1 on 1 Soccer game

This is a rare game that is very interesting and entertaining as it works with cheat codes. The cheats can be activated from the “cheat” button. One has to write his cheat codes and press “enter” to activate them.

These cheats will allow one to change the ball, change the gravity, fly, and even have permanent speed boots. Make sure you read the instructions before starting it. This way kids will have a blast playing this game.

1 vs 1 Soccer Game

This is another football game where there are two opponents. It begins the moment one opens the game. As the players will move as soon as they are rotated, it is important to be careful at the moves one does. There are different game controls for each player. Make sure to remember the correct ones.

Bowman Game

The Bowman game is a game of two players. It is about hitting your opponent twice. This is when one wins the game. Keep in mind that it is a sensitive game and being in a tight angle, may cause you to lose the game. The game controls are the same – both players use the same game controls for aiming and shooting.

Royal City Clashes 2 Game

This is another game of two players that asks for your survival gut. It is about escaping and making your way through the streets of Royal City. For this, you can use melees and guns. Make sure you know the shortcuts for playing it:

Player 1: WASD – Movement, Q or E – Change Weapon, V – Run, B or SPACE –Attack, N – Drop Weapon

Player 2: ARROW KEYS – Movement, KEYPAD 4 or KEYPAD 6 – Change Weapon, KEYPAD 1 – Run, KEYPAD 2 or KEYPAD 0 – Attack, KEYPAD 3 – Drop Weapon.

The menu and the options are WASD – Select option and SPACE – Confirm Option. It is good for increasing your kid’s focus.

Fire and Water 5 Game

The Fire and Water 5 game is the 5th version of the Fire and Water game series. In this game, the heroes try to escape obstacles and reach exit doors. The action takes place in some very light rooms and then in some very dark rooms as well. It has various chapters. As you complete one, you can click on the next chapter to move on into the game. This is a team game, as you both have the same purpose and try to reach exit points together. Things to keep in mind for this game—do not come close to water accumulation and beware of the other obstacles. One needs to control the heroes with “Arrow Keys” and “W, A, D” keys.

Checkers Game

This is a game that will challenge the kids in how to outsmart their challenger. One can play this game against the computer at first and then with a friend. This will ask for some serious thinking ahead before moving any piece on the board. For playing it, kids should just click to move the pieces.

2 Players Bowling Game

The 2 Players Bowling game is about aiming the mouse towards the pins. There are some markings on the floor and the mouse needs to be aligned according to them. As the pins need to be knocked down, one needs to push the mouse and click with power.

Bowchief 2 Game

This game offers one 3 different game models to choose from. They can all be played or you can choose just one to struggle with. These are Campaign, Sharpshooting and Player vs Player. The last selection is the one to choose if one wants to play it in two-player mode. It is a struggle between two friends playing the game. After choosing the game model, the archers will just start shooting. The mouse is the main help in this game. Shooting stops until the health of the opponent is zero-ed down. While there are also some surprises during the game that are nice, make sure to shoot on the target and try as much as possible not to hit the birds flying.

3D Hartwig Chess Set Master

Another great game for your kid is the 3D Hartwig Chess Set Master. A good thing about it is that it teaches your kids the game of chess and how to create a winning strategy while also enjoying having his favourite tech on his hands. It looks like a futuristic Minecraft-style 3D chessboard. The focus should be on bringing down the opponents king.

Football Heads 2014 World Cup

For the kids that love football, this is the best to try on. It is a fast and furious skill-based game, as it is a two-minute game where one should outscore the opponent. One should have a great football mind as well as a very developed set of reactions and keyboard tapping skills.

It features all 32 countries that qualified for the real-life World Cup in 2014 so one can choose to be his favourite soccer star. It is a game for kids that love football and want to have a wild football-themed experience. It teaches kids to learn better football and to develop their thinking as one has to predict and think about his opponents’ soccer ball path.

Bubble Struggle 2

This is a funny game about bubble shooting. One needs to destroy the dangerous bubbles, splitting them in smaller ones, and afterwards destroys all without being touched by any of the bubbles. There are various levels at this game with bonuses that one can win.

These fun games come as an addition to outdoor games and other extracurricular activities. Kids will always be excited to try out from the wide variety of 2 player games so there is no need to take this away from them. Maybe you can even try and play a game or two with your kids. Some of them are educative, while some are just mere fun. But fun is good for your kids from time to time as well!

Photo by Jelleke Vanooteghem on Unsplash