What is the value of Martial Arts training for children?
By Clare Williams. As featured on PedroBernardy.com.
The intrinsic value of martial arts training for children is that it is fun! If you want to teach children you must first capture and hold their attention. The extrinsic value of martial arts training is the positive influence it has on the physical, moral and emotional development of the child. Parents may enroll a child because of a learning disability or a discipline problem. Self discipline and concentration are key to success in the martial arts, as in life. A system of rules and accountability allow the child’s character to develop. While he is learning blocks, kicks, strikes and safety tips, he is also interacting with adults and his peers, learning focus, self awareness, respect, responsibility, kindness, diligence and perseverance. Increased self esteem is a clear benefit of martial arts training. This child may also serve as a role model for his younger siblings.
Respect for the tradition and discipline of martial arts and respect for their teachers and their peers is inherent in the rules of etiquette. The bow is done as a sign of respect. Children must address their instructors and their peers with respect. They await commands and perform moves when told to do so. Self respect comes with the attainment of clearly defined goals which leads to continuous improvement.
Responsibility comes from doing what one is called upon to do–showing up on time, focusing, being kind, helpful and respectful toward others and practicing diligently. Self awareness comes from mindful practice. Perseverance comes from performing a move until it is perfected. A sense of purpose and belonging comes from being part of a school where the tradition is practiced and passed on and the comradery of sharing that experience with their peers.
Parental involvement is a crucial element for success. Full parental support is achieved with clear communication and inviting parental participation in helping children achieve. The overarching aim of martial arts training is to build self esteem and help each child reach their full potential.
The child strives to become good, better and then the best that he/she can be. The competition is with oneself. The comparison is who they have been, who they are now and who they are striving to be in the future, in martial arts and in life. Martial arts can inspire confidence, foster self esteem, develop character and improve motor skills. A child may join as a discipline problem and grow to love martial arts. Perhaps only in later years will they appreciate the life skills they have gained as a result of martial arts training. And they learned to punch and kick too!
Great insight into the true value of Martial Arts training for children!
Making our community healthier & safer, one family at a time.
The Village Shopping Center, 1260 Springfield Ave., New Providence, NJ 07974
Proud to offer Martial Arts, Family Safety Strategies, Personal Improvement and Nutritional guidance to individuals and families in New Providence NJ, Berkeley Heights NJ, Chatham NJ, Stirling NJ, Gillette NJ, Summit NJ, Springfield NJ, Union County NJ, Morris County NJ and all surrounding areas.
This article was originally featured on the New Providence Patch. You can view it here: New Providence Patch
We’re going to shift gears a bit this week and talk about a subject that every parent will deal with at some point: How to keep your child from quitting. To be clear, this is not a discussion about “if” or “when” it’s okay for a child to quit a sport or activity. Obviously, there are many factors that go into that type of decision and it is far beyond the scope of our blog this week. Instead, we are going to focus on keeping children involved in activities that their parents see value in.
Over the years I’ve had many parents say, “You have a great deal of success with kids sticking with your program. How can I get my child to stick with soccer, baseball, piano, etc.?” Throughout my last 17 years of teaching children, I have seen some common threads in the kids that stick with things. Interestingly, it’s not the kids as much as it is the parents and their actions that make the biggest difference. After all, if given a choice, most kids would quit school, stop eating their vegetables, quit doing their homework, and probably avoid brushing their teeth, too.
Children, especially younger ones, have not yet developed the reasoning skills to understand that there are “peaks and valleys” in motivation and excitement. Their understanding of the value of perseverance is a little cloudy as well. Children are also not capable of fully understanding commitment (this is why children under the age of 18 can’t enter into legal agreements). In fact, medical science has concluded that it is not until age 25 that certain areas of the brain are completely developed! As such, we cannot fault youngsters for wanting to quit things. What we can do is try our best to help children develop successful habits and strong character through participation in activities and programs we know to be in their best interest.
Here are 6 ways to keep your kids involved…
1. Don’t make quitting an option. Avoid saying things to your child such as, “I hope you stick with this,” or “You’d better not quit.” Kids know their parents would never allow them to quit going to school, eating their vegetables, or brushing their teeth. Create a similar situation by removing the option to drop out of other important activities. I was less than a year into my training when I wanted to quit doing martial arts. Luckily, my parents didn’t make that an option. Throughout the last 17 years, I’ve positively impacted thousands of lives through the values and benefits of martial arts. That wouldn’t have been possible if my parents had allowed me to discontinue my training.
2. Be aware that children are “present-focused.” Said another way, a child may be swimming and not want to get out of the pool to go to her dance class. That doesn’t mean she has lost interest in dance, it is simply a present mind focus that she is more interested in swimming at that moment. If she was in a consistent and structured swimming program, there may also be times that she doesn’t want to get in the car and go swimming.
3. Don’t allow your child to bargain or make the rules. Never make deals like, “You can skip your music lesson this Thursday, but you’re going twice next week.” If you allow your youngster to dictate if and when they’re attending music lessons, it’s only a matter of time before they decide they’re not going anymore. Also, be sure to stay consistent. Kids are extremely routine oriented. Set a routine and stick to it!
4. Don’t give up, team up! The first time your child says, “I don’t want to go to gymnastics, piano, karate, etc.,” you need to let their instructor know. Some parents feel awkward about this. Don’t be afraid of offending the coach, teacher, or instructor. It is critical to work together to address whatever the issue is and work toward a solution together. Remember, “Don’t give up, team up!”
5. Don’t “take a break.” This one is really important in non-seasonal activities such as dance, gymnastics, piano, and martial arts. A lot of parents will allow their children to “take a break” for the summer or sometimes as punishment for bad grades or behavior. Statistically, about 97% of children who take a break will NOT return to the activity. Once you and your child are out of the routine of attending the activity and they are no longer actively involved, it’s extremely difficult to get back on track.
6. Never talk about money or inconvenience. It’s never a good idea to say something like, “You’d better be darn sure you want to play hockey again this season. I’m not about to spend $300 on skates, sticks, and pads then spend my Saturday morning at the rink if you’re not 100% into this sport!” Believe it or not, your children want nothing more than to please you and receive positive feedback. If you give them the feeling that playing hockey is selfish and creating a financial burden on the family, they will tell you they want to quit because they know it pleases you.
There you have it, six quick actions you can take to help your youngster stick with any activity that you feel is valuable and important for their development.
Making our community healthier & safer, one family at a time.
The Village Shopping Center, 1260 Springfield Ave., New Providence, NJ 07974
Proud to offer Martial Arts, Family Safety Strategies, Personal Improvement and Nutritional guidance to individuals and families in New Providence NJ, Berkeley Heights NJ, Chatham NJ, Stirling NJ, Gillette NJ, Summit NJ, Springfield NJ, Union County NJ, Morris County NJ and all surrounding areas.
Making our community healthier & safer, one family at a time.
The Village Shopping Center, 1260 Springfield Ave., New Providence, NJ 07974
Proud to offer Martial Arts, Family Safety Strategies, Personal Improvement and Nutritional guidance to individuals and families in New Providence NJ, Berkeley Heights NJ, Chatham NJ, Stirling NJ, Gillette NJ, Summit NJ, Springfield NJ, Union County NJ, Morris County NJ and all surrounding areas.
Making our community healthier & safer, one family at a time.
The Village Shopping Center, 1260 Springfield Ave., New Providence, NJ 07974
Proud to offer Martial Arts, Family Safety Strategies, Personal Improvement and Nutritional guidance to individuals and families in New Providence NJ, Berkeley Heights NJ, Chatham NJ, Stirling NJ, Gillette NJ, Summit NJ, Springfield NJ, Union County NJ, Morris County NJ and all surrounding areas.
1) Successful parents don’t expect perfection either from themselves or their children.
Parenting is an art, not a science. Successful parents understand that, like themselves, their children aren’t perfect either. This frees them to love their children unreservedly.
2) Successful parents don’t fear occasional failures.
They understand that mistakes are a normal, even healthy, part of parenting. They make the best decisions they can and when they’re wrong, they learn from their mistakes and try to do better the next time.
3) Successful parents don’t expect to have smooth sailing.
Children have their own opinions, personalities and preferences. Inevitably, they cause us to say “Where did THAT come from?” or “What WERE you thinking?” Our responsibility to provide them with limits and guidance will sometimes clash with their growing desire for independence. Successful parents aren’t surprised by them; they expect them. But successful parents understand that their responsibility to their children is not to always please them or make them happy – it’s to make the hard decisions that will be for their best in the long run.
4) Successful parents don’t go it alone.
Successful parenting means trusting yourself, but not being a Lone Ranger. No one has the experience or answers to every parenting challenge. But each of us has some of the answers and, together, we’ve got them all. So successful parents aren’t reluctant to seek out the wisdom of others. They know that, at the end of the day, the decision is theirs, but before they get there, there is plenty of wisdom along the way waiting to help them.
5) Successful parents try harder.
They face the same pressures we all do – demanding jobs, spouses and children who need them. But they live by this rule: “You get back what you put in.” They have a clear sense of priority for their family and are willing to put in the time to achieve it. They give more than the “average parent” so their children will be more than just “average children.” These parents work at nurturing and developing themselves to be the best parents they can be.
6) Successful parents enjoy being parents.
They enjoy parenting not because it’s easy or instantly rewarding, but because of the sheer joy and privilege of cooperating with God in shaping another unique and precious life. Any parent of grown children will tell you “they grow up so quickly.” Successful parents remind themselves of that and try to savor every day with their children. They immerse themselves in their children as much as possible and just enjoy them – even the days of dirty diapers, illness and disappointments. They don’t just LOVE their children, they LIKE them and look forward to spending time with them.
7) Successful parents strive to be the person they want their children to become.
There are no formulas for parents. You can’t just “program” children like a computer and be guaranteed of the result. But children are great observers and imitators. They watch, listen and absorb values and habits from the people who have the greatest influence on them – their parents. So successful parents resolve that they will set the best example they can for their children.
Making our community healthier & safer, one family at a time.
The Village Shopping Center, 1260 Springfield Ave., New Providence, NJ 07974
Proud to offer Martial Arts, Family Safety Strategies, Personal Improvement and Nutritional guidance to individuals and families in New Providence NJ, Berkeley Heights NJ, Chatham NJ, Stirling NJ, Gillette NJ, Summit NJ, Springfield NJ, Union County NJ, Morris County NJ and all surrounding areas.
The Village Shopping Center, 1260 Springfield Ave., New Providence, NJ 07974
Proud to offer Martial Arts, Family Safety Strategies, Personal Improvement and Nutritional guidance to individuals and families in New Providence NJ, Berkeley Heights NJ, Chatham NJ, Stirling NJ, Gillette NJ, Summit NJ, Springfield NJ, Union County NJ, Morris County NJ and all surrounding areas.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOUR CHILD Tips for parents to help their children stay safe
Safety at Home
Children should know their full name, home phone number and how to use the telephone. Post your contact information where your children will see it: office phone number, cell phone, pager, etc.
Children should have a trusted adult to call if they’re scared or have an emergency.
Choose babysitters with care. Obtain references from family, friends, and neighbors. Once you have chosen the caregiver, drop in unexpectedly to see how your children are doing. Ask your children how the experience with the caregiver was, and listen carefully to their responses.
Safety in the Neighborhood
Make a list with your children of their neighborhood boundaries, choosing significant landmarks.
Interact regularly with your neighbors. Tell your children whose homes they are allowed to visit.
Don’t drop your children off alone at malls, movie theatres, video arcades, or parks.
Teach your children that adults should not approach children for help or directions. Tell your children that if they are approached by an adult, they should stay alert because this may be a “trick.”
Never leave children unattended in an automobile. Children should never hitchhike or approach a car when they don’t know and trust the driver.
Children should never go anywhere with anyone without getting your permission first.
Safety at School
Be careful when you put your child’s name on clothing, backpacks, lunch boxes or bicycle license plates. If a child’s name is visible, it may put them on a “first name” basis with an abductor.
Walk the route to and from school with your children, pointing out landmarks and safe places to go if they’re being followed or need help. Make a map with your children showing acceptable routes to school, using main roads and avoiding shortcuts or isolated areas. If your children take a bus, visit the bus stop with them and make sure they know which bus to take.
Compiled by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
The Village Shopping Center, 1260 Springfield Ave., New Providence, NJ 07974
Proud to offer Martial Arts, Family Safety Strategies, Personal Improvement and Nutritional guidance to individuals and families in New Providence NJ, Berkeley Heights NJ, Chatham NJ, Stirling NJ, Gillette NJ, Summit NJ, Springfield NJ, Union County NJ, Morris County NJ and all surrounding areas.
Courtesy of Martial Arts for Life of New Providence, NJ
1. Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that cosumes are short enough to prevent tripping or entanglement.
2. Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility.
3. Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives. Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.
4. Avoid candy that has loose wrappings, is unwrapped, has puncture holes, or is homemade.
5. Stay on the sidewalks and out of the streets. Cross only at intersections and designated crosswalks.
6. A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds. If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.
7. Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
8. Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean others will!
9. Plan a route and stick to it. Trick or treat only at houses that are well-lit.
10. Don’t eat any treats until a responsible adult has inspected them.
Tips complied by American Academy of Pediatrics, Halloween Web, & CSPC.
Martial Arts for Life
Making our community safer, one family at a time.
The Village Shopping Center, 1260 Springfield Ave., New Providence, NJ 07974
Proud to offer Martial Arts, Family Safety Strategies, Personal Improvement and Nutritional guidance to individuals and families in New Providence NJ, Berkeley Heights NJ, Chatham NJ, Stirling NJ, Gillette NJ, Summit NJ, Springfield NJ, Union County NJ, Morris County NJ and all surrounding areas.
P.S. Visit our website at http://www.BeginKarate.com to learn more about our Academy and our programs.
When parents talk about school safety these days, they’re usually referring to the surge in violence at schools. But research shows that school-age children are actually nine times more likely to sustain an unintentional injury – whether on the playground or in school – than to be the victim of violence while at school. In fact, an estimated 2.2 million children ages 14 and under are injured in school-related accidents each year, according to the National SAFE KIDS Campign.
Accidents can be prevented if parents are on the lookout for potential hazards. To help you keep your kids free from harm, here are some safety tips from SAFE KIDS, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
1. Plan a walking route to school or the bus stop. Choose the most direct way with the fewest street crossings and, if possible, with intersections that have crossing guards.
2. Walk the route with your child beforehand. Tell him or her to stay away from parks, vacant lots, fields and other places where there aren’t many people around.
3. Teach your children never to talk to strangers or accept rides of gifts from strangers. Remember, a stranger is anyone you or your children don’t know well or don’t trust.
4. Be sure your child walks to and from school with a sibling, friend, or neighbor.
5. Teach your kids – whether walking, biking, or riding the bus to school – to obey all traffic signals, signs and traffic officers. Remind them to be extra careful in bad weather.
6. When driving kids, deliver and pick them up as close to the school as possible. Don’t leave until they are in the schoolyard or building.
7. If your child bikes to school, make sure he wears a helmet that meets one of the safety standards (U.S. CPSC, Snell, ANSI, ASTM or Canadian). Research indicates that a helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by up to 85 percent.
8. Teach children to arrive at the bus stop early, stay out of the street, wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before approaching the street, watch for cars and avoid the driver’s blind spot.
9. Tell your child not to bend down in front of the bus to tie shoes or pick up objects, as the driver may not see him before starting to move.
10. Be sure that your child knows his or her home phone number and address, your work number, the number of another trusted adult and how to call 911 for emergencies. Knowing location and type of emergency is extremely important when dialing 911 from a cell phone.
Martial Arts for Life
Making our community safer, one family at a time.
The Village Shopping Center, 1260 Springfield Ave., New Providence, NJ 07974
Proud to offer Martial Arts, Family Safety Strategies, Personal Improvement and Nutritional guidance to individuals and families in New Providence NJ, Berkeley Heights NJ, Chatham NJ, Stirling NJ, Gillette NJ, Summit NJ, Springfield NJ, Union County NJ, Morris County NJ and all surrounding areas.
P.S. Visit our website at http://www.BeginKarate.com to learn more about our Academy and our programs.
- Americans are twice as likely to be assaulted, robbed at gun point or abducted as they are to be seriously injured in a car accident.
- 52% of all burglaries occur during daylight hours, 67% involve forcible entry and 2 out of 3 are residential.
– Our training in advance and our value and belief systems will be critical to our survival in an assault. Scenario training with your family, particularly for women and children, will likely mean the difference between survival and disaster.
PERSONAL PROTECTION AT YOUR HOME
Is your family prepared for a home invasion?
Consider home invasion from the criminal’s perspective – easy approach and access, limited or no security, privacy from view and traffic, multiple entrances and escape routes, untrained defenders in most cases and, valuables are typically in plain sight.
Home invasions are accomplished as an ambush, typically with two or more assailants.
Your response time in a home invasion is typically less than five seconds.
Consider the entrance, approach and access to your home from the criminal’s perspective. What is your daily routine? Can a criminal plan around it? Can you be observed approaching or entering your home at the same time most days? Plan in advance scenarios that would cause you to not enter your home if something looks suspicious. Stick to your rules.
Never answer the door to someone you have not called to your home. Never allow children to answer the door without you present. Consider lures that would cause you to open your door – uniformed police, delivery uniform, sounds of a baby crying. Don’t be lured into opening your door under any circumstance.
Develop a prearranged plan with your family for response to a break-in. Consider contingency plan for different break-in scenarios (night, day, people in different areas of the home, multiple intruders). Under no circumstances should you conduct a search for an intruder. Even for a trained professional, searching for a potentially armed intruder entails great risk. Charge your cell phone in your safe room each night. Keep spare keys and a police style flashlight or firearm/ammo in your safe room.
Teach This to Every Person in Your Family 911 Call Info – full name, address or cross streets where you are, why you need help, leave phone connected.
Information sources – FBI Uniform Crime Reports, U.S. Department of Justice, National Center For Lost and Exploited Children, John Hopkins University, NRA Eddie Eagle Program, Warrior Personal Safety Training Systems and the U.S. Department of Health.
Martial Arts for Life
Making our community safer, one family at a time.
The Village Shopping Center, 1260 Springfield Ave., New Providence, NJ 07974
Proud to offer Martial Arts, Family Safety Strategies, Personal Improvement and Nutritional guidance to individuals and families in New Providence NJ, Berkeley Heights NJ, Chatham NJ, Stirling NJ, Gillette NJ, Summit NJ, Springfield NJ, Union County NJ, Morris County NJ and all surrounding areas.
P.S. Visit our website at http://www.BeginKarate.com to learn more about our Academy and our programs.
Posted by NewProvidenceKarate 
