Tag: kids

Why it Is Important to Teach Manners at the Youngest of Ages

Posted on | by Jason

We have all heard and said simple phrases like “thank you” or “please” hundreds of times in our lives. Parents ensure that their children say these phrases at appropriate times to instill the habit, making courtesy a a natural approach and response. While kind language shows ‘good manners’ in people, few actually question what the use of ‘good manners’ actually do. The truth is that these words are not ‘empty phrases’ we use in social interaction. The actual worth of speech and behavior that exhibit proper manners is much greater.

Manners Teach Respect

At the root of courteous speech lives a sense of respect, comprehension of the ‘golden rule’. Making a habit of saying and doing polite things that show humility and gratitude naturally helps build respect for and from the people around you – and for yourself as well. Basic respect begins with acknowledging and accepting differences between people and knowing yourself as part of a community. A deeper understanding of respect is needed for maximum benefit, but the concept can be quite difficult to isolate and teach. Some lessons can be taught very well to small groups in the classroom or training facility, but genuine respect is something that each child ultimately learns through his or her experiences.

A well-mannered child, adolescent, or teen automatically implies a good upbringing – a person raised with the blessing of caring, respectable parents, perhaps a person who is trustworthy. But the benefits of good manners actually go far beyond that. Developing good manners in a child can go a long way toward ensuring a secure future for them. Good manners can make or break an opportunity, whether in their educational and career pursuits or important interpersonal relationships throughout their lives. Manners help formulate a positive outlook in children and adults that is often admired and reciprocated.

Manners and Society

While manners are certainly important to a child, a well-mannered child can have a significant impact on the reputation of the parents and family as well. Whether we like it or not, building a good reputation among your co-workers, peer groups, and society in general is vital to enjoying a healthy lifestyle with economic and social growth.

At the end of the day, all parents have a duty to educate their children on the importance and value of courtesy. For a child to begin to learn the value of good manners, he or she has to understand ‘why’ he or she is being instructed and reminded to say and do the mannerly things. Courtesy and discipline are often practiced in age-appropriate karate classes, which many parents find helps instill this valuable trait, behavior, and outlook in their children. Raising well-
mannered children helps them to become successful, honorable, and valued members of society in the future.

Reality-Based Self-Defense for Kids

Posted on | by Jason

Protecting yourself and your children is not always an easy task in the world today. Since we can’t physically protect them 24/7, it is imperative that we teach them to defend themselves. Children face a wide variety of dangers in society today, from bullies to all kinds of predators. Teaching your children self-defense isn’t just about punching and kicking their way through deadly situations. It has more to do with being confident, alert, and aware in all kins of situations and surroundings.

Basic self-defense tips

  • The first step to teaching your children about self-defense is elevating their self- confidence and self-esteem. Studies have shown that children who exhibit confident body language tend to be bullied or picked on less than children who might seem shy or scared. Good posture, an assertive stance, and a positive outlook provide children with a certain sense of control.
  • Teach your children that it isn’t always necessary to use their fists. Talking in either a humorous or an assertive manner should always be the first approach, especially when dealing with bullies. The fights we win are the ones that never happen. In situations concerning predators or abductors, teach your children to identify safe spots where they can run to and to attract attention by shouting or screaming.
  • Though some might discourage this, there is no doubt that providing your child with a cellphone can be very helpful. Cellphones are convenient and can help your children get in touch with you immediately if they feel threatened.
  • An exit strategy is better than facing a situation head on. Because of their smaller and weaker statures, children are more vulnerable than adults. Theerefore teaching your children to avoid a dangerous situation is better than asking them to confront it. Some situations might be too overwhelming for children to do anything about, so it’s better for them learn how to escape those situations before they take a turn for the worse.

Karate as self-defense

One of the best ways to teach your children about self-defense is to enroll them for
martial arts training such as karate. Apart from teaching children to defend themselves, karate can help them become more confident and disciplined. Karate uses a reality-based defense approach where your children will not just learn to fight but will also learn conflict resolution, self-control, and patience. Karate is a good way to learn more defensive techniques rather than offensive ones so that your children can protect themselves without physically hurting anyone.

Martial Arts Help Keep Kids Safe

Posted on | by Jason

Their children’s safety remains for most parents a top level concern and consideration. We live in a perilous world where children are easy prey. Since we can’t be there for our children all the time, it is necessary we teach them everything they need to know about protecting themselves. Studies have indicated that children are at a higher risk from people they know than they are from strangers. Consequently, it is essential to have clear safety guidelines to help your children protect themselves from strangers and known people alike.

Communicate with children

Communication is a very important tool when it comes to the safety of children. Countless incidents have been ignored and missed in the past only because parents did not take the time engage and listen to their children. Children are young, naive, and unaware, which makes them susceptible to being lead astray. They often don’t understand what’s wrong and what’s right. Talk about feelings and events that a child experiences with him or her. There is much security to gained just knowing that you’re always available for them and they can trust you for everything.

Another important aspect of child safety is to not scare your children. Teaching your children to be suspicous about everyone and everything will only make them paranoid. The last thing you want is a scared, timid child with no self-confidence or interpersonal skills. Instead, teach them to differentiate between good and bad. Tell them that not all strangers are bad, not all friends are really good.

Teach them cues and signs that might indicate whether a peer, sibling, or adult is actually trying to harm or help them. Tell your children that it isn’t usually good if someone asks them to do things such as keep secrets or disobey their parents, especially when that person happens to be an adult. Point out safe places and safe people that they can run to in times of danger. Before you point out such places and people, check them out for yourselves first of course. Make sure that you too can trust them with your most valued blessings!

Karate keeps kids safe

Enrolling your children in a year-round, professionally structured activity that builds safety preparedness, awareness, self-defense ability, and self-confidence empowers them to survive and thrive in a competitive, unfriendly world. It also provides a healthy outlet for energy, stress relief, with diverse skill and character building benefits as well. Students and parents also tend to form a karate community, so kids interact with a peer group they can trust and rely on in times of trouble. The discipline involved in learning karate can train your child to be alert and observant at all times. And of course, the blocks, strikes, and kicks he or she learns to execute with power could really come in handy when it really matters!

Karate Class Structure Promotes Self-Discipline in Kids

Posted on | by Jason

Every child needs a certain amount of structure and routine in his or her life to feel fundamentally secure and confident. Lacking structure is detrimental to his or her growth. Structured activities encourage them to follow a lifestyle of discipline. A well-structured environment for children enables parents to create an atmosphere of authority and respect.

When we provide a structured environment for our children, we’re basically allowing them to figure out how the world works. They learn how to deal with failures and disappointments, as well as their powers and limitations. It gives them an opportunity to adopt skills and develop positive traits and habits that will be very useful to them in the long run.

How to provide a structured environment

The basic component of a structured environment is discipline. Expectations are clear. Misbehavior has consequences. Goals are set and met. Routine and order are upheld. Clearly, younger children require much more direct guidance than older ones. As a parent, it is your responsibility to decide how your child spends his or her time, and to arrange for his or her participation in wholesome learning activities. The earlier they learn to control themselves, obey rules, and show integrity and good manners, the stronger the results will be from their self-discipline becomes as they mature and set higher goals. Freedom and trust can be earned and re-earned gradually as they progress in maturity, stature, awareness, and responsibility.

Introducing a routine into your child’s life can help him or her become more disciplined and give them the ability to face challenges as they grow older. Change is an inevitable part of life and children experience many changes throughout their childhood. A fixed routine can give them a sense of comfort, predictability, and security. Once they master a particular routine, they can go on to try more challenging ones.

Karate as a structured environment

Karate is an excellent way to introduce a little structure into your child’s life. Karate is a highly disciplined art form that teaches students of all ages, especially kids, to control their focus at all times. Karate classes teach your children to respect authority, understand the risks and consequences of disobedience, and the importance of sticking to a routine. Karate follows strict rules concerning authority that are similar to the military. Your child will be taught to follow the teacher’s demonstrative instructions, and practice each move with sincerity until it can be replicated independently. This kind of self-discipline repeated over and over is value that will truly be beneficial to them in the long run. Karate teaches children that a disciplined approach is the only way to overcome challenges and limitations.