August 2002

Newsletter

 

Martial Arts Can Help Young Children Interact with Others

by Joseph Galea

When children enter the world, they are 100 percent dependent upon their relationships with their immediate families for all their needs. As they age, they begin to expand their relationships to others. Martial arts can provide a pivotal advantage for any young child during this critical developmental stage.

According to Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D., an internationally recognized authority on children in crisis, “Affiliation has its roots in attachment (the ability to form and maintain healthy emotional relationships) and in the capacity to control one’s frustration and anxiety. Without these two strengths, no child can begin to form and regulate the relationships with others necessary to develop affiliation skills.”

The primary benefit of martial arts training for young people is geared around the emotional and mental development of the child. By the time your child has mastered even the most basic physical skills, he or she has most likely also mastered many forms of class etiquette and group interaction. Perry also states, “Children must learn how to join in, communicate, listen, negotiate, compromise, and share.”

Parents, we’re doing our part in the classroom. Here’s how you can help promote affiliation:

1. Give your child social opportunities that match his or her level of development. Once your child has mastered parallel play, she is ready for interactive play with a peer. When she can share, introduce games in which three children play.

2. Don’t micromanage your child’s play. If your child invites a friend over and they end up in different rooms doing solitary things, don’t worry. Both children will enjoy the playtime best if they aren’t forced.

3. Keep expectations ageappropriate. Young children are not capable of complex affiliation skills. When your child can begin to invite friends over, make these first visits short and positive; it’s better to end a good visit early than have children burn out on each other.

4. Provide chances to practice social skills. Home life offers many opportunities to share, negotiate, compromise, and listen – all of which your child will need to do when he spends time with other children.

5. If your child is shy or immature gradually encourage social play. Start slow and give your child plenty of opportunities to interact with other children in a safe and predictable setting.

Source: Scholastic Parent & Child, February/March 2002.

 

personalProfiles

Why I Practice at Home

By Seana Thomason, Age 10

I practice at home because it makes my technique better. I do it because my instructor told me that I’m not just trying to become better at the martial arts, but that I’m learning how to learn. Whenever I practice with concentration, I’m training my mind to be stronger and to learn faster. Since I have been practicing at home, which I do for about 20 minutes every day, I think I have become better at a lot of things. If you’re a martial arts student, you should practice at home, too!

 

There are 168 hours in every week. With just two of those hours, we can increase your child’s ability to concentrate, focus on the positive, and say no to unhealthy peer pressure at school. Our classes focus on self-defense and how to improve relationships with teachers and classmates. When children practice the martial arts they come away with a lifetime’s worth of success skills.

Call us today for info.