Momentum Taekwondo Plus Wants You to Learn More About Martial Arts

It all starts with a desire to accomplish something new or change something you currently do. When we help children with this process, it is important to find out what they wish to achieve...not what we want for them. The goal then needs to be written down and broken up into smaller, short term goals that are set in a certain frame of time. This will keep the momentum going as they begin achieving these quicker objectives and tracking their progress will help them see how much they have improved. Checking in and reevaluating goals throughout the course of it will also help ensure personal success. With success and development in mind, Melody Johnson created the Life SKILLZ program as a supplemental course to the SKILLZ program. Within this, goal setting is one component and students of all ages learn this skill. The best part is that Life SKILLZ are age appropriate because the lessons are broken down by developmental stage. By doing it this way, children learn how to set attainable goals that are realistic for their stage of development. When we help children set goals and apply active learning in the process, it helps them learn responsibility and focus as well as time management skills. For younger children, it is a way to set expectations that they can learn. For older children, it is a way to prompt a more mature understanding of goal setting and they can set longer term goals as well. For any age, however, when goals are accomplished, children’s self-esteem and self-awareness are increased. But keep in mind, throughout this process there will ups and downs. When things don’t go as planned, children may feel frustrated. It is vital that all achievements be celebrated, no matter how small. Remind them that improvements have been made no matter what the outcome is. Make sure that you help your child document all of these small wins by using posters or goal ladders. Whether or not the goal is met in the timeframe originally set, make sure to applaud all effort that your child has shown. Goal setting can be an exciting thing but can also be overwhelming especially for children. When we help them write their goals down and make them into easily attainable small goals, we help them build their confidence. Celebrating their effort and perseverance throughout the process will help them continue to feel motivated. The result will be a life skill that will help them become successful adults.

The first step in doing this is helping children understand what empathy is. Being able to see things from another person’s view can be a challenge, especially the younger the child. The good thing is, we are all born hardwired with the ability to be empathetic. However, it doesn’t just evolve…empathy is developed through experiences and practice. Empathy is an emotional and cognitive experience. As babies, empathy is mirrored as strictly an emotional reaction to a situation. For example, when one baby cries, the one next to it often begins crying as well. This is when mirror neurons in the brain are firing in response to the behavior being observed. The same happens when babies mirror facial expressions even when they are only a few days old. As children get older, they begin to tap into the cognitive side of empathy. This is because their executive functioning skills are more developed. This means that they are better able to understand others’ points of view, regulate their own emotions, and self-monitor. However, it is more natural for children to be selfish than empathetic. This is why it is important to give children experiences that exercise the empathetic muscle throughout childhood and adolescence. Even though children are not instinctively considerate of others, it is important to not dwell on that and, instead, find opportunities to work with them on this. When they exhibit selfish behaviors, parents should empathize with their child and then rephrase the situation to elicit a more empathetic reaction. In behavior therapy, it is called “shaping a new response.” When working on building empathy in children, there are many things parents can do to help. Giving children the opportunity to be part of the decision-making process when choosing an organization to donate to or volunteer for, is a great way to start. This helps them feel excited about giving and they learn generosity. Another important thing is to teach children to be thankful for things they have and the gifts they receive, no matter how small or if it’s not exactly what they wanted. Teaching gratitude helps children learn to appreciate what they have, and therefore helps them understand that not everyone has the same things. But above all, parents being a role model of empathy year-round will help children learn this concept. The holidays are a wonderful time to spend moments fostering empathy in children. By teaching generosity, compassion, and gratitude, children have a better understanding of the true meaning of the holiday season. Making events of generosity a tradition throughout the year will solidify these lessons even further. In turn, we are shaping the next generation to be caring adults.

The holidays should be a time of joy but with all the colorful lights, delicious scents, sweet treats, entertaining sounds, and things to play with, sensory overload is in full effect. Routines are upended and are replaced by parties, errands, and late nights. The magical stuff becomes chaos and children are expected to be on their best behavior. Adults have a hard enough time maintaining their sanity with all of this so why should children be expected to? The anticipation of time off from school, presents, cookies, and more gets children excited. They begin the holiday season with happiness and cheer, but they quickly become exhausted and cranky from the over-stimulation in the environment. Even the most laid-back children get overwhelmed. Handling all of this is even more difficult for younger children and ones that are already challenge by sensory stimuli on a regular basis. The extra stimuli can cause children to be more reactive in situations and behavior issues may result. These behavior issues often arise due to unclear rules, unrealistic expectations, and schedule changes. Parents often assume that because the holiday season is “magical,” their children will automatically behave. Sadly, this is not the case. When children misbehave during the holidays, many parents resort to shouting, threatening to call Santa, or taking presents away. And yes, parents may win but everyone ends up feeling terrible. In order to set children up for success during the holiday season, it is wise to keep some routines in place such as snack times and bedtimes and try to schedule only one holiday event each day. It is also good to let children help with things, so they feel like they are a part of it all. It’s also essential that parents give their children attention in the midst of all the hustle and bustle. One of the best ways to make parenting during the holidays the most successful is by utilizing the eight Parenting SKILLZ that were developed by SKILLZ founder, Melody Johnson. The holidays should be a joyful time of year and to keep things magical, it is vital to maintain some sort of schedule and catch children being good when they are in the middle of all the disorder. Being patient and adaptable and being attuned to children’s needs are just a few of the things for parents to do. Creating meaningful connections and being consistent will help children feel more secure and happy throughout the holiday season.

No matter what type, uniforms give people a sense of unity and helps promote pride in being a part of a larger organization. Loyalty in a group also increases and a feeling of team boosts the morale among everyone involved. Members also feel more confident and enthusiastic because they belong to a group that has the same interests and goals. In the greater scope of things, this cohesiveness also creates brand recognition and consumer trust within the community. In martial arts, wearing a uniform is an important custom and each style has their own traditional attire that represents it. These uniforms are worn in class for training as well as at formal events such as testings, tournaments, and demonstrations. When people are seen in a traditional martial arts uniform, it is recognized that they are a part of some form of the art. There is a sense of unity in their own individual style, but they also feel a sense of belonging to the martial arts world as a whole. And while tradition is important regarding martial arts uniforms, it is a challenge to keep them looking their best when they are worn daily in class. For this reason, SKILLZ martial arts schools offer a supplemental uniform. This pants and t-shirt combination is comfortable as well as functional. This is especially important since SKILLZ drills consist of physical training that involves floor exercises and martial arts movements. It also provides students and parents the flexibility of having options for training. Much like the military, students wear this training-type uniform in class daily. By wearing this class uniform the students can keep their formal, traditional uniforms in tip top condition for official events. Even better is that the t-shirt for this class uniform is specific to each age group so it creates unity among them. And since the SKILLZ ninja is displayed each shirt, this keeps all students in the world-wide SKILLZ organization connected. Uniforms are a great way to create a union among people in an organization and create a consistent appearance. When traditional martial arts uniforms are thought of as a “dress uniform” and are to be worn for special events, it creates a higher sense of appreciation for it. Utilizing a training uniform or “fatigues,” on a daily basis, is a more practical approach, especially in children’s martial arts classes. Having uniforms that are durable, as another option for training time, is a great alternative for students and parents appreciate the simplicity that comes with this.

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Now take a step further into the memories of your childhood and see if you can for just a moment pick out the teacher, coach, role model who had a profound impact on the course of your life. Maybe it was the teacher that saw your gifts and talents that no one else could see. Or the coach that saw your potential and helped you persevere through the challenges before you both on and off the field. Can you picture them? Can you still hear their words of life, love and wisdom speaking over you? Can you still feel the swell of emotion and gratitude within as they stood by your side, encouraged you and helped guide you with a greater purpose than perhaps either of you realized at the time? These precious souls that blessed our lives, these trusted adults who made the purposeful decision to have our back, maybe even when no one else did, are not easily forgotten. Their impact upon our journey has left its unique and beautiful stamp upon our life. And for that, how grateful we all are to have had that special person in our lives! As the world continues to reel amid the ongoing pandemic and the wide ranging impacts it has had upon all of our lives, it goes without saying that we are seeing more and more children, teens and adults struggling with their mental, emotional health and well-being than we could have ever anticipated. These struggles for children and teens especially are only further amplified by the natural, expected processes of growth and development they continue to undergo just as they are meant to. Developmental windows, seasons of increased physical, intellectual and emotional growth are all still occurring simultaneously as changes in school, extracurricular activities and other areas of their lives shift unexpectedly. As Proud Ninja Parents, educators, coaches and role models, we are all called to be: The Supporter The Nurturer The Guide Let this truth really sink in! If it weren’t for the trusted adults throughout the course of your life that took the time and effort to pour a little bit of themselves into you, would you be who you are today? As SKILLZ Certified Instructors and Pediatric Ninja Specialists, we take very seriously the impact we have on the lives of each and every one of our students. When you came to us in our studio that very first day, you saw something in the instructor, felt something in the atmosphere and knew that we were meant to be a part of your child’s and family’s story. And for that we are so very honored and blessed! Being the role model now for the youth that we are blessed to serve, the one’s that we too needed when we were children, takes purposeful practice and focused intention. How do we as SKILLZ Certified Instructors and Pediatric Ninja Specialists step with purpose into our roles of supporter, nurturer and guide? 1. Connection and Attunement: Just as we discuss and encourage through our Parent SKILLZ Program, so too do we professionally practice the necessary elements of Connection; bonding with your child, meeting them where they are at, taking the time and opportunity to learn what makes them uniquely special so that we can be better Attuned to their needs especially when mental, emotional and/or social challenges arise. 2. Collaboration and Education: We are constantly furthering our education in Childhood Development through programs like the SKILLZ Certified Pediatric Ninja Specialist Training provided by SKILLZ Worldwide. In addition, we choose to surround ourselves with fellow colleagues such as educators, social workers and therapists who help to nurture and support our understanding and knowledge base so that we may step with purposeful intention into helping every child we serve physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially. Far beyond the awesome ninja spinning kicks and Superman punches beats the true heart of our mission and purpose; Supporting, nurturing and guiding today’s youth. We strive every day to be the role model your child needs us to be! Because no child or parent should ever walk through their incredible life’s journey alone. We are honored to walk alongside you and your child, teaching with great, intentional purpose, on and beyond the mats!

It’s no doubt our world has changed, and our lifestyles are more hectic and fast-paced than ever before. Coupled with the failures, peer problems, disappointments, etc., that children run into along the way, it makes it hard for parents to sit on the sidelines and just let things happen. And often, parents feel a sense of guilt for not having more time with their children, so doing more gives them a sense of relief and creates what they think is a moment of connection with their child. However, when children do not have to face everyday life challenges and are not given opportunities to learn daily life skills, they will be forced to depend on their parents even into adulthood. Dr. Mel Levine, author of “Ready or Not, Here Life Comes,” refers to this as the gateway to “work-life unreadiness.” To find the right balance , parents should consider their child’s stage of development, individual maturity, and situation. While responsible parenting involves providing all the necessities and love to children, it doesn’t mean doing everything for them. As children grow and develop, practicing newfound abilities will allow them to get better at daily tasks while also learning new life skills to build their confidence . Taking time to teach children life skills, such as tying their shoes, doing laundry, or communicating their feelings, while guiding them through the process will foster more independence and resourcefulness and strengthen the parent-child bond. In the SKILLZ Child Development Program, the Certified Pediatric Ninja Specialists provide a safe and supportive environment for fostering autonomy. By utilizing Teaching SKILLZ techniques such as “choices” and “intrinsic motivation,” instructors provide opportunities for children to make their own decisions, which gives them a sense of pride and builds their confidence. And when something doesn’t go as planned, instructors are there to help them get back on track. The Parent SKILLZ curriculum also provides parents with methods to implement in everyday parenting that allows for time for connection while also building life skills at home that are necessary for a successful future. Parenting should always involve love and support, but understanding that this also involves allowing children to tackle the “firsts” of life at the developmentally appropriate age is essential. The constant process of finding the right balance of caring for and protecting children while allowing for the achievement of necessary life skills is vital. Supportive parenting should always move children closer to independence and stability to navigate the world solo and prepare them for adulthood.

These game-based drills are designed to help kids develop cognitive, social, and physical skills that will help them in school and in life. They focus on problem-solving, critical thinking, and team building. Through these drills, kids learn to analyze their options, solve problems, and think creatively. But don't just take our word for it! Numerous studies have shown that game-based drills are extremely effective in helping children learn and develop. In one study, researchers found that children who participated in game-based drills showed significantly higher levels of problem-solving and cognitive skills than those who did not. Another benefit of game-based drills is that they provide an opportunity for kids to have fun while learning. Kids can work together to solve problems, practice skills, and build relationships with their peers. By making learning fun, kids are more likely to stay engaged and interested in the process. Game-based drills can also help parents and teachers to keep kids motivated and on track. When kids are having fun, they are more likely to stay focused and be more productive. This can result in better grades and improved academic performance. So, if you're looking for a way to make learning fun and engaging for your kids, game-based drills are the way to go. Not only are they effective in helping kids develop important skills, but they also provide an opportunity for kids to have fun while learning.

Competition can be fun and exhilarating, especially if you are on the winning side. This drive to compete and win is very strong in our society in every age group and industry. When children are involved in competitive events, it can teach them goal setting techniques as well as how to deal with the frustrations that can come along with losing. Competition also helps children learn to take turns and support their teammates. On the flip side, some parents are often concerned that competition will lead to more stress and anxiety in their children because the push to win is so strong. When loss comes along, it can develop lower self-esteem in children and can make them feel that they don’t have what it takes. Therefore, parents often feel that competition is more destructive to their child then beneficial. While both views of competition are valid, it is important that we find a balance for children where they can develop a healthy competitive spirit while maintaining a strong self-image. While this can sound like a difficult balance, it is actually very easy to attain. The key is to work with children on developing a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset. Carol Dweck, first introduced this concept in her book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.” Dweck stated that when people feel they have traits that cannot be changed, they have a fixed mindset and have a need to prove themselves continuously through competition. People with a growth mindset believe that they can improve on their current abilities and add new skills through time and effort. So how do we teach children this? One of the best ways is by creating an environment that develops both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. Extrinsic motivation is a reward driven behavior. A child can earn a reward or trophy by exhibiting certain actions. Intrinsic motivation comes from a wanting achieve a goal and feeling satisfied with yourself for attaining it. Both of these are important in developing a healthy competitive mindset. Martial arts is a great way for children to learn a balance of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. They can earn new belt levels by exhibiting certain techniques with accuracy but since it is more of an individualized sport, they learn to set goals for themselves and feel proud for improving their skill set. The instructors in the SKILLZ program utilize both types of motivation as teaching skills for each class. That way students are motivated to earn external rewards such as stripes and belts but they also learn to feel internally proud for getting better than they were before. As children develop it is important that we maximize their potential by helping them set different types of goals and learn important lessons along the way. While competing against others is a great way for children to evaluate their skills against another person, the ultimate goal should be to improve their personal skill level. Success isn’t always about winning. Helping children become better than they were before will help them become internally driven and create a growth mindset.