Category: Parent Tips

As parents, we want what’s best for our children, and we also want our children to give it their best when they participate in extra-curricular sports and activities. The problem is, we sometimes get caught up in our desire to see our children perform well and we speak up at the wrong times. With that said, […]

When it comes to parenting, it is important to parent with ADAPTABILITY. This includes avoiding the mindset that there is a ‘one-size-fits-all’ technique that applies to every behavioral situation. So, what does it mean to parent with ADAPATBILITY? It means to parent based on the situation at hand and your child’s temperament and current mood. […]

Children’s challenging behaviors have long been the focus of adults’ pessimistic viewpoint of characteristics that don’t fit the mold of societal expectations. This rigid “deficit thinking” causes parents to complain about their child’s qualities and make them try to “fix” what is wrong or make excuses as to why they can’t do certain things. However, […]

Parents are an essential element to their child’s success in anything. The enthusiasm and support, or lack thereof, of a parent can make or break a child’s accomplishments. In martial arts, it is even more essential that parents be involved as part of the teaching team since our programs applies child development and character development. […]

Tuning into Teens’ Emotional Shifts As we approach the one-year mark of an ever-strong pandemic that has rocked our world, we are searching for ways to keep ourselves mentally and emotionally in check. For teens, this has been an even more difficult feat. Adolescence is already fraught with stress and moodiness but adding in the […]

Do you ever feel like you can read your child’s mind?  You know what they are going to do or say next because they have had the same reaction before?  This is attunement.  Improving your attunement skills will allow you to create a more patient and understanding relationship with your child. Modify Your Child’s Behavior: […]

Quick Ways to Calm an Emotional Flood As we know, children can lose control of their emotions for various reasons, and the behaviors we witness are generally unplanned. And since anxiety can look like defiance, adults often respond in counterproductive ways. When children are stressed, the amygdala, in the downstairs brain, is triggered, and the […]

Influencing Genes for Success Is it nature, is it nurture? That is the question. This age-old debate, in the world of psychology, has been a source of controversy for decades. At some point, all parents have toyed with thoughts of which one has most influenced their child concerning personality traits, abilities, etc. And while different […]

One of the most important things that you can do as a parent is establish a connection with your child.  In fact, children need connection more than anything else. Here are a few ways that you can begin to build a great connection with your child: Daily Interactions: Make one-on-one connections with your child. Instead […]

Your child needs to know that no matter what happens, you are always going to be a consistent parent.  Maintaining consistency means that you are going to be patient, connected, adaptable, and edutaining with your child all the time so your child knows what to expect from you and you know what to expect from them. Here are some pointers on […]

Adaptability is about how you respond to your child, especially when things do not go as planned.  Your child will have a variety of great days, bad days, and everything in between. Here are a few ways you can apply adaptability to your parenting and keep your child motivated:     Intrinsic Motivation:   Choices  What do you do if your child does […]

Being a nurturing parent means adjusting your child’s behaviors, not trying to change them. In other words, change the behavior, not the child.     Let them Know that Mistakes are Okay    I get excited when my son makes a mistake because it gives me the opportunity to teach him, which is what parenting is […]

Be the parent your child needs you to be. They need you to be in their world. That means interacting and playing with them on their level to prompt them through the tasks and chores they don’t want to do.  Here are some tips and examples on using effectively using edutainment with your child.    Practice Healthy Competition     The child brain loves novelty. That is why […]

How can you set your child up for daily success?  One of the most effective ways to do this is to focus on prompting instead of punishment.  Here’s what you need about prompting your child toward good behavior and decisions:    Friendly Competition  One of the ways to prompt your child toward good behavior is to create a simple competition […]

Take a few extra seconds when responding to poor behavior.  This demonstrates compassion, empathy, and self-control on your part.  Sometimes all you need to do is think about responding in the most patient manner to help re-direct your child.  A few seconds can make a big difference.     Ask, Listen, Explain  Patience helps you to establish better solutions for difficult […]

Do you ever feel like you can read your child’s mind?  You know what they are going to do or say next because they have had the same reaction before?  This is attunement.  Improving your attunement skills will allow you to create a more patient and understanding relationship with your child.                     Modify Your Child’s Behavior:   Be attuned to your child’s anxieties and try a creative approach that allows […]

Connection   One of the most important things that you can do as a parent is establish a connection with your child.  In fact, children need connection more than anything else.    Here are a few ways that you can begin to build a great connection with your child:   Daily Interactions:   Make one-on-one connections with your child.  Instead […]

Halloween is such a fun time of the year for children; but when children encounter tricks instead of treats, this holiday can become very scary – and not just because of the decorations and frightening costumes. Abductions, bullying, candy that has been compromised; these are all things that can make Halloween a dreadful holiday for […]

Summertime is coming to an end, and with that comes all of the back to school anxiety and jitters that are common amongst children. Your child may experience common physical effects of anxiety associated with back to school time including symptoms from stomachaches to sleeping problems. They will also experience emotional stress from the fear […]

Endorphins are natural chemicals produced in the body to reduce pain and boost happiness. They are most often associated with exercise since the release of these “feel-good” chemicals cause a state of euphoria and is usually known as a “runner’s high.” However, most any exercise will cause this state of happiness and it is also […]

Have you ever had a “gut feeling” about something? Have you ever considered that children have these as well? Of course they do! The problem is, they don’t know how to express this to us. They know something doesn’t feel right, so they act out or exhibit a grumpy mood. The good news is, there […]

Oxytocin has been dubbed the “love chemical.” It is the hormone that is released when we feel love and trust in relationships. For most people, they know oxytocin as a significant part of the parent-child bonding process. However, it is also very important in overall human relationships and is considered our “social glue.” The release […]

Have you ever wondered why children and teens seem to be so addicted to their smartphones and other devices? Parents are frustrated with their children’s lack of attention and motivation but what do their devices have to do with this? The answer is found in science! Often referred to as the “motivator molecule,” dopamine is […]

Flowers might be the traditional gift for Mother’s Day, but they’re also what’s expected. Giving your mom a martial arts membership or enrolling her in a class might not be the usual choice, but there are many good reasons to consider giving your mom exactly that this Mother’s Day. The Benefits of Martial Arts for […]

Bullying has become an epidemic in recent years. Yes, there have always been bullies, and yes, those bullies have always caused serious and lasting damage to their victims; however, bullying in the 21st century has changed – and not for the better. According to Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center, one in four students has reported […]

Halloween is such a fun time of the year for children; but when children encounter tricks instead of treats, this holiday can become very scary – and not just because of the decorations and frightening costumes. Abductions, bullying, candy that has been compromised; these are all things that can make Halloween a dreadful holiday for […]

The beginning of the school year is the ideal time to talk about how to find family activities. If you have kids of different ages, then you know how challenging it can be to find things to do as a group. What excites your 10-year-old daughter is likely to bore your 7-year-old son – and vice […]