Back to school shopping is in full swing, in fact if you don’t get your local big box right now you might miss out on the best deals before they start filling their shelves with Halloween crap. Am I getting old, or didn’t we used to do back to school shopping the last two weeks before school started? Of course Halloween candy used to show up half-way through October and we didn’t see Christmas sales until after Thanksgiving!
What do your kids need for school? New shoes, pencils & pens, maybe a larger backpack to accommodate the additional books he or she will be carrying in the next grade.
Ever since the first humans started scratching pictures on cave walls and telling stories, we’ve been looking for the latest and greatest innovations to make the learning process more exciting, efficient and enjoyable. However, some things never change and if you want your young students to make the most of school this year there are some essentials they’d better be carrying — and these don’t go in their backpacks.
Don’t even think about sending your kids to school without these important items:
- Self-confidence
- Motivation
- Good learning attitude
- Respect
- Discipline
- Focus
The best way to develop these qualities in your children is by enrolling them in a martial arts program. OK, I’m biased, but I’ve seen the results over my 26 plus years in martial arts. Every year parents tell me what our program does for their children:
- Kids earn better grades
- Longer attention span and better focus
- More respectful at school…and at home
- Greater self-confidence and personal motivation
- Better able to resist peer pressure
- Less likely to be bullied…or to be a bully!
The development of these characteristics is the main objective in any quality martial arts program. It’s not about what the student is learning; it’s about learning how to learn! Renowned instructor and American martial arts pioneer Professor Nick Cerio used to say that earning a Black Belt was above all the development of a good learning attitude. Once you learn how to learn, you can apply that skill to anything you do in life.
Send your kids to school prepared to learn. A quality martial arts program is a great way to prepare young people for success in school and in life…and it works for grown-ups too!
After all, “Perfection is not a destination; it’s a never ending-process!”
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How to choose a quality martial arts program for your kids; or for you:
- Shop the instructor, not the style: There are hundreds of styles available; fundamentally there is very little difference in the basic techniques. Find an instructor that is encouraging, competent, experienced and focused on personal development.
- Ask other parents: I always encourage visiting parents to mingle and talk with parents with kids in my program. Whatever I say is marketing; what our parents say is an endorsement!
- Differentiate between sport and personal development: There’s nothing wrong with competition and competition can certainly help develop the qualities we’ve talked about. However, as martial arts has proliferated many programs have abandoned the philosophy for the trophy hunt. If you’re looking for personal development, find a center that emphasizes personal development.
- Try before you buy: Reputable centers offer a discounted introductory program. After that, remember that in martial arts training as with most quality professional services, you get what you pay for. Beware of the “discount dojo” that has the vibe of the $20 a month fitness club. You want quality, personal attention; be willing to pay for it. This is a quality life investment.
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