New year, new goals. I think all of us have set goals in the past and maybe have reached them or are still working on them :) Sometimes as a parent, we get so involved in helping our children reach the goals we set for them, whether it's behavior or academically, that we lose focus on their goals. Over the many years of teaching, I've noticed that one of the hardest things to teach is consistency. Many parents come to our program looking for an activity that will help their c

As we are ending the year, some of you may have noticed our children are losing steam :) It's hard to self-motivate, even if the activity is fun! Here are some tips on how to help you get your kids moving when they lack motivation. Tip #1: Take notice of what your child is doing at the moment. If your child is engaged in an activity like playing or watching a video, most likely you will be in for a fight. Instead about 10-15 minutes before you need to leave, have your child p

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 of making new friends, meeting new teachers, fears of being bullied, the pressure of making good grades, and worries of being unpopular

If a child has poor social skills, it can be difficult for him or her to succeed in academic, personal and professional arenas later in life. Many children are naturally shy, and have trouble building relationships. If early attempts to make friends and create a social circle are rocky or upsetting, many children find it hard to continue trying altogether. As a result, they fall out of practice and fail to develop the appropriate interpersonal skills needed to confidently nav

Are you a martial artist or a fighter? I thought of this question after our team came back from USAT Nationals in Richmond, VA last week. To me the difference between a martial artist and a fighter is the philosophy. As a Taekwondo student, we repeat in every class our 5 tenets of Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control and Indomitable Spirit. RESPECT and HUMILITY are also embedded into our training at every class. At a Taekwondo competition, there is a code of conduc

Occasionally I will be asked this question from a concerned parent that might have a child that is already showing rambunctious behavior. It is a legitimate question, especially since media will cater to fears. But a true martial artist and legitimate school will let you know that quite the opposite is true. Martial Arts is about SELF CONTROL. Children can be overwhelmed with emotions and often do not know what to do with this extra energy. In our classes we have the students