Helping Children Feel Secure in an Uncertain World
The news can be full of scary stories and information, especially for children. Our current situation has brought about even more concern for everyone in the world. If adults are feeling panicked, imagine how children must be feeling. And no matter the age, children can be emotionally affected by the news and begin feeling anxious about what they are hearing. For this reason, it’s important for parents to spend time connecting with their children and implementing ways that help them feel secure.
And, of course, during this worldwide turmoil, parents may also feel unsure and struggle with what to say to their children. But this is the time when parents should take the opportunity to help members in the family reconnect with each other, which will help everyone feel more secure. Having honest discussions about what everyone is feeling is vital to processing the information in a healthier way. It’s important that parents have these conversations to help ease fear...
8 Ninja Teaching Tips For Parents
The first few days were likely an exciting new adventure, but as we continue to try to balance working from home, maintaining the needs of the household, and serving as the frontline for our kids’ education, it is likely that we will experience new stresses. Kids who sit still for their teachers or listen to their martial arts coaches may not want to exhibit the same studious behaviors for their parents. And if there are siblings involved, you may even find yourself serving as a referee as battle ensues.
Fear not, we are here to help!
It is important to remember that you most likely do not have the training that educators have and that kids will naturally exhibit their worst behaviors around you because they...
8 Ways To Support Local Business While Practicing Social Distancing
The world is a crazy place right now. Coronavirus has us all staying home and being responsible about our social distancing responsibilities. Many people are left wondering what to do as they find themselves thrust into the world of homeschooling, telecommuting, and even unemployment. With the recent mandates by government officials to close all non-essential businesses, many business owners also face uncertainty about what the future might hold.
In the long run, things will return to normal. In fact, many of the adaptations we are making in our lives and businesses will likely become the new norm. Even in the midst of COVID-19 worries, people with an entrepreneurial mindset are already finding ways to thrive.
Looking forward to a time when we can all start getting back to normal, it is essential that we all take steps now to support the businesses we love most. Many small businesses operate on extremely tight margins, meaning that even a few days...
How to Find the Right Martial Arts Mentor
Finding & Learning from a Martial Arts Mentor
The following is adapted from Step on The Mat.
People, a lot of times, don’t want help. Sometimes people see the word mentor and they think of it as someone who is telling you what to do. A mentor is not a weak thing. Each one of us has skills, but we all lack certain skills.
Why We Need Mentors
There is so much information out there—at the library, or on the internet. You can also pay a mentor for their time. It can be difficult to sort the good information from the bad.
A lot of people read Rich Dad Poor Dad, for example. It’s a very popular book. Some people read the book and collect information. It’s another thing to know how to apply that information and have expert guidance. Books are great, but they can’t take you all the way. They can’t support you.
No one is above having a mentor. Even I still have mentors, whether it’s for writing a book or even martial arts. I need to keep...
Back to School: 4 Tips for a Healthy Transition
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 stomach aches to sleeping problems. They will also experience emotional stress from the fear of making new friends, meeting new teachers, fears of being bullied, pressure of making good grades, and worries of being unpopular. With that said, it important for parents to first remember that these physical and emotional feelings are very common, and even the most well-adjusted kids are bound to feel some sort of pressure when they return to school.
What can parents do to help their children cope with the physical and emotional stresses associated with the back to school season?
1. Put your child on a healthy sleeping pattern right away!
Children need at least 8 to 10 hours of REM sleep each night. Children that do not...
OXYTOCIN: The Key To Positive Social Relationships in Children and Teens
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 of oxytocin is not automatic but rather, a learned response. It is very important for children to develop an effective oxytocin response. We find that when children are abused or neglected, they often have underdeveloped oxytocin responses. This is because they have been locked in the fight or flight response and have not developed the oxytocin response to calm down. Therefore, bonding is very important to children in the early years of life.
This bonding, that significantly comes through the parent-child relationship, can also be nurtured through positive interactions with adults such as teachers, coaches, and...
