Parenting Blog

It is never too early to begin teaching your child to read, or at least laying the foundation for early literacy skills, and it can definitely be left too late!

If you are not sure then think about this. Statistically, more American children suffer long-term life-long harm from the process of learning to read than from parental abuse, accidents, and all other childhood diseases and disorders combined. In purely economic terms, reading related difficulties cost our nation more than the war on terrorism, crime, and drugs combined.

Reading problems are a further challenge to our world by contribute significantly to the perpetuation of socio-economic, racial and ethnic inequities. However it is not just poor and minority children who struggle with reading. According to the 2002 national report card on reading by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), most of our children (64%) are less than proficient in reading even after 12 years of our attempts to teach them.

The whole scenario behind the invention of toys is that they are to be enjoyed, but part of that enjoyment includes making sure the toys are safe for your children.  There are 10 simple steps that you can take to ensure that your child enjoys his/her toys while taking the appropriate steps to make sure they are safe. Follow the age recommendations on the package.

This information is typically written in smaller print and is often located in a lower corner, or back, of the box. If the toy contains small parts, consider your child’s behavior before purchasing. Even if he/she is in the age range recommended by the manufacturer, parents must consider whether or not their child behaves mature enough to handle the toy and it’s parts. Never leave a child unattended when playing with a toy that features small parts. Even if you step away for a minute, that may be all that it would take for your child to decide to put the toy in his/her mouth.

Many parents struggle with solutions to put their child on the fast track to success, and one such solution is not usually far from home.  It is your local martial arts school.

How will martial arts change your child’s life? The difference could be, as simple as, keeping your child away from peer pressure that leads to drug abuse. Although, the answer is much deeper, martial arts will give any child the tools necessary to become a success in life.

Goal setting skills (a major component in martial arts training) make a huge difference in anyone’s life. By making accomplishments, your child develops a positive self-image. This “positive self visualization” develops academic and athletic success.

Children want structure, and they crave discipline. This makes them feel secure in family, school, and public settings. Within their martial arts training, they find structure, discipline, and the ability to discipline themselves.

Social skills, (like good manners), eye contact, and public speaking, are developed in each lesson. As your child advances through the ranks, there may be more opportunities with the “Leadership Team” or the “Demonstration Team.”  Some martial arts schools have these “elite teams” for children to develop leadership, and inner confidence, skills.