We speak often about the benefits of martial arts for kids and teens: that it builds confidence, focus, healthy habits and self-discipline, respect for adults and peers, makes kids into leaders, and builds community. The list goes on and on. Of course, it also teaches kids to defend themselves from attackers, and to defuse bullies without violence. But martial arts is, for girls, especially powerful! There are many reasons for this, but it should go without saying that strong girls grow up to be strong, self-confident, empowered women.
Popular mom-blog “Home To Heather” gives a personal account of her 7 year-old daughter’s positive experiences with martial arts (in this case, Karate) along with 8 great reasons for girls to get involved with martial arts. She writes:
10 Anti-Bullying Tactics That Work
Posted: October 01, 2020
Your kids are going back to school after their holiday break and you’re ready for the best year ever, but you know the statistics; 17% of students are bullied, more than once a month. And it doesn’t really matter how old you are, where you go to school, what color you are, or where you live, bullies are everywhere. So it’s time to be smart and help your kids learn the tools and tactics that work to prevent bullying.
Bullying can be physical, verbal, or the cyber version. Thankfully there are some tools you can help your kids put into place to avoid, prevent and cope with bullying, in all its forms. Here are ten things you can teach your kids to do when they’re being bullied.
10 Tips Parents Can Use to Build Confidence & Leadership in Kids
Posted: August 31, 2020
Every parent wants happy, healthy and confident kids.
Here at Blue Ridge Martial Arts Academy, our instructors feel that teaching kids martial arts can help build self-confidence in children of all ages. The techniques we practice at our school help children become accurate in their movements, skilled in their learning and confident in their martial arts skills.
5 Summer Safety Strategies That Every Kid (& Parent) Should Know
Posted: August 03, 2020
Summer brings longer days and lots of free time for your kids (and less for parents).
Unfortunately during the summer break children are also more prone to peer pressure as well as being more vulnerable to fall victims to predators.
We want our children to put down the iPad and go outside and play, however kids today have to be much more alert than we had to be growing up. Just watching the local news is enough to terrify any parent concerned for their childrens’ safety. These are challenges that every parent faces, but by implementing some simple strategies we can feel much more confident about our children interacting with the real world.
4 Super Tips to Stop Back to School Stress
Posted: July 25, 2020
Going back to school after a long break can be difficult enough for children and families, even in the best of times. And as the world feels the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, although the situation is different from place to place, there are a lot of common questions and uncertainties arising in both parents and children. Of course, returning to school safely is at the top of everyone’s list, but parents must also be aware of the potential for anxiety or stress in their children. According to the Centers For Disease Control:
After a disaster, children may develop symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Mental health plays an important role in physical health, school performance, behavior, and long-term quality of life.
The good news is there are steps we can take to help our kids get back to school safely and with confidence, whether they are attending school in-person, online, or a hybrid of the two. We’ve put together a list of tips to help you and your family have a happy and successful back-to-school time!