Top Five Ways to be a V.I.P.

May 13, 2008

The following is a list of five ways that you, as a Very Involved Parent (V.I.P.), can take an active role in your child’s journey toward becoming a Black Belt Champion in Life!

1. Teach your child the importance of being on time for class. When it comes to regular classes, our Master Instructor always reminds us “It’s better to be 15 mintues early than 1 minute late.” This helps develop a sense of responsibility, with your child getting ready for their Karate lessons.

Help them get in the habit of getting into uniform early, and checking to see that they have all the required items. Such as their belt, weapons or required safety equipment. When a child comes late for class they experience a negative feeling for the start of their class. They miss out on saying the student creed and if allowed to happen over time, tardiness will develop into a habit that shows up in every area of their life.

2. Stop in to watch and observe your child in class. We are all busy people and it may be tempting to drop your child off to class while you run an errand or two. While this may be acceptable once in a while, it should not become the norm. Your child will perform better knowing you are watching, especially if you are really watching.

Children like to please their parents; staying to watch your child will develop a sense of pride and accountability for their efforts in class.

By the way, PRIDE stands for…Personal Responsibility In Daily Effort!

3. Volunteer to hold targets or to be a safety coach. We often run drills where parents are encouraged to help out by being a target holder or even a safety coach during events. Be willing to remove your shoes and step onto the mat to help out. Your child will love having you in his/her line holding the targets for him/her to strike.

Being a safety coach allows you to coach your child, as well as others, a little closer than from the sidelines. Again, your child will love having you close by.

4. Help your children put on their safety equipment. On “B” days (Wed/Thurs) your child will be using their safety quipment once they are eligible to participate in Sparring. In the early stages of using safety equipment, children as well as adults, can use help and assistance with putting the equipment on in a speedy fashion. Here is where you can help out.

Have the foresight to be ready to jump on the mat and help your child with their gear. The younger the child the more important this is.

5. Make practicing at home fun & exciting. Get creative with making practice at home fun and exciting. Think of practice sessions as 5-15 minute zones that your child will look forward to. Is there some kind of incentive you can come up with to encourage your child to practice? Can you make a game out of it?

Maybe you can let your child be the instructor, and you can be the student for a while. Then switch the roles. If children look at practice as something that’s fun to do, they will do it without you having to push. Kids like accessories; invest in some hand targets and kicking shields that will allow your child to really get into their practice sessions with you at home. (Any equipment you see us use on the floor can be ordered and purchased at our Pro-Shop.) Plus it will help save your pillows and furniture in your home.

Follow the Praise - Correct - Praise formula when working with your child.

Getting too critical of your child’s form or detail will only put up a wall between you and them. Understand that with time and training, your child’s skill will develop to unbelievable levels. When correcting, be what we call a Good Finder. That is to point out all the good you see and sandwich it around any corrections you may suggest.

You know the old saying, “You catch a lot more bees with honey than you do with vinegar!” Your child will respond to the the positive praise much better than they ever will by pointing out all the areas they need to work on. Spoon-feed the corrections and smother the praise and you’ll see your child’s confidence and skills grow at an amazing pace!

These are just a few ways to be a V.I.P even if becoming a student yourself is not right for you. Remember to “Team Up and Never Give Up” when it comes to keeping your child on track with their martial arts training and progress.

Dedicated To Your Success,

Your USBA Staff

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Word for May: GRATITUDE

May 8, 2008

Gratitude involves recognizing the good things that exist or that you already have in your life. People can show gratitude for people, places, physical possessions, and intangible things such as freedom, love, and friendship. Those who are grateful concentrate on what they have rather than what they wish to acquire and remember that the glass is always half full if they just choose to look at it that way. Instilling gratitude in children clearly takes patience since society tends to send the message that the person with the most “wins” and that “more” is usually better. But taking the time to model and teach appreciation is like “putting money in the bank.” It may be easier now to look away and hope that the children grow out of their selfish behaviors, but in the long run, taking the time each day to teach gratitude will pay dividends in the future. Not only can it help children to recognize and appreciate the many gifts they have, but recent studies have shown that youngsters who take part in daily gratitude exercises report higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness and energy. These children are also more likely to be helpful to someone than other children who did not focus on gratitude. This month’s lessons will surely be important:

Young students: “I’m so thankful!”

Older students, teens and adults: Appreciating, recognizing, and being thankful for what you have.

During the four weeks of May we will be discussing the following:

Week 1: What is an attitude of gratitude? How can I show that I’m grateful?

Week 2: What do I need and want? How fortunate am I right now?

Week 3: Who are my favorite teachers/mentors and how can I thank them?

Week 4: What does “giving” have to do with gratitude? How can I give?

We thank you for your support. You are pivotal in helping to make our school one of the best Martial Arts and personal development centers in the world.

Best Regards,

Master Kravitz

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