Category: life skills

This month at American Family Martial Arts, we’re focusing on the life skill Trustworthiness. Being trustworthy means being honest, responsible, and reliable—a reputation that opens doors to opportunities and fosters meaningful relationships. For children, cultivating trustworthiness is foundational to developing good character and building self-esteem. When children are known as trustworthy, they are treated with […]

Teaching Respect: A Parent’s Journey (and Why It’s Worth the Effort)   We’ve all been there—our child says something that just sets us off, and our immediate reaction is to put them in their place. We want respect, so why not demand it? But what if we took a step back instead of reacting and […]

When Game Night with a 5-Year-Old Doesn’t Go as Planned If you’ve ever sat down for family game night with a 5- or 6-year-old, you probably know exactly where this story is going. I’ve been there myself. You have all these grand expectations of how perfect the night will be—laughter, bonding, maybe a little friendly […]

As a parent, it’s tough when you feel like your child is struggling, especially when they’re only 3 or 4 years old. I’ve had so many conversations with parents lately who are frustrated or worried because their kids are getting into trouble at school for things they just aren’t developmentally ready for. It’s completely normal […]

Teaching teamwork is no easy task, but it’s essential for ensuring proper development in children. At American Family Martial Arts, we believe that the foundation of teamwork should be laid early. Here’s a guide to teaching children the importance of teamwork based on their age: Ages 3 and 4: The World Isn’t Just About “Me” […]

Did you know there’s a magical trait that can open doors, win hearts, and even crown your child as the leader of the pack? It’s called charisma, and the best part? Anyone can develop it! Charisma is all about relationships and how people regard you. It’s that magnetic quality that makes others want to be […]

Nurturing Determination: A Vital Life Skill for Children Determination is a remarkable trait, one that shapes individuals into resilient and accomplished people. In the realm of child development, fostering determination lays the foundation for a future filled with success and fulfillment. As parents and educators, it is our responsibility to instill this invaluable quality in […]

9 Benefits of Martial Arts for Kids with Learning and Attention Issues Exercise is great for every kid. But children with learning and attention issues can have a hard time finding a sport or physical activity that suits them. They may not have the social or physical skills to participate on a team. They may […]

Charisma is the ability to attract people to oneself. It is a type of charm that can be seen in someone’s personality. American Family Martial Arts instructors have a LOT of natural charisma as they teach their students to learn the material! The ability to inspire others is an important characteristic for leaders. Charismatic leaders […]

*Copied from David Morris on Twitter Parenting is hard. Parents have to choose their battles. Here are 8 fights worth picking with your kids: The Reading Fight:  Make your kids read. Because reading is tied to everything from cognitive development to the ability to focus. Make your kids read now. The Outside Fight: Make your […]

Won’t karate make my child violent? The quick answer is NO! We do get asked this question pretty often. REASON #3: Our age appropriate programs increase the “feel good” chemicals, dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphines. This can actually help improve chemical balances in the brain. Our brand of martial arts for our 3 to 14 […]

A New Year or new school year arrives, lofty resolutions are set. Anything from working out daily to saving money to making all A’s to losing weight, our society knows how to dream big! However, when big dreams aren’t broken down into smaller, achievable goals, failure often ensues. And to make matters worse, our children […]

Did you know your pre-schooler’s (age 3-4) stage of development can be summed up by PIES?  No we’re not talking about yummy pecan, blueberry or apple pie.  We are actually talking about Physical, Intellectual, Emotional and Social Development of children through martial arts. Get it P…I….E….S…..:)  At American Family Martial Arts we understand and work […]

Physical Development in children ages 3 & 4 using martial arts.  PIES? No we’re not talking about yummy pecan, blueberry or apple pie.  We are actually talking about Physical, Intellectual, Emotional and Social Development of children through martial arts. Get it P…I….E….S…..:)  Children between the ages of 3 and 4-years old are in a very […]

Elf Skillz: Your Child Development Elf on the Shelf Solution Many parents enlist Elf on the Shelf to remind our kids that he/she’s keeping tabs on them and letting Santa know if they should be on the ‘naughty’ or ‘nice’ list… Although we at American Family Martial Arts appreciate the concept, we’ve put together a […]

This month American Family Martial Arts’ students will study the character word: TRUSTWORTHY. People that are trustworthy have a reputation for being honest, responsible, and reliable. When a child is considered trustworthy, there are many benefits. People tend to treat trustworthy children better and provide them with more opportunities from learning to leading which consistently […]

The Benefits of SKILLZ Martial Arts for 5 & 6-Year-Olds Children between the ages of 5 and 6 years are in the “dynamo” stage of development.  They are now at a point where basic skills become the foundation for their continued growth and development. At American Family Martial Arts, we call them Little Ninjas. Martial […]

Every month during our karate classes at American Family Martial Arts, we focus on a life skill. This month’s life skill is patience. Definition: The ability to endure waiting or delay without becoming annoyed or upset, to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties; the ability to tolerate being hurt, provoked, or annoyed without complaint or […]

KICK CHALLENGE JULY 2020   We’re having a KICK Challenge at American Family Martial Arts. For the next 30 days, practice your kicks everyday. Once a week, do a 30 SECOND challenge & write down your results on the KICK card (for the PDF file see your email or the document section of website) We […]

Does karate promote violence? Will my teen learn self-defense skills? How likely is my teen to get injured while doing martial arts? These are only a few of the questions many parents have when they consider signing their teen up for karate lessons. Karate, like other forms of martial arts, can be really good for […]

Martial arts classes for children can be incredibly valuable for a child’s physical and mental development. While the benefits are significant, some kids may find their first martial arts class very intimidating. The first step in preparing your child for their first martial class is to take your time to find the right school and […]

GAME-BASED LEARNING The Benefits of Game-Based Learning for 3-4-year-olds Play is often overlooked as a learning tool for children. Dictionary.com defines play as “engaging in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.” It is seen as a type of “free time” when nothing else important is happening. However, this couldn’t […]

Age-Specific Curriculum: What It Really Means The term “age-specific” is used very often in education and healthcare. It has a very definite meaning and is used to describe things that are prepared specifically for the age of the child it is targeting. However, this term is often used more loosely, especially in the martial arts […]

For years, parents and teachers  have been faced with the dreaded summer slide, a time when the school year ends and summer learning loss begins. And as if it wasn’t detrimental enough in it’s own rights, this year the summer slide has  been accelerated by the COVID slide and trauma related to the pandemic. The […]

Goal Setting: this month’s life skill Unleashing Your Child’s Potential through Goal Setting Goal setting is one of the most highly linked characteristics to the success that individuals have. Top athletes and successful people all use goal setting. And while it is a trait that is most often associated with adolescents and adults, younger children […]

The  #1 thing we hear parents wish for their child – more confidence!  Every month during our karate classes at American Family Martial Arts, we focus on a life skill and self confidence is an important one. Those who have self-confidence tend to be more content with life. They bounce back faster from challenges; they […]

The benefits of Skillz Martial Arts for Preschool Kids There are millions of children participating in Martial Arts. That statistic is rapidly growing at 15% per year according to leading child experts. The reason why is because parents across the globe are recognizing all of the amazing benefits that the Martial Arts has to offer […]

I enjoy sports and [am] a martial arts enthusiast says Vanessa Bell. My 7-year-old son has been training in martial arts for 3 years. The benefits of karate for kids includes great characteristics and life lessons and I recommend the various practices to anyone I chat with. During this time, I’ve also watched young girls […]

One of the most important things that you can do as a parent is establish a connection with your child. In fact, children need connection more than anything else. What do we mean by connection? It’s having a relationship with your child. Not being their best friend but rather having real conversations with him or […]

Teachers and researchers sometimes refer to the loss of intellectual skills during the summer as “brain drain.” During the summer, kids often spend little time reinforcing academic learning or they are just inactive playing video games or watching tv. Did you know that keeping kids active in programs like Martial Arts classes and camps can […]

#1    Martial Arts Tournaments help you overcome your fears One of the hallmarks of a mature martial artist is the ability to stay calm in a stressful (or even life-threatening) situation.  Tournaments are a way to train for that in a non-life threatening manner. First, when you perform, you’ll likely have dozens of people watching. […]

This month at American Family Martial Arts our students are studying the character word: SELF-DISCIPLINE. Parents and teachers both overwhelmingly agree that self-discipline is one of the most important skills anyone can have – yet relatively few believe they’ve been successful at helping their own children demonstrate it. However, it goes without saying that children […]

  REGISTRATION IS OPEN! If your child loves playing Fortnight then get them out of the house for some LIVE ACTION BATTLE ROYALE. Everyone starts with a pool noodle! Outwit and outlast everyone to find their nerf gun. ALL begin, only 1 wins! I mean kids beating each other with pool noodles! It doesn’t get […]

Join us for our fun filled all day camp. Kids play fun games like ninja museum, ninja says, relay tic-tack-toe; capture the flag and lots of other fun games. We’ll also have a chill out area where they can watch a movie, play board games or just watch the games being played. Sometimes, everyone needs […]

I can’t tell you how many times I have a parent tell me, “Little Suzie’s grades are falling, so I’m taking karate away.” It’s frustrating for me as an instructor because I KNOW how much good martial arts does for a child. Increased discipline, respect and confidence are just a few of the benefits. While […]

If your child is being bullied at school, there is so little a parent can do, that we often feel helpless and powerless. Perhaps the school administration is aware but that 5 minute session in the guidance counselor’s office hasn’t done any good. October is National Bully Defense Month and American Family Martial Arts has […]

October is National Bully Defense month. At American Family Martial Arts we include this in our lesson plans with the life skill of integrity. This particular skill is vital for children’s social development. Without integrity, children break promises, lie, and have no concern for others. Integrity means to adhere to moral and ethical principles, and […]

Back to School Tips for Parents  Summertime has come to an end, and with that comes all of the back to school anxiety and jitters that are common among children. Your child may experience common physical effects of anxiety associated with back to school time including symptoms from stomachaches to sleeping problems. They can also […]

I wanted to share some great tips on the Parent SKILLZ word: PROMPTING. At American Family Martial Arts we believe in the “family” part of our name.  And sometimes we all need a new idea or way to look at things in this hard job called parenting. Setting your child up for daily successes is […]

    This month at American Family Martial Arts your child will be learning about the Life Skill TEAMWORK. There are so many areas in life where teamwork is important. Teamwork is not something that is easy to teach but it is something that needs to be taught early to ensure proper development. Definition: cooperative […]

If you have kids of different ages, then you know how challenging it can be to find things to do as a group. What excites your 10-year-old daughter is likely to bore your 7-year-old son – and vice versa. There’s one exception that the instructors of American Family Martial Arts know of – and that’s […]

As well as increasing physical fitness and mental health, martial arts can boost brain cognition too                                                       written by Ashleigh Johnstone for The Conversation We are all aware that exercise generally has […]

This month at American Family Martial Arts, your child will be learning about the Life Skill of SHARING. A simplistic explanation of sharing is “some for you and some for me.”  For many children, it is difficult for them to see the other end of sharing: how others benefit from our act of sharing. In […]

Five Important Tips to Help You Prepare For Your Next Rank Testing Testing day is not only an opportunity to be evaluated, but is also a day of performance. Your instructor’s goal is to determine whether or not you have mastered sufficient material during your current rank to advance to the next level. Your goal […]

American Family Martial Art’s annual Little Ninja camp finished up last week (July 17-21. 2017). Depending on the day, there were 16 Ninjas playing, painting or learning new things.  They made ninja masks and on superhero day dressed in costume and got a visit from some real super heros!! The Prairieville Fire Department. American Family […]