The Art Of Raising
A Well-Rounded Child…
WORDS: Jim Knapp, Triumph Martial Arts
The Physical Child
As children grow ever bigger and stronger it becomes
increasingly important that parents take into consideration this
question: Is my child Physically Literate? In school, children are
taught how to read and write, then continue to be tested on their
improvement of these skills. Physical skills should be treated the
same way. Physical Literacy includes not only the understanding
of several movement terms but also how to execute them.
Things like balancing, skipping, throwing, kicking, and more,
should be part of a child’s physical vocabulary. Just as with
reading and writing, children need focused and dedicated
practice in these physical areas.
What do you do with your child to improve their competency in
these physical motions? Many parents turn to sports, a fun way
to exercise and grow, but these often become focused on only a
handful of skills that ensure a child excels at that sport. Baseball,
for example, hones in on a child’s hand-eye coordination but
what about everything else?
Martial Arts is an effective way to develop all of these skills
and continuously improve a child’s Physical Literacy. Classes
typically include stances for proper balance, posture, and
weight distribution. Kicking and striking with coordination, and
effective rotation are key elements in training as well. Many styles
also utilize complex forms that teach students how to flow from
one technique smoothly into another while also expanding on
memorization capabilities.
The Mental Child
A child’s mental well-being is typically viewed through a report
card but there are several factors that play a role in earning that
“A” Math. Focus, self-discipline, and communication are skills not
typically inherent in children. They are learned. More importantly,
they need to be practiced regularly. How do you practice these
attributes with your child?
A martial arts academy is an excellent place to reinforce these
skills. Instructors set the expectation for a focused class and
outline the rules of effective communication. By watching
their peers excel in class, children learn and remember which
methods of communication are the most effective and discipline
themselves to use them appropriately. Such things include how to
listen without interrupting, focusing their attention on whomever is
speaking, and knowing the appropriate time to speak their mind.
The Emotional Child
A child’s emotions can be the biggest factor in their growth.
Negative feelings, low self-esteem, and lack of confidence can
easily stunt emotional growth. Even worse, children struggling
with emotional issues may attempt to transfer
their feelings onto others. Though we view
this behavior as unacceptable, it can feel
impossible to define what exactly a child needs
in order to be emotionally healthy.
We value key skills such as honor, dignity,
and integrity, but these terms can
be dif ficult for many adults to
appropriately define, let alone
communicate to children. As
with the physical and mental
areas of a child’s development
these emotional tools need
consistent practice.
The black belt has gained a
reputation over the years as the
ultimate master of self-discipline in
every aspect of their own life. These
elite masters of body and mind are
revered as the epitome of power
and integrity.
It’s no wonder so many parents
look to a martial arts academy for
guidance in their child’s emotional
growth. The instructors are excellent
role models. Through rigorous
t raining they
show students
just how much
they’re capable
of and then nurture
this confidence.
A confident child does
not feel the need to bully
and is more likely to defend
those being targeted. While it
may take years to earn a black belt
all children are capable of a Black
Belt Attitude.
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