Tag: life skills

When the kids come home from school, they do their homework and quickly look for something else to keep them busy. Instead of playing video games and snacking on junk food, get the kids involved in something educational and fun. Discover six benefits of after school programs, such as martial arts. Move the Body Martial […]

Dear Parents, This month your child will be studying the character word: CARING. Children show signs of caring and empathy at a very young age. Caring is not just a way of feeling, it’s a way of behaving. This month’s lesson plans will teach children that what makes us caring people is doing caring things. […]

It’s not a myth that martial arts can help children improve their self-discipline and self-control. In fact, parents often turn to martial arts to help teach their children self-control. Now, it may not be obvious how learning kicks and punches can develop self-control. However, students of martial arts know that it’s not just about learning […]

Dear Parents, This month we will be working on the character lesson: SELF-CONTROL. Self-control is an important character skill for all children to learn. Children that have self-control show that they can control their actions. They also know right from wrong. Children that do not make choices for their own behavior, but instead rely on […]

Kids are not naturally self-motivated. When your child’s mindset is not in the right place, even the most fun activities can be a struggle to get to. With that said, here are some strategies to help you work around lack of motivation when trying to get your kid to class. Be attentive to what your […]

This month your child will be studying the character word: Loyalty. Loyalty is the willingness to make an emotional investment or personal sacrifice to strengthen a friendship or relationship. Both friends and family require loyalty from each other, and lack of loyalty is one of the major causes of failure in friendships and relationships. It […]

As you know, our goal is not only to train our students in martial arts but to help them become well rounded individuals with strong morals and a firm understanding of what is right and what is wrong. Each month we will focus on a new skill that will help to develop their character. We […]

Our goal is to help our students balance both physical and mental development. We want all of our students to be well-rounded individuals. To do so, each month we focus on a new character word that will help our youthful students become better citizens. Having a strong character is an important part of leading a […]

This month we will be working on the character lesson: COOPERATION. Cooperation is a skill that must be learned. We are in a unique position to help children learn how to build cooperation. When this skill is present, the child understands how to balance his or her own needs and wants with the needs and […]

This month your child will be studying the character lesson: Sportsmanship. Good sportsmanship is when individuals, teammates, opponents, coaches, and officials treat each other with respect. Children learn the basics of sportsmanship from the adults in their lives, especially their parents, coaches, and teachers. It is important that children learn how to persevere and behave […]

Sharing… It’s a life skill that often overlooked as life long skill. When our kids are little, we encourage our kids to share and we often teach them the importance of sharing as they get older. However, we often do not consider how learning to share is the building block to many of the life […]

This month your child will be studying the character lesson: Sharing. This is an important concept that children must learn. For many children it is difficult for them to see the other end of sharing: the benefits that others gain from one’s act of sharing. In this month’s character lesson, we are going to break […]

During the school season teachers, assistants, and counselors are focused on helping your children learn and grow. But what happens during the summer season when these people are not around? It makes sense that as a parent you would want your child to maintain some level of growth and development over the summer in order […]

This month your child will be studying the character lesson: Goal Setting. Learning how to set reasonable and attainable goals is a valuable lesson for children of all ages. All children should set goals periodically so they build the habits necessary to achieve important goals as adults. In this month’s lesson plan, we will teach […]

Your child needs to know that no matter what happens, you are always going to be a consistent parent.  Maintaining consistency means that you are going to be patient, connected, adaptable, and edutaining with your child all the time so your child knows what to expect from you and you know what to expect from […]

Being a nurturing parent means adjusting your child’s behaviors, not trying to change them. In other words, change the behavior, not the child.   Let them Know that Mistakes are Okay   I get excited when my son makes a mistake because it gives me the opportunity to teach him, which is what parenting is […]

This month your child will be studying 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 increases the […]

Be the parent your child needs you to be. They need you to be in their world. That means interacting and playing with them on their level to prompt them through the tasks and chores they don’t want to do.  Here are some tips and examples on using effectively using edutainment with your child. Practice […]

How can you set your child up for daily success?  One of the most effective ways to do this is to focus on prompting instead of punishment.  Here’s what you need about prompting your child toward good behavior and decisions: Friendly Competition One of the ways to prompt your child toward good behavior is to […]

by Melody Johnson Take a few extra seconds when responding to poor behavior. This demonstrates compassion, empathy, and self-control on your part. Sometimes all you need to do is think about responding in the most patient manner to help re-direct your child. A few seconds can make a big difference. Ask, Listen, Explain Patience helps […]

by Melody Johnson Do you ever feel like you can read your child’s mind?  You know what they are going to do or say next because they have had the same reaction before?  This is attunement.  Improving your attunement skills will allow you to create a more patient and understanding relationship with your child. Modify […]

by Melody Johnson, Parent Skillz 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. Here are a few ways that you can begin to build a great connection with your child: Daily Interactions: Make one-on-one […]

by Melody Johnson Kids are not naturally self-motivated. When your child’s mindset is not in the right place, even the most fun activities can be a struggle to get to. With that said, here are some strategies to help you work around lack of motivation when trying to get your kid to class. Be attentive […]

By LifeSkillz expert Melody Johnson Good behavior is a learning process for children, and we are their roadmap. Children usually behave per their own emotions and impulses. At the same time, being a parent is also a learning process and sometimes we rely on our own emotions and impulses to teach. Usually, that means we […]

Martial Arts tournaments can be a fun and exciting way to demonstrate your skills but also grow your physical and mental skills too! Tournaments are like performances for martial arts. The best performers tend to take home the most trophies. This means that competitors have to learn to cope with performance anxieties, fear and self-doubts […]

February is American Heart Health Month and is the perfect time to commit to improving your heart health! According to the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), half of all Americans have at least one of the top three risk factors for heart disease – high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. Keep reading to learn […]

This month your child will be studying the character word: Integrity. Teaching children how to act with integrity is vital for their development. Without integrity, children break promises, lie, and have no concern for others. Integrity means to adhere to moral and ethical principles, and if taught correctly, children will take these lessons with them […]

New students to martial arts will often realize that it becomes so much more than just exercise or a sport – it is a way of life that changes you physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally.  One of the most amazing changes one sees is in your self-confidence. Last week, we talked about how martial arts […]

“Learn confidence!” You see it on every Martial Arts website and ad that you see. It’s a staple Martial Arts value that we teach and it’s absolutely true! Adults and children that practice Martial Arts do gain self-confidence through setting and accomplishing goals and changing their thought patterns to focus on positive and forward thinking, […]

The New Year is here, and with thousands of goals and resolutions in sight as well, 2020 is the year you should try something new! Martial arts is an established system that can better the entirety of your being. Whether you need mental benefits like furthering your discipline muscle, physical benefits like getting in shape, […]

One of our frequently asked questions in the studio is, “how can I help my child do better in karate?” We love this question! In fact, it’s our favorite question that we get from parents! Here are three tips that you can use at home and in the studio that will help your child grow […]

The holiday season always seems to bring a bit of magic to our communities and our families. Whether it’s the magic of Santa and elves working feverishly to reward the children on the Good List, remembering and reliving the Nativity of Christ, or just getting swept up in the the holiday spirit of the season, […]

Our goal is to help our students balance both physical and mental development. We want our students to be well-rounded individuals. To do so, each month we focus on a new character word that will help our youthful students become better citizens. Having strong character is an important part of leading a fulfilling life. We […]

Ghosts, Goblins and Witches, oh my! The Halloween season brings a lot of fun memories for people. They can find their favorite characters or alter egos and dress up as other personas for a night. Taking children around the neighborhoods for candy at night has become the American staple for Halloween traditions. There are also […]

Halloween is such a fun time of the year for children; but when children encounter tricks instead of treats, this holiday can become very scary – and not just because of the decorations and frightening costumes. Abductions, bullying, candy that has been compromised; these are all things that can make Halloween a dreadful holiday for […]

At Jay’s United, we take very seriously our responsibility and commitment to developing the skills in our students both on and off the mat. As such, we would be remiss if we neglected to teach our students about charisma and the overwhelming benefits of adapting this incredible trait in day to day life. What is […]

As we approach October and bully awareness month, now is the perfect time to reflect on bully behavior and how it impacts on community. Bullying has become an epidemic in recent years. Yes, there have always been bullies, and yes, those bullies have always caused serious and lasting damage to their victims; however, bullying in […]

Written by: Gina Cabb, Jay’s United Karate Today is a big day for United Karate Studio Students! After all, today is the day that students from all over the United Karate Organization will come together and prove that they have trained physically and mentally to earn the rank of a black belt. This is no […]