As martial arts instructors, we spend a lot of time teaching our students about discipline, respect, and confidence. But one lesson that often goes hand-in-hand with these values is gratitude. Gratitude – our November Lesson of the Month – is not just a nice thing to do, but a way of life, and a powerful…
As karate instructors at BMA, we have the privilege of teaching students of all ages, from those who are just learning how to make a proper fist, to retirees who are trying something new and stepping on the mat for the first time. Regardless of age, learning to fail and lose gracefully is essential, however…
Originally Written by Meg Klettke “Give me the book!” The demand for one of his brothers books rang through the house as my youngest hit his breaking point. It had been a very big first day back into our usual routine following a weeks long vacation. To say that we were all ready for a…
Originally Written By SKILLZ School Owner Meg Klettke “It’s here, it’s here! The day is FINALLY HERE!!!” Stumbling out of his bedroom at full speed ahead, my youngest son burst into my bedroom to announce that packing day for our big road trip adventure had finally arrived! The patience of my spirited six-year-old had been…
Learning is a big part of child development and how children learn things is dependent on a variety of factors. Much of the time, observational learning contributes to how children learn information and behaviors. This type of social learning can be greatly influential because of the role that mirror neurons play in learning. Providing children…
“Enough with the screens!” Parents: Have you ever felt like saying this to your child or teen when they just wont seem to put the phone or the tablet down? (If you answered “Yes”, you’re not alone!) Nowadays it can feel like children are only interested in their video games, smart phones, and social media…
When we hear the term “school readiness,” the first thing most people think of is children knowing academic basics that will help them meet the demands of the classroom. And while these cognitive skills are important, teachers feel that skills in the other areas of child development are just as, or more important. Social, emotional,…
For years, parents and children have been faced with the dreaded summer slide, a time when the school year ends and summer learning loss begins. Additionally, the reality of this being the first school year mostly “out” of COVID is that children’s cognitive performance has decreased earlier than usual. To counteract this, it’s essential that…
As we navigate the world, we all use our senses to receive input from our surroundings, let our brains process, and then tell us how to react. Generally, we respond with minimal disruption to our routine. However, processing sensory stimuli can be a challenge for some people, either because there is too much or not…
Every New Years Day, people from all walks of life choose to set goals for the new year ahead and set their sights on anything from working out daily to saving money to losing weight. Our society knows how to dream big! However, when big dreams aren’t broken down into smaller, achievable goals, failure often…