Be Your Child’s Success Coach

As Many of you know Master Chung and I spent the Weekend at our Oklahoma Academy doing some training and some seminars.  One of the seminars was directed at parents with some parenting tips, ideas and success stories.  Below is part of what went on at the seminar and I thought it was worth sharing with everyone here.  Let me know what you think!

Be Your Child’s Success Coach

 

There are countless great books for parenting available at any bookstore in the country.  Although there are various styles of parenting out there, if your goal is to raise your child to become a confident, healthy, happy, and contributing member of society, then pretty much all of the experts would agree with the following guidelines.

 

1.     Love them unconditionally.    Never let them forget that, regardless of what they do or where they go, you will always love them.

 

2.     Constantly catch them “doing things right”.   This will reinforce appropriate behavior and it is the right thing to do.

 

3.     Give them choices, not ultimatums.   Whenever possible make sure they have options to choose from. For example “Would you like to do your homework now or in twenty minutes after you’ve rested? “

 

4.     Pick your battles.   Pope John Paul II said “See everything, overlook a lot, correct a little“ If you want to create distance between you and your children then the easiest way to do so is to nit pick them.

 

5.     Public praise, Private reprimand.   Avoid disciplining your child in front of others as it is extremely humiliating.

 

6.     Never compare.  Very few things will lower a child self-image faster than comparing them negatively with other siblings or friends.

 

7.     Set boundaries and stick to them.   Everyone in the house should know what the rules are and what the consequences are for breaking them. Be firm but fair.

 

8.     Inspire them to greatness.   Constantly affirm them, believe in them and let them feel their potential. Never make them feel foolish for dreaming big.

 

9.     Be easily in awe.   There is nothing more important, especially with young children, then to be impressed when they’ve done something well and are seeking your approval.

 

10.   Don’t speak out of anger.  It is natural to lose your temper from time to time. But…Beware of what you say when your Self-Control is gone. If you don’t watch your words, chances are they will come back to bite you later.

Where are you?

Where are you - where do you want to be?

I spent some time this weekend thinking about this cycle's curriculum and how we are almost half way through it!  

-How are those Hand Techniques?

-Do you remember your Kicks?  Can you preform them?

-Are you comfortable with your Self-Defense moves?

NOW THINK BIGGER!

-How are your personal goals?  Have you set some recently - do you have a clear picture on what you are trying to accomplish, or help your children accomplish? (have you written them down?)

-Do you remember to keep your "Black Belt Attitude".  Remembering that a Leader thinks of other before thinking of their own interests.  Are you helping your children keep this perspective? 

-Are  you comfortable with what you are settling for?  Are you "good enough" or always striving for GREAT?

At Washington Black Belt Academy it is our goal to build leaders.  Leaders that have the confidence and morality to positively influence the lives of others.

“A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not.” 

A Martial Art Challenge

Sometimes the best ideas are ones we get from others......below is taken from Master Chung's Blog, but I thought it was worth reposting here.  

Are you in/taking Martial Arts or ARE you a MARTIAL ARTIST?

This last week we have been talking about a little bit of over-achieving. Most people try their hardest to be good, but not willing to go the extra mile that it takes be become GREAT. So to my students of WASHINGTON BLACK BELT ACADEMY I offer you this challenge: 

BE A MARTIAL ARTIST, DON'T BE IN THE MARTIAL ARTS.

I see a lot of students daily and they are try their hardest to become better in their health, defense, discipline, etc, but now my challenge is to take that outside the Dojang walls. 

Do we act the same at work or school, with our parents or kids, at Starbucks, or even alone? My goal is that is someone would to look at you they would think that there is something "different" about you. That you are a little more Respectful or Disciplined. A little more Kind or Helping. You go out of your way to put a smile on someones face or to help someone in need. Let's be Martial Artists who also practice the martial arts.