Two Evan’s both with a last name that starts with a W. and both of them 6 years old. Oh yes and they take class together here at Balanced Life Skills. One of them put together this service project of collecting cereal for children who do not have homes. The box he decorated and supplied was getting filled up and then on Saturday it got really filled.
The other Evan W. had a birthday party and he asked his friends to bring a box of cereal to the party in lieu of gifts. Now look at the results. The box is flowing over and so many children will benefit. Those children who brought in the cereal benefit too. When they take the time think about what it would feel like not having a home or something to eat for breakfast, it makes them more aware and grateful for what they do have.
Thank you to both Evan’s for a job well done. A great project and a great collaboration of efforts.
Our children are met with so many confusing messages for them and keeping secrets is one of them. We want our children to know how to keep a secret, how to be loyal to a friend who has entrusted them with a personal thought or feeling. At the same time as adults we know that they can be asked to keep things secret that they really need to talk to an adult about. It may be about one of their friends who is considering doing something that is not safe, fair or even lawful. Even more so, some adults may tell a child not to tell anyone about something that we know they should report to us, so we can keep them safe. Here are some questions we can teach our children to use to decide if they should keep the secret or if they should tell their mom and dad, teacher or principle, or some other trusted adult.
If the child is under the age of 5 we will give them two questions:
1. How does it feel? If it makes you feel happy – this is a secret you can and should keep. (like a surprise birthday party) If it makes you uncomfortable, if you get a funny feeling inside your stomach and you don’t think it is a good idea or is right – then you must tell an adult. If you are not sure it is always OK to tell an adult.
2. Will it hurt someone? Explain to your child that if the secret they have been asked to keep may hurt someone or someone may get hurt if they do what they say they are going to do, then they need to tell an adult.
If your child is 5 or 6 years old teach them questions one and two and then add this question to their decision making process.
3. Will I be proud of the choice I made? This is a great question for anyone to consider in making any decision. How will I feel if someone gets hurt? If I don’t tell, will I be proud of myself?
If your child is 7 or older teach them all of the above questions and then add this question to their decision making process.
4. Am I reporting to get help or to get someone in trouble? No child wants to get labeled as untrustworthy or not loyal to keeping a secret. They also do not want to be called a tattle-tale. So they need to consider why they are telling. Do they see that if they don’t tell, someone might get hurt or that something is being done that is wrong? They must feel comfortable in asking for help and being able to tell the difference in – just trying to get someone in trouble or getting help in solving a bad situation.
Parents: Children should never keep secrets about touching. If you are interested in how to talk to your children about ‘good touch / bad touch’ , Balanced Life Skills would be happy to present a workshop for parents on this subject. I know this seems hard to do. But we will break it down for you to make it easier. Just contact us for more information.
A demanding full-day test of endurance. A difficult personal interview. A sincere four-page essay on what a Black Belt means to you. Momentous service projects finished after a year or more of preparation. A critical pre-test determining your ability to go forward. Intense hours of sparring, stances, footwork, technique, forms, and demonstrations finalized with wooden board breaks.
Could you do it?
Eight current red belt students are about to find out. It is possible that not all of them will be performing at the Black Belt Candidate Test and Demonstration on Sunday, April 22, 2012. Balanced Life Skills is inviting you to attend the demonstration and see what these martial artists are made of — physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Black Belt Candidate Test and Demonstration will be held at YMCA Camp Letts dining hall located at 4009 Camp Letts Road, Edgewater, MD 21037. Please feel welcome to arrive as the Black Belt Candidates begin their final portion of their test at 11:30 am with Mr. Joe.
The exciting main event of the program will occur from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. During this timeframe, you will see impressive physical skills and demonstrations, as well as learn about each student’s project and character. You do NOT want to miss this!
Watch to see what six or more years of training at Balanced Life Skills can do for your child.
Experience the confidence. Witness the determination. Celebrate the achievement!
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Teaching character and life skills to students
Today we asked in regard to loyalty – What if some one was being mean to another student? What would you do? Virtually all students said they would ask them to stop, take the target away from the mean person or tell a teacher. Unfortunately research shows that not to be true. Most children will internalize the event and be very concerned about being the next target.
Loyalty to your friend is difficult during a time like this. If we talk to our children about loyalty, and role play with them what they could do, or be comfortable doing they will be more likely to be able to muster the courage to stand up for their friend.
The most important thing they can do though is to stand with or stick with their friend – not abandoning them when others are being mean. Just saying to their friend, I am still your friend, I believe in you, lets go sit over here and eat with these friends will help the target not feel so ostracized.
Here is a great photo of a student who is testing for his yellow belt making a great board break. This part of the test is not about just the physical ability and technique – but more about breaking through the fear one person may have in anything that they may have ahead of them. The next time Noah has a task he is not sure he can do, he knows that if he works hard, practices correctly he will be able to accomplish anything he puts his mind too. Great Job Noah.
Balanced Life Skills student is a HERO one more time. Jimmy K. is supporting childhood cancer research by agreeing to have his hair shaved on March 11. It would be great to support him and St. Baldricks for this good work. This is the second time that Jimmy has participated in this event. It is very cool when someone has a cause that they are passionate about.
Here is a great photo of a student who is testing for his yellow belt making a great board break. This part of the test is not about just the physical ability and technique – but more about breaking through the fear one person may have in anything that they may have ahead of them. The next time Noah has a task he is not sure he can do, he knows that if he works hard, practices correctly he will be able to accomplish anything he puts his mind too. Great Job Noah.