By Lauren Tessin, Guest contributor When it comes to children, they have a mind of their own. Like anyone, they all have different personalities and have had different life experiences to help shape their personality. Although there are many different traits we would like to see our children have, confidence is one of the most […]
Read MoreBy now we’ve all heard about the bullying epidemic in our schools and communities, but one segment of the population tends to get overlooked when discussing these issues. In a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the biggest predictor of depression symptoms in special needs children was being bulled or feeling left out by […]
Read MoreI did not know I had ADHD when I was in high school. Sure I was one of the more easily distracted kids at my high school and I eschewed organization, but I never even considered that I had a neurobehavioral disorder. Once I got to college and faced increased responsibility however, I could no […]
Read MoreAlthough we sometimes talk about confidence as something that a person “has,” confidence actually involves a very specific set of behaviors. Identifying these traits as desirable is the first step. Children need a clear set of expectations that they understand are important and know they must follow. To help them recognize the importance of the […]
Read MoreDo you worry that your child might be saying “yes” when he or she should be saying “no?” A child needs tremendous strength and good character to avoid the dangers and temptations that young people encounter in today’s society. If you suspect your child is in with the wrong crowd, don’t wait until it is […]
Read MoreLearning how to get along with other people, developing what we call social skills, is necessary in order to become a functioning member of a family, a peer group or a classroom. This involves a process of trial and error that teaches our children to distinguish between self and others and to become aware of […]
Read MoreChildren who are quiet and unassertive find it difficult to interact with both peers and adults. They can find themselves overlooked in both school and social settings. To “break out of their shells,” they must learn to build friendships and gain leadership skills – both essential qualities for personal development. If your child is shy, […]
Read MoreIt is our experience in our martial arts schools that when we start to build a child’s confidence, his or her self-assuredness builds and gains momentum. The best way to start your child on this path upward is to start by giving him or her small, relatively attainable goals. For example, in the beginning, we […]
Read MoreHow do you describe confidence? There are some definite physical qualities involved in projecting the look of confidence. These qualities include: * Great posture * Good eye contact * A loud and clear voice Eye contact: In our martial arts classes we demand that our students look us in the eye when we are talking […]
Read MoreA child with good self confidence is easy to spot in a crowd. He or she possesses a bright, engaging smile and a positive attitude. Effortlessly, this child makes friends and accepts leadership opportunities. Timid and shy children, however, are too often relegated to the sidelines. For these children, the problems start small, a child […]
Read MoreWhy do some children shy away from participating in activities? It’s certainly not because they lack the ability to kick a ball or skills to raise their hand in class. Shyness and a lack of self confidence force children onto the sidelines and away from the action. Children who fail to participate in activities do […]
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