What Is the Best Martial Art for Kids?

Martial arts is a very helpful addition to a healthy lifestyle. The mental and physical training necessary to be successful in any martial art will give students helpful skills they can apply to a number of other facets of their lives. With so many martial arts schools in even the smallest cities it may be a overwhelming task for parents to evaluate them and figure out what is the best martial art for their kids. Although there's no single martial art that is best suited specifically to all kids there are some which are more suitable than others. Some styles may focus more on the physical tournaments and preparing for them, while others may have an increased emphasis on character and self esteem developing. Furthermore two schools that provide the same style will teach that style distinctly, setting greater emphasis on different aspects of the style, for example mastering the formal movement patterns vs a focus on the sparring aspects. In this short article we hope to help you with some information regarding the best martial art for kids. Firstly you being a parent have to be sure you understand the reason you are searching for a martial art for your kids. There are a number of skills to be acquired through martial arts, such as self-defence, fitness improvements, teaching self-confidence, or training to compete in competitive events. While most if not all martial arts are in some ways acceptable for kids, the same can't be said for all schools or coaches. That is the reason why the initial step when choosing a martial art for your kids should be to determine which of the martial arts styles offered in your area are most suited for your kids, and then assess the schools within driving distance, the instructors in those schools and then the type of training they provide to both students and to instructors. Begin by exploring several of the schools found in your community to determine what their primary styles are. The World Wide Web is an excellent resource for this as you can get a quick summary of the tenets, history and styles involved with each individual martial art. Consider not only your goals for your kids, more self-confidence or building physical strength for instance, but also the skills of your child when deciding which martial arts may be best suited for them. Judo and mixed martial arts both have some focus on grappling, which is locking or pinning opponents down. So these may not be the best martial arts for kids which are claustrophobic. On the other hand these styles will probably be great at helping your child build their physical strength and stamina. Once you've a list of styles that could be right for your kids, start calling the schools in your neighborhood that instruct those styles. The research should match up with the details that the school supplies. For example, Taekwondo has only two recognized branches, the Kukkiwon/World Taekwondo Federation branch and the International Taekwon-Do Federation branch. If a Taekwondo school can't verify that they are associated with one of these organizations then their training, and the belts they grant to students, may not be valid or authentic. Inquire if they have programs created specifically for children, or if the children are grouped into a general class. If your kids are intimidated when in a group of older kids, teens or adults then perhaps a general class may not be best suited for them. Find out how many students and instructors are in each class, as a high student to teacher ratio will reduce the amount of time your kids will have with the instructor for one on one training. Ask if the instructors have certifications in first-aid or child education. Find out if the schools have formal training classes for their coaches, to train them the way to teach. Keep in mind that being a champion at a sport doesn't mean that a person can teach well; consider the number of great hockey and football players have experienced stunningly poor coaching careers. Find out how much experience the master or senior teacher has with kids. Get an idea of what ongoing costs should be to go to the school, which includes items such as promotion testing fees, uniforms, and additional equipment needs like arm and shin guards for fighting practices. Find out just how long the school has been in business, how long it's been at its existing location and whether the school gives back to its neighborhood through fundraising events or group volunteer activities. These things are important indications of the commitment level that the instructors and masters have to the school. Now that you've found a school you have to inspect the physical location itself. The physical location of the school or the equipment the school uses may not be tolerable to you once you actually see it. More than likely you are going to want to visit the school without your children, in the event that they may be anxious to begin training there and you determine that you are not comfortable with the school. A number of schools will allow you to view or even participate in a free class, to help you get a better appreciation of the teaching style and use of the facilities. Introducing your kids to the school should be done only after you are satisfied with the school, the style and the level of instruction that your kids will receive. Other Tips: Children can be more committed to the martial arts training if it becomes a family activity. To help your kids be more dedicated to physical activity outside of school you could consider signing yourself up for family martial arts classes. Many schools emphasize discipline and respect for parents, instructors and elders. Practicing this respect at home may require your reinforcing its importance away from the school. The history of the martial art and/or the club itself, the grand-master or the organizations the club is part of may be required learning at the school that your kids go to. Be sure to help your kids with some research into these aspects. Paul Thibault is a fifth Dan Master in World Taekwondo Federation Taekwondo. Paul has been teaching Taekwondo in Calgary for many years, developing hundreds of black belts and dozens of provincial and national champions. Studios Group Martial Arts Calgary has customized classes to teach what we feel is the best martial art for kids, to assist in growing self confidence, physical strength and conditioning. We have a particular emphasis on using martial arts and confidence to stop bullying in schools. Please visit our website or drop in to our martial arts school facility in Calgary for more information. Copyright Studios Group Martial Arts Calgary. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to publish this article on your site if the author's byline is included and all links are hyperlinked without alteration. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Thibault Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6842730

Homeschool Curriculums - Which One Is For You?

Which homeschool curriculum is for you? Next to the act of parenting, there is no greater privilege than to be given the opportunity to educate your child in the privacy of your own home, and the freedom to select the information you choose to teach your child. Fortunately, we live during a time when the amount of curriculum that is available at our disposal is virtually limitless. One of the biggest perks of homeschooling a child is the simple fact that no one knows your child better than you do. If your child happens to be a strong reader, then you, as their primary educator, can customize what your child will learn at home during the school year, and include lots of read-alouds, historical fiction, Christian missionary biographies, and so on. And because you know your child so well, choosing a curriculum for him or her may actually mean not following any given curriculum, but by taking bits and pieces from the many different programs available. Whether you prefer the structure of a textbook, concentrated unit studies, consumable workbook studies or interactive web-based programs, the goal of any Christian educator should be to keep God central to all that you are working on with your children. Below are some of the various homeschool curriculums: Monarch: Monarch is a new Christian, internet-based homeschool curriculum that is targeted for grades 3 through 12. Monarch's curriculum encompasses core subjects as Bible, history and geography, language arts, math and science. Additionally, this homeschool program offers 35 elective courses to round off your child's school day. Monarch uses interactive web-based lessons interspersed with fun graphics, engaging learning games, web-related links and much more. LIFEPAC: This curriculum is a work text program that weaves Scripture into each core subject and elective and includes chapter lessons, activities, quizzes, tests, and fundamental truths necessary for daily Christian living. Horizons: Horizons is a best-selling Bible-based curriculum in a consumable workbook format that is sure to engage learners of all ages. Horizon's curriculum integrates the truth of God's Word into each subject, and is an award-winning reading-based program. Sonlight: If you have a child who loves to read and be read to, Sonlight offers a great selection of quality, age appropriate literature for your homeschooled child. Sonlight can be purchased in customizable units or in pre-made all-inclusive packages. Switched on Schoolhouse: This multi-media based curriculum includes the core subjects and up to 35 electives. Switched on Schoolhouse can be customized to meet your student where he or she is at. This program is also geared towards grades 3 through 12. Scriptural truths coupled with Christian living applications make this curriculum a good foundation for your child. The Weaver Collection: The Weaver Collection is a Bible-based unit study that uses God's Word as its core. This collection is ideal if you have multiple grade levels in your family because you (the teacher) can formulate each study to be simple for your younger grades or more intricate for your older children. Choosing the correct homeschool curriculum is really done by trial and error, and what works for one child in your family may not have the same desired effect on the other children in your household. But choosing a curriculum should not stress you out; it should be lots of fun. Remember, you know your son or daughter better than anyone else in the world. Selecting a program that you know will speak to your child's heart in terms of having a strong Biblical foundation is key. So, as you are considering curriculum for your child, envision how your child would react to certain manners, methods and modalities of teaching, pray about whether a certain curriculum will build your child up and encourage him or her in his daily walk, and ask seasoned homeschool moms what curriculum worked best for their family. If you are shopping around for curriculum for an older child, include them in the selection process. Not only will you wind up with a more suitable match, but having that little say-so in choosing curriculum may prove to be very meaningful to your child. Erin is a Christian homeschooling mom of five, who is neck deep in classical curriculum, learning disabilities, diapers, and slobbery kisses. A self-proclaimed non-fiction junkie who delights in anything on attachment parenting, learning differences, motherhood, and biblical growth. A desire to connect with other like-minded mothers stumbling through this precious privileged journey of motherhood. In what little free time is available Erin also runs her own homeschool community. --Transparentmom.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erin_Theo Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6070276

Home School Curriculum - How to Choose the Right One

Exactly how do you go about choosing the best curriculum? There are several things you need to take into consideration while choosing the best books to teach your children at home. Let's look at these one at a time. Is it easy for you to teach? This question isn't meant to insult your intelligence - really - it isn't! What I mean by "is it easy to teach" is are the instructions clear? Do they make the teacher help section easy to understand. Is it clear how to teach using their curriculum? If you have the time and access to the curriculum, sit down and go through one lesson just like you're going to teach it. This will give you an idea about how it "flows" and if it is going to be easy to use or make you want to pull your hair out! Does it look fun for your children? You are homeschooling your children to give them a good education. BUT...let's have a little fun while we're at it! When you see a curriculum that is boring...the lessons are excessively long...they contain worksheet after worksheet...this probably means that your children aren't going to like it. While school doesn't have to be all fun - and it won't be - there's no reason to make it pure drudgery either. There are going to be many times when your children won't want to do school no matter how fun you make it and they don't always have to like it, but I highly recommend always trying to keep learning as fun and interesting as possible. Look for curriculum that is bright - has great pictures or photography - and looks interesting while still being educational. It's out there...you'll find it! Does it fit the "learning style" of your child? This is very important. One of the greatest benefits of homeschooling is that you can tailor your teaching to how your children learn. You want to make learning as easy and as enjoyable as possible. To do this, you need to discover your child's learning style. Does your child learn better by listening? He's probably an auditory learner. Does your child learn better by watching? She's probably a visual learner. Does your child learn better by doing? He's probably a kinesthetic learner. Choose a curriculum that fits this learning style. Do you need to teach several age groups at the same time? If your family is like most homeschool families, you have several children. This is great and it is very possible to teach several children at one time - it just depends on the subject. Some subjects are easier to teach to different age groups - like history or science. Some subjects are impossible to teach to different age groups at the same time - like math or spelling. Is it too time consuming? A curriculum is too time consuming if you are going to have to spend an hour every night before you go to bed trying to figure out what you are supposed to teach your kids the next day. Some homeschool programs get so complicated with their schedule and will include multiple books - teacher's book, teacher's answer book, teacher's quiz book, teacher's quiz book answers, teacher's test book, teacher's test book answers...all for one subject! You get the picture. I've seen this many times. For one subject, the teacher has six books - the child has one. When you are shopping for curriculum, this should send up a red flag. Teaching your children isn't that complicated. When you see homeschool curriculum that is this overloaded with books, it means they are trying to sell you as many books as possible. Keep looking. How much teacher preparation is involved? This goes hand-in-hand with "Is it too time consuming?". Choose curriculum that takes minimal preparation time. Look for clear and easy teacher instructions. There's nothing wrong, of course, if you want to spend time putting together projects for your children - like lapbooking. These can be great learning opportunities. Just make it an exception rather than the rule. In other words, it should be something you do that is "extra" - having school shouldn't depend on whether or not you spent hours putting together a lesson. Does it fit your budget? Because homeschool families are often one-income families, you need to decide on a budget for your homeschool - and stick to it. Buying curriculum is FUN!!!! Homeschool moms tend to love books. Don't let this get out of hand. Remind yourself when you are tempted to overspend on "just a few more books" that you could be using that money to help with the bills, or to use in other homeschool materials, or how about a fun field trip? Does Anyone You Know Recommend It? One of the best ways to find good curriculum is to ask homeschool moms for help and recommendations. Ask around. See if anyone you know has used the curriculum you are considering and see what their opinion is about it. Just remember that their teaching style is going to be different from yours and their child's learning style is going to be different from your child's. Take all of these things into consideration before you buy. Before you Buy When deciding on which home school curriculum to buy, remember to take each of the above factors into consideration. Check our homeschool curriculum reviews to help give you some extra tips, suggestions, and recommendations on what will be best for your family. For honest home school curriculum reviews by a homeschool mom with 16 years of experience, visit http://www.home-schooling-haven.com/home-school-curriculum.html Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Debra_Proctor Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2106180

What to Look For in a Homeschool Curriculum

Making the decision to homeschool a child is never an easy one for a parent to make. For some, the decision to homeschool a child is based on the fact that they were homeschooled themselves, or oftentimes the result of a negative experience or disillusionment with the local public or private school curriculum. Whatever the reason, it is imperative that parents take the time to consider the curriculum that is best for the needs of their child. In order to find the program or approach the will best serve the academic needs of their child, parents have to consider everything from the individual learning style of their child to specific topics covered as part of the curriculum, Choosing the right homeschool curriculum doesn't require an advanced degree, but it does require careful thought and consideration. Homeschoolers should exercise patience and avoid becoming overwhelmed with the multitude of choices. Parents should consider factors such as learning and teaching styles, grade level, number of students being taught, religious affiliation, topics covered, and cost and overall value, among other things, when selecting a homeschool curriculum. o Consider the needs of the child - It can be very difficult for parents to separate their own needs from the needs of their child. Remember to keep the child's needs first when selecting a curriculum. Understand how the child's likes, dislikes, learning style(s), cognitive levels will affect the curriculum you select. o What teaching style do you prefer - There is room in homeschooling for the parents too. Since parents will be the one's doing the teaching and putting the curriculum into effect, it is important to consider the individual teaching style that a parent prefers. Parents should consider the amount of involvement and control that they want to have over their child's instruction. Does a parent want the program to do the teaching for them, or do they want to be able to exercise more control and have more input into the style of teaching that is used? o What is the child's cognitive level - A child's cognitive levels should also be taken into account when selecting a homeschooling curriculum. If the program selected is too advanced or to easy, it may prove ineffective to a parent's efforts in educating their child. o What topics should the curriculum cover - The specific approach that a curriculum program takes is also an important factor for parents to consider. What topics does the program cover and do those topics fit in with a parent's individual academic philosophy? In addition, parents should consider if a curriculum has a religious skew to it, if it is relevant to the issues of the day, and whether or not the curriculum can be used over time and with more than one student. o Cost and value - By far the biggest consideration that parents have to make when selecting a homeschooling curriculum is the cost and value of the program. Is the program a simple guide, or is it more extensive. An extensive curriculum may require the purchase of additional materials. Does the program include consumables or can many of the items be reproduced? If the program or curriculum ends up not fitting in with the needs of a child, can it be re-sold? o Is the curriculum aligned - Parents should take great care to determine if the curriculum they are choosing is aligned with state or government agencies and whether or not is was developed by an accredited agency. This can prove to be very beneficial when a child begins to apply for admission into colleges and universities. One of the highest quality, accredited homeschool curriculums and offers parent support and training is Laurel Springs School. Laurel Springs School is an accredited, college prep private school offering distance learning programs and teacher services for students in grades K-12. Laurel Springs uses web-based communication tools, a standards-based curriculum, and personalized instruction to offer students the highest quality home education experience based on your child's learning style. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Jackson Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1621218

Overview - Homeschooling Curriculum Options

There are probably as many different homeschooling curriculum options as there are homeschool students. Families make curriculum choices depending on their comfort level with homeschooling, and also the subject matter. Many families feel more comfortable creating curriculum for the early grades, while many feel greater ease using prepackaged curriculum for subjects they're less sure about, such as biology or geometry. Packaged Curriculum Homeschooling families new to homeschooling, often start off with a prepackaged curriculum. Many companies offer a prepackaged curriculum. Explore the different offerings and try to evaluate the curriculum and see how it fits your family. Do you want a religion-based curriculum? Choose one that reflects your religious values. Are you a busy parent juggling the homeschooling of two or three children? You probably want to choose a curriculum that doesn't require a lot of parent involvement and provides teachers. Try to evaluate how your child learns. Is your child a visual learner? Is your child a kinesthetic learner? Is your child an active learner and self-motivated or does your child need more direction? Preview the curriculum activities with your child in mind. Many areas have homeschool curriculum stores where you can preview many different curriculum options. Many act as places where you can sell your used curriculum materials and buy new ones. This helps keep the cost down, but does limit your options. Reputation and Accreditation Parents can make curriculum choices based on the reputation of the curriculum publisher. Reading reviews from other homeschool parents helps to evaluate whether or not, the program is right for your family. Networking and talking with other homeschool families is a great way to get first hand information of what has worked for them and why. Traditional schools are accountable through a process of accreditation. Outside agencies provide oversight and evaluation of the schools curriculum and practices. Homeschools are not required to be accredited and many homeschool parents don't want any kind of oversight on the curriculum they choose for their family. But often parents and students worry about the high school transcripts and how college admissions boards will look at them, if they don't come from an accredited school. But things have changed now, there is the option of working with an accredited distance learning school whom provides the accredited curriculum and teach support. Distance Learning More and more people are turning to the Internet for their homeschooling curriculum needs. Many schools are offering online classes for students at all grade levels. These distance learning schools are often a great resource for homeschool families. Students enjoy the online community aspects of taking online courses. Parents often feel secure because they have previewed the curriculum and they know their student is learning in a way they find to be beneficial while having the support of a teacher. As students get to the high school level, distance learning becomes an indispensable tool. Students can take high-level classes, such as honors classes and online Advanced Placement courses, and receive credit from an accredited institution for them. Often, if the high school student has a strong interest or talent in a specific subject area, colleges will offer online classes to high school students for credit. To learn more about a quality, distance learning homeschool please visit Laurel Springs School. Laurel Springs School is an accredited, college prep private school offering distance learning programs and teacher services for students in grades K-12. Laurel Springs uses web-based communication tools, a standards-based curriculum, and personalized instruction to offer students the highest quality home education experience based on your child's learning style. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Jackson 0 Comments | Leave a Comment Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2052501

Early Childhood Curriculum

Early childhood curriculum, early reading programs, and numerous other kinds of preschool curriculums created to develop smarter babies and toddlers, flood the market today. All in an effort to get your money... Yes, at the end of the day, companies behind these early reading programs, infant curriculum, and various other curriculum kits, want to do two things. Of course they want your money, and if they want to stay in business, they also want to deliver on their promise to help your baby or toddler learn to read, learn math skills, or even develop "perfect pitch" with toddler curriculum on music. As parents of five, including our baby angel, Elisio, we have over ten years of experience finding the best toddler curriculum available. In fact, we are still looking for fun homeschool curriculum, creative curriculum, and preschool curriculum ideas to actively engage our children and help them develop as individuals who love to learn! As parents, I believe we all want the best for our children. Finding the Best Toddler Curriculum So how do we know when we have found the best early childhood curriculum? The best curriculum makes learning fun, in the context of love and joy! Effective preschool curriculum does not replace you as your child's teacher, it actually provides you with more bonding time between you and your baby or toddler. Some of the best curriculum is not necessarily expensive either. In fact, some of it can be very inexpensive and sometimes even FREE. Some examples include: 1. 5 x 8" index cards used to print "word cards" for teaching your toddler to read, as outlined in the popular book Teach Your Baby to Read by Glenn Doman. There is probably a copy of this book at your local public library for FREE! 2. FREE library books with "real world" images for expanding your child's background knowledge. 3. FREE library books that are filled with rhyming phrases, such as the popular Dr. Seuss series, for developing your toddler's phonemic awareness or simply the ability to recognize rhyming sounds and word patterns. Why is Early Childhood Curriculum So Important? According to the latest research on infant brain development, conducted by the Institutes for the Development of Human Potential, we know that babies and toddlers learn faster and easier the younger they are when we give them the opportunity to learn something new. That is why, selecting the best preschool curriculum is so important early in your child's life. When shopping for early childhood curriculum, it is so important to get your questions answered first. Of course, as a parent, getting your questions answered by other parents is the way to go. Infomercials, and the companies behind the best marketed preschool curriculum, will do their best to tell you what you want to hear. Rule # 1: Always talk with a parent who has successfully used the preschool curriculum before purchasing anything...Ask them how the curriculum helped them achieve their desired results. Toddler Reading Curriculum...that works! More and more information on early childhood curriculum focused on "baby reading," is becoming accessible, as parents are proud to share their results on YouTube videos, blogs, and even entire websites that center around baby reading. Parents are also happy to share preschool curriculum ideas about the various early reading programs they have used to successfully teach their babies and toddlers how to read. Click the link above, or visit You-Tube and see what can be accomplished with your baby or toddler when using effective early reading curriculum. Love...Learn...Play More than anything else, know that if you openly express your love for your children, read and play with them daily, and discover creative curriculum and preschool curriculum ideas that increase the time you spend teaching them, your children will benefit for a lifetime! "Spreading Literacy Worldwide" "Believe It Baby!" Steven Van De Walle Download FREE Animal Coloring Pages [http://www.elisios-preschool-activities.com/animal-outlines.html] and get FREE access to many more preschool curriculum ideas and activities... Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_Van_De_Walle Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6669446

Great Gifts For Kids

What things make the best gifts for kids? That, of course, depends upon the individual children. Consider a child's age, location, interests and friends before purchasing any gifts. Why consider friends? Friends have much to do with what your children will do. Don't try to buy friends for your child, but what may be popular with one child may not be popular with others. If your child's friends aren't interested in the gift you choose, it may sit idle while the children search for other things to keep themselves occupied. Of course, children aren't always out playing with friends. When kids are at home, books are an important resource. In fact, books are some of the best gifts for kids. An educational gift is always a good choice. An early interest in reading can do much to help a child in school and to obtain a lifelong interest in learning. You don't have to concentrate only on works of nonfiction to help a child learn. Get books that interest your child-books rekindle a love of reading. If your child likes fiction, get fiction. Children learn more than you might think even from imaginary tales. Not only does reading help them learn, but it ignites a desire to continue to peruse other works as they grow older. As you choose books, consider award-winning works. As a parent, you may still need to do a little of your own screening, but award-winning books generally are considered the best of the best. Within reason, gifts that require interaction are better for developing the mind than those that don't. When gifts require no interaction, children tend to rely on emotional responses rather than critical thinking. When no analysis takes place, intelligence lags. Gifts that involve interaction, such as video games, are probably better for the brain than DVD movies. There are many popular video games on the market, and many are very affordable. If you decide to purchase video games for your child, opt for those that help them learn or stay physically active. Video games that provide a steady diet of theft, killing, and other illegal or immoral acts can give your child less compunction for similar activities in the real world. If you are considering a video game for your child, check out the Wii gaming system. Some of the games available for the Wii, such as Outdoor Challenge, require running, jumping and other activities than can help keep your child in good physical condition. It is an especially great way to keep them entertained on rainy days when they can't get outside. Anything that gets your child out of a chair and running around outdoors helps to improve physical fitness. Outdoor sporting equipment can develop both your child's mind and body. Obesity in young people is largely due to inactive lifestyles. Baseball, basketball, hockey, and other rigorous sports help develop stronger bodies, mental acuity and hand-eye coordination. Choose sports equipment that will interest your child. Not all children love baseball. Not all children love basketball. However, there is usually some sport that will interest your children enough to get them outside and running around. Even hopscotch is better than sitting in front of a television five hours a day. You could buy land in each of the 50 states for kids too. Okay, simply one square inch in any or all of the states. They'll receive a deed to each piece of their property and be able to mount them on the wall confirming their ownership. If given with a piece of history from you, each square inch of land brings a special meaning to your child. By the way, they cannot build on their one square inch of land, and it holds zero investment potential, but they do not have to pay taxes on it, nor upkeep it either and the novelty of it all is absolutely a great gift for any child. Some excellent sites to check out for the best gifts for kids as well as educational gifts for children include http://www.veryclevergifts.com, findgift.com, and gift.com. Scott Moger is an Internet entrepreneur and author who has been published internationally. His book on Internet marketing includes chapters on how to find great birthday gifts for kids as well as educational gifts for children. The book also features a novelty gift site which offers free land in the USA to all visitors. Earlier Mr. Moger held top management positions at Columbia Pictures, ABC TV, and 20th Century Fox TV and has represented Miramax Films and Warner Brothers TV. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Moger Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2463965