What is your child doing this summer….
Wait, what is wrong with this picture? Here I am writing about summer with it snowed over the weekend! Michigan in May?
But, believe it or not the end of school and the beginning of summer are right around the corner.
We intentionally put a lot into summer at Ohana Karate for three main reasons:
Keep as much Structure and Discipline as possible in your child’s life so they do not lose good habits.
Keep them Learning over the summer so they develop the concept but more importantly, the habit of “continuous learning” and the character trait of being a “life-long learner”.
Get them Ready For School so they have their ‘best year ever’ come September.
Our mission is to become that “village” that surrounds you and your child as they develop into young adults. We are also obsessed with answering the question: “What make the difference between a child that succeeds and thrives, and one that struggles and fails?”
So let’s take a look at each of the three above and help you take full advantage of all of them here:
Structure and Discipline: Believe it or not kids actually do want and thrive on structure and discipline. This stability and certainty helps them feel safe, confident and successful. And again, what is the difference between a disciplined and an undisciplined person? POWERFUL HABITS. And, habits are only developed with consistent, intentional repetition. This is especially true in a child’s early years of life. But, for most kids guess where most of the structure and disciplined actions and habits revolve around? SCHOOL. Now what happens when school disappears? The habits disappear. Parents are often surprised when they learn that there is no difference at our dojo between the school year and summer. These parents appreciate their child’s karate classes keeping at least some consistency and regiment in their lives without school. There is even more that you can do on your end. Definitely have fun and travel over the summer but when you are home keep their lives as structured as possible. Wake up and go to bed at the same time. Have regular meal time, reading, chores and family time.
Learning: This is one I am big on for one huge reason. All highly successful people know learning is a continuous process. It never ends! As a matter of fact the highly successful learn far more after their high school or college days are over. We inadvertently do something I do not think most parents realize – we teach our kids that learning is something you turn on and off! Bad habit! Here is how it typically works. Kids are surprised into the learning mode on an unexpected September morning when they are suddenly woken up by their Mom nagging them to wake up. Then in June we flip the learning switch off………..and we wonder why our children stop learning when they graduate or leave school? One of things we do over the summer that our parents really appreciate is our mandatory “Summer Reading Program”. If you want to know a simple basic key to a child’s success it is reading. Kids that struggle at reading will probably struggle at school. If they struggle at school they will grow to not like school. Probably the element of this program that parents like the most is we are the ‘bad guys’. You don’t have to tell them to read WE WILL!
Best Year Ever: Yes, it is June but if you want your child to have their best school year ever come September, when do you start working on it – in September? To make a long story short we methodically start preparing your child for the next school year in JUNE! We talk up school and why it is important. “School is important to us!” You can reinforce this higher standard by having discussions with you child on “your” family’s values, expectations and standards concerning education. Just start with this phrase “In our family………” Then in August we really start turning up the preparation. Our training theme for August is my“Best (school) Year Ever!
*By the way, we have something new and exciting for this summer – “Competition Season”! Watch for details shortly.
‘Till next time!
Yours for Rock Solid Kids,
Sensei