Martial Arts Can Help Young

Children Interact with Others By Joseph Galea

hen children enter the world, they are 100 percent dependent upon their relationships with their immediate families for all their needs. As they age, they begin to expand their relationships to others. Martial arts can provide a pivotal advantage for any young child during this critical developmental stage.

According to Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D., an internationally recognized authority on children in crisis, "Affiliation has its roots in attachment (the ability to form and maintain healthy emotional relationships) and in the capacity to control one's frustration and anxiety. Without these two strengths, no child can begin to form and regulate the relationships with others necessary to develop affiliation skills."

The primary benefit of martial arts training for young people is geared around the emotional and mental development of the child.

By the time your child has mastered even the most basic physical skills, he or she has most likely also mastered many forms of class etiquette and group interaction. Perry also states, "Children must learn how to join in, communicate, listen, negotiate, compromise, and share."

Parents, we're doing our part in the classroom. Here's how you can help promote affiliation:

1. Give your child social opportunities that match his or her level of development. Once your child has mastered parallel play, she is ready for interactive play with a peer. When she can share, introduce games in which three children play.

2. Don't micromanage your child's play. If your child invites a friend over and they end up in different rooms doing solitary things, don't worry. Both children will enjoy the playtime best if they aren't forced.

3. Keep expectations age-appropriate. Young children are not capable of complex affiliation skills. When your child can begin to invite friends over, make these first visits short and positive; it's better to end a good visit early than have children burn out on each other.

    4. Provide chances to practice social skills. Home life offers many opportunities to share, negotiate, compromise, and listen - all of which your child will need to do when he spends time with other children.

  5. If your child is shy or immature gradually encourage social play.   Start slow and give your child plenty of opportunities to interact with other children in a safe and predictable setting.

Source: Scholastic Parent & Child,

February/March 2002.

Let Martial Arts Help

You Get Fit Now     

ccording to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, nearly half of American adults report that they do not exercise at all, and seven out of  ten do so infrequently. Too many of America's youth do not exercise at all, are overweight, and have poor dietary habits. "In 1999, 61 percent of the adult population were either overweight or obese and 15% of American children are overweight." Obesity and being overweight have reached epidemic proportions in the United States. These weight conditions have been linked to increases in serious diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (bronchitis, emphysema, asthma), and diabetes. The good news is that the council states that, "the health of Americans would improve with modest but regular physical activity and better eating habits." For this reason, the first and second priorities of President Bush's Healthier US Initiative are: 1. Be Physically Active Each Day and 2. Eat a Nutritious Diet.

There is probably no better time to start a martial arts program than right now. The fall season marks a point of decreased exercise for many Americans as outdoor activities diminish. Combine this with the upcoming holiday season when poorer eating habits set in; it's no wonder so many people will be making weight reduction their upcoming New Year's resolution. Martial Arts provides necessary exercise as well as the discipline to make better eating choices.

President Bush's initiative has a very simple formula: every little bit of effort counts. The key to becoming fit and healthy relies on the consistency of your fitness plan. "You don't have to become a marathon runner," the council states. Martial Arts provides year round physical activity to provide your body with routine exercise that can help you reach and maintain appropriate body weight. Reaching this objective statistically improves your chances of avoiding certain diseases, and also positions you as a role model for other adults and children. Not to mention how great you will feel being physically fit. For the latest information on the HealthierUS Initiative, visit www.fitness.gov.

by Joseph Galea