What Should a Child be Learning in Preschool?

Is your child heading to preschool? You might be wondering what they need to know. This guide will help you understand and what kids learn in preschool and how you can help them at home.

Preschool can be the first time that a child learns in an educational setting. This is a time of significant change in a kid's life. Making sure that they're having fun no matter what they learn will help them to understand that education can be fun rather than stressful. In general, you can expect preschool to be a time of learning the basics. These basics include everything from math to friendship.

Pre-Math

When your child starts pre-school need to learn the foundations of math. Usually, this includes understanding and being able to count from 1 to 20. They also need to understand that numbers can correspond to objects by counting things like stones or cars. You can help them at home by making fun activities out of counting, for example, Hopscotch.

Basic Shapes and Colors

Learning about shapes and colors can help with math, art, and language development. They'll begin to understand how things connect together both in terms of physical shapes and style. Adding in art projects at home can be a great way to get them to sort and play with colors and shapes.

The Alphabet

In preschool, children will learn that letters correspond to sounds and how to make basic words go together. These are all essential for when they learn to read soon in their lives.

Learning the alphabet at home is more than just the ABC song. You can try making up a new song with words that correspond to each letter. Making fun games by using alphabet magnets is another excellent way to get kids involved.

Cooperative Play

In preschool, kids learn to play creatively with each other. This also teaches them to get along and to resolve a conflict. Furthering this at home is easy! You can set play dates and go to the park. If you have more than one child, the process is even more straightforward because they're already learning it at home. Make sure that anytime a disagreement happens you help them work through it themselves so that they understand consequences and how they should react.

Motor Skills

In preschool children will learn and further develop both are fine and gross motor skills. This can often happen when they're making crafts with macaroni and cheese or bouncing on a trampoline. It's important for young children to learn these skills so that they can fine-tune their pincher grip and finger strength as well as improve their coordination and dexterity.

Taking your child to a playground can be a great way to improve your gross motor skills. Help them balance on a balance beam or cross the monkey bars. If you want to work on their fine motor skills, let them play with smaller toys with your supervision. Arts and crafts are great for example.

Social Independence and Social Skills

There is a very high chance that up until this point your child has spent many of their days with at least one parent. It's at preschool that they really begin to learn independence from a parent and how to act around other children. This can be especially so for only children whose parents didn't work before sending them to school.

It's normal to expect a little bit of dependency on a parent, that's not a bad thing at all. If you want to work on your child's Independence, taking them to a safe backyard with another parents child is a great way to observe from a distance while they learn to get along with other children. Also, trade children with your friend for a few hours at a time. This will let you get things done while your child learns to be okay away from you.

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Overall, preschool is a beautiful time for a child. It's their first real for real into the educational world, and they'll learn more in this one year than in many of the following years. This is the setup for their education, you need to make sure that they're having a lot of fun but learning a lot too. Bodies in Motion offers a beautiful and very active preschool for the Boise Idaho area. If you're interested contact us today!

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Getting outside is remarkable and refreshing. During these cold days, it can be hard to find motivation and enthusiasm to weather the frigid air. We’ve got some cool tips (pun intended) and places to go to have some fun.

First off, have a mindset like the Norwegians. They have a saying- Det fins ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær. That means “there is no bad weather, only bad clothing.” 

Then, create a fun endpoint, such as stopping at a local coffee shop for a delicious warm mocha, and a hot chocolate for the kiddos. 

1. The Springs in Idaho City. It’s about a 45-minute drive from Boise. Here, you’ll be able to dip in a man-made pool with hot springs water. It’s the Cadillac of man-made hot springs pools. There’s a wait staff to bring you poolside treats and beverages, including beer & wine. Just be sure to make reservations!
   http://www.thespringsid.com/
2. Kirkham Hot springs near Lowman. If you’re more interest in free, when it comes to hot springs, and don’t mind an extra hour drive, this hot springs is your best bet. There are several small pools, and a hot springs waterfall, all beautifully located along the South Fork of the Payette.
   https://visitidaho.org/things-to-do/hot-springs/kirkham-hot-springs/
3. Camel’s Back Park. One of the best times to hit Camel’s Back, in the winter, is when it’s cold and gorgeous. The trails will all be frozen, and the views are typically stunning at the top of the hill. Hike around, play on the equipment, and then hit one of the many eateries or coffee shops right in Hyde Park.
   https://northend.org/camels-back-park/
4. Tubing Hill at Bogus Basin. Just a 45-minute drive from Boise, and enjoy the thrill of flying down a hill, and then being brought back up on a people moving conveyor belt. Then, repeat! You’ll want to be sure to make reservations!
   https://bogusbasin.org/tickets-passes/tickets/reserve-tubing-hill/
5. Tubing Hill at Eagle Island. If you’re closer to Eagle and don’t want to make the trek up to Bogus, then Eagle Island is your best bet. It’s not as big as Bogus Basin’s Tubing Hill, but still a lot of fun, and easy to get to.
   http://gatewayparks.com/eagle-island/
6. Ice Skating at The Village. It’s not quite like ice skating in the Rockefeller Center in New York, but it’s still pretty cool. And, it supports the philosophy of having an end game that warms you up. There’s plenty of places to grab a warm bevy afterward or even a movie.
7. Family Scavenger Hunt. This is something that we hope to be offering very soon. In the meanwhile, check out some other groups by Googling Scavenger Hunt in Boise. We created our own and a trial, and it was an absolute blast for our test group. Here’s one we found, but don’t know anything about this group.
   https://www.getyourguide.com/idaho-l1620/boise-amazing-scavenger-hunt-adventure-t70722/
8. Zoo Boise. I know, I know! Everyone says the Zoo, whether it’s winter, spring, summer, or fall. But, seriously, we think the Zoo is great when it’s cold. Unlike the summer, the animals are cooler and aren’t resting in the shade as much. And, there are a lot fewer people.
   ​https://zooboise.org/

Hopefully, you can find some fun activities. If you’ve got some ideas, share in a comment. And, remember our main tips:

• There’s no bad weather, just bad clothing. Bundle up and don’t let this stop you.
• Pick an activity.
• Establish an end game such as coffee and hot chocolate.

How Physical Fitness Helps Build Confidence

Most if not everyone knows that physical fitness is terrific for the body. We workout to keep our bodies in shape and improve our quality of living. However, did you know that physical fitness is also beneficial for the mind? 

It is! 

When you workout, you are also challenging your mind. You must push yourself mentally to keep improving, and you must also accept that you are capable of more. All these efforts can lead up to a more significant change. What is that? Physical fitness is great for building the self-confidence of adults and kids alike. 

Getting in Shape Helps You Feel Better

Have you ever hear of the runner’s high? It’s a feeling that runners get during a race which makes them feel exhilarated and euphoric. In over-simplified terms, this feeling comes about because your body releases endorphins. In a way, they are the bodies painkillers. They are produced when the body is going through discomfort. 

How does this help you? It’s not just a runner that can get this “high.” Each time you work out, your body releases endorphins. These endorphins help make you feel better as you workout.

As an added boost, the CBT Therapy in London, says that when you feel better physically, you feel better mentally. This fact means that your whole body will be happier after a hard workout, chemical help or not. 

Strength and Accomplishment

Let’s say you didn’t get the runner's high, but you pushed yourself further than you thought you could. In this case, your confidence could also be boosted with the feeling of accomplishment for what you just did. In many cases, our self-worth is rooted in how we feel about ourselves that day. If you feel better and feel more accomplished after each workout, you’ll then feel more confident in your life. 

How does strength play into this? When you push your body to become stronger, you force your mind to get stronger too. To overcome limits and build yourself up you must be ready to ignore small amounts of pain and discomfort. In many ways, this can help you to ignore, as the younger generation, says, “the haters.”

Stress Reduction Means Better Confidence

Did you know that if you workout, you help to reduce the stresses of your day? Let’s go back to the runner’s high. Other than pain relief, this chemical release also helps to reduce the weight you're currently feeling. 

When you go from task to task during each day, you might begin to feel stressed if you can’t keep up. If your kid has homework, they might start to stress as well. Taking a break to workout can help your body to reset. Afterward, you will feel more confident in your abilities and the day ahead. 

Working Out and Stress Reduction Both Make You Smarter

Ask yourself, after your workout, do you feel groggy or do you feel alert? More than likely, you feel alert. This feeling is because working out boosts the oxygen in blood, in turn, helping the brain. 

Relating to this, how well do you perform your work or school tasks when stressed? Chances are you don’t do well. That’s normal. Adding the past two topics together, and it’s easy to see how effective working out can be for your brain and confidence.

Confidence from Your New Body

Saving the most obvious for last, body confidence is a significant part of working out. If you aren’t happy with how you look, you’ll more than likely lack self-esteem. As your body changes and gets stronger, the accomplishment you feel will boost your self-esteem and confidence.
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Overall, working out can do great things for both the mind and body. Through working out, you can see both your fitness and mental goals come into fruition. The feelings of accomplishment and stress reduction accompany workouts making your mind feel confident and refreshed after each session. Your new body will help your self-esteem and the increase in oxygen to your brain. If you’d like to see what working out can do for you, check out all the classes we offer, great for both kids and adults alike! 

Five Reasons Why a Kids Gym is the Perfect Birthday Party Location

Planning a birthday party for your child can be complicated. You have to determine what you will do, where it will be, what everyone will eat, what cake is needed, what decorations to put up, and more! Depending on age, you might be running out of ideas! On the other hand, you could be unsure of what is age appropriate. 

Bodies in Motion would like to suggest an idea you might not have thought about before. A kids gym can be the perfect place to host a birthday party for almost any age. Today, we’re going to talk about the top five reasons why a kids gym, such as Bodies in Motion, is a great birthday place. 

1. Simplified Planning

Having a birthday party at a kids gym means being able to obtain help from people who understand and work with groups on kids regularly. In many gyms, you will be able to receive assistance in planning on many fronts from the theme that is used on the decorations and cake to the activities and games played during the party. 

2. Controlled Environment

When you pick a birthday at a family entertainment center, you won’t be the only person using the location. In many cases, you won’t even be the only party taking place at your chosen time or day. When you select a children’s gym, chances are you will be. Not only that, but you will also be staffed by trained professionals who each have experience with handling multiple large classes in a kid’s gym setting. 

3. Healthy Activities

Though your child might be eating all manner of unhealthy foods, they will be able to take part in many physical activities. These activities can help them get out energy and build muscles and confidence. A birthday party at a kids gym is an excellent way to both make your kid happy and slip in some fun physical fitness. 

4. Group Bonding

Many birthday party locations can quickly turn into each kid doing what they want all across the building or park. A birthday party at a kids gym gives children the availability to bond through fun tasks and games designed by the gym trainers. Though there are times for open gym activities, you won’t have to worry about kids getting left out or being left alone!

5. All-Weather Party

Though everyone loves a pool party or back yard jam, the weather isn’t predictable very far in advance. Due to this, you could have to re-schedule or cancel altogether if you don’t have an indoor option. A kids gym allows for an indoor opportunity that’s just as active and activity-friendly as an outdoor pool or yard. The open space allows for all manner of activities, and each course can be used depending on the age of the group.
 

Picking a birthday location can be a tough choice. You can look at parks, back yards, pools, bowling allies, family entertainment centers, and more. However, each of these can suffer from lack of safety control and weather-related issues. At the end of the party, you might find out that each child spent more time with their parents than bonding with each other. 

Having a party at a kids gym is a one-stop solution. Make planning simpler, know that your kids are safe, and make sure they can all have fun together no matter the weather. Bodies in Motion offers children’s parties with customized plans based on age and interest. We’re happy to help you take the stress out of celebrating with your kids and their friends!

This interview is with the mother of one of our wonderful preschoolers. Adam is a four-year-old boy who started our program knowing very little English after moving to Boise from Israel. We’re thrilled at the progression he’s made, and look forward to pushing him to reach even more goals!

Adam’s mother talks about her thought process in choosing Bodies in Motion for her child. Together her and our preschool director talk about the best part of the school and what preschoolers and their parents can expect by coming to Bodies in Motion.

Preschool Director: What process did you use to find a preschool or child care for your child?
Adam's Mother: “When we moved to Boise from Israel, I started to ask all my new friends for recommendations. Lena and Mark Tunik spoke highly of your establishment from their personal experience. During the tour, I liked what I saw (big and clean rooms, happy kids, a lot of friendly staff members) and I also liked the concept of moving through different rooms and activities during the day.”

What did you want to know in order to make a final decision about where your child would go to school?
“I wanted to know that kids are being treated in a respectful manner, that they are safe under your roof and being educated through different games. I wanted to know that Adam will get extra help in his special situation because he was not speaking nor understanding English at all at the beginning of the year. I wanted to know the hours and the price. I wanted to hear a genuine opinion about your place from other parents.”

Why did you choose the Bodies in Motion?
“I chose Bodies in Motion because I felt genuine interest to help Adam learn English and also because I trusted Lena and Mark's opinion based on their personal experience. As well, it was relatively close to our house and the hours were great for us.”

How do you know what is happening in school?
“I usually get in touch with Adam's teachers via the Brightwheel app or set up a one on one meetings, but at the beginning of the year the communication was more personal at the end of each day I was asking how was his day and what has happened. I also visited the preschool couple of times during the day to see with my own eyes what is going on. We were working together on resolving some of the issues with Adam and we did a great job based on the results that I see at home and at Bodies in Motion.”
 
How do you know if your child is happy?
“At the end of the day Adam comes home and tells us in Hebrew how his day went and what did he do, he is always asking to go to preschool even on the weekends. Kids his age don't lie, so I know that he likes Bodies in Motion a lot.”

How do you share information with the teachers?
“Either in person or via the App, whatever comes first.”

What is important to you about the program?
“For me, the most important thing about the program is that now Adam understands English and can say short sentences and communicate with his peers verbally. I also like stations concept and wording games. I also liked that the kids took very organized trips to the library, parks, museums and more. It was very educational and interesting for them.”

What changes do you see could be made?
“In Israel, in preschool, there are only one teacher and two permanent assistants, and it is a good combination in some cases especially if the child has chemistry with them. Some parents would prefer this option better. In our case, although there were some staff changes during the year, Adam was able to learn something new from each and every teacher/staff member.”

What did you like about the facility itself?
“I especially liked the open communication channel whether in person or via email, and the fact that I was actually listened to and was able to say what I really felt and wanted to say. I also liked the different rooms concept so that the kids could have a variety of activities during the day and not just being stuck in one classroom.”

Would you choose this facility again? Why or why not?
“Yes, I would certainly choose Bodies in Motion again because I think the preschool staff is amazing and doing a great job taking care of and educating our kids.”

What growth have you seen your child make? What made this possible?
“We managed to achieve verbal communication in English versus physical one at first. A lot of work was invested to make it happen from the preschool side and ours. From the preschool side it was making Adam repeat each word in English before he could actually get it. As well, there was a lot of visualization prior to actions, such as cards and posters, that helped him understand what was expected of him. From our side a lot of conversations were made with Adam in regards to his behavior on the premises and also the physical contact with the other kids (like you can't just hit every time you don't like something, you have to speak and ask for help and you will get help from your teacher). Another big change was social interaction with his peers, Adam did not know how to approach kids and play with them nicely. Today he knows how to do that, and we have seen him playing with kids other than his brother when we came to pick him up. He even told us that he has friends now, Wayne and Austin.”

Any additional comments to share with us?
“In general, it was a challenging year for our family and especially for the kids - getting used to a different language, behavioral code, and even food. I strongly believe that Bodies in Motion preschool staff made this transition a little bit easier for us and especially for Adam. It gave him a nice learning and social environment and a daily routine to look forward to. We are extremely happy to share this year with Bodies in Motion preschool.”


Here at Bodies in Motion, we have spent countless curriculum hours planning for differentiation. Through our years with children of every shape, size, ability, and personality we have been able to make our program fit our students. We have a general curriculum frame that allows for change and flexibility based on our kids each year. Bodies in Motion strives to set and reach goals with each and every one of our students. As a team; teachers, staff, parents and children create and work towards goals with the mindset that’ “As a team, we can do this!”

How to Get Your Children Outside More

If you talk to your parents about what they did as a child, you might find that most of their activities took place with friends outside. However, if you talk to your children, you might see the opposite. We live in a highly urban and technology friendly world lacking the green space that our parents and grandparents might have had. So then, how do we encourage our children to get outside more often?
Tell them it's okay
Some children have a fear of getting messy. We need to remind them that getting dirty and messy is okay and that it all washes off in the end. Encourage them to jump around in the mud and explore with their hands.

Create a scavenger hunt
Create a list of things that they need to find from nature and bring to you. Hide their items throughout nature. If you want to take it up a notch, try geocaching!

Create an Inviting Outdoor Space
If you don't have a playground nearby, there are still many things you can do to encourage outdoor activities. Get your kid some chalk, a ball, a jump rope, and some buckets. Set up a space or an area of the yard where all of these things can stay. Encourage them to go outside and use them as well as nature found items like sticks and rocks. Sometimes all it takes is just a few things to get them started.

Plant a Garden with Your Child
One great way to get kids out and started in nature is to plant a garden with them. Use vegetables they like so that they can look forward to picking and helping cook their food in the future. Another option is to let them help you plant flowers. Teach them as you go so that you are giving them some fun time in the dirt as well as an educational experience.

Walk to School
If you live close enough, try walking with them to school in the morning. Point out all the beautiful parts of nature including the colors, plants, and animals. If you don't live very close to their school, then try parking nearby and walking the last bit. Getting them outside in the morning can make a great start to the day.

Encourage Nature-Based Vacations
Next time you take a vacation go on a nature-based vacation. Try camping in the woods or hiking along a trail for two ideas. Another option is to go to the beach or the desert. These can be great ways to let them explore new environments. Take excursions to go canoeing or rafting or let them go to a nature preserve where they can see animals and learn about their natural habitats.

Move Regular Activities Outside
On an average day, you eat at your dining room table and spend your afternoons with your child in the living room. Think about moving some of these to nature. Start by having a picnic with your kid or eating on the back porch for dinner. Spend time taking a stroll in the afternoon rather than watching TV. Mindfully moving everyday activities outside is a great way to not only get your child out but yourself as well.

Overall, there are many ways to get your child outside more often. Getting your child out can result in better creativity and problem-solving skills. You might have to start by going with them, but eventually, they'll go outside with their desire to find and learn new things. Don't forget to take time with the whole family out regularly. This bonding time is a great way to lead by example and create memories with your children. Are there any other ways that you get your child outside?

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How Does Martial Arts Help Children? 
Martial arts is a sector of physical fitness that includes things like jiu-jitsu, taekwondo, and karate. Enjoyed by adults and children alike, the most apparent benefit is the improvement in physical health. Many adults will join martial arts as a way to reach their fitness goals. 

For the same reason, many parents have sent their kids to our classes. As a class member learns and grows, they will see healthy changes in their body including losing fat and gaining muscle. However, there are many other surprising benefits as to why children especially should start martial arts from a young age.
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Improved Concentration
Martial arts requires concentration and control to improve in the sport. This work is excellent for children, especially at a young age. Children as young as three years old can join our martial arts classes. Should the teacher notice, their mind wandering they will often employ a “ready stance” to get them back on track. 

This stance teaches the child how to refocus when they drift in daily life. Over time it helps the child to realize when they are getting distracted. As they get older, the children will use their own “ready stance” to stay more focused. You can see improvements in concentration during school and even at work as they get older.

Improved Coordination
Martial arts is a sport of repetition and learning. The deliberate and repetitive movements involved in karate can often help kids develop a better understanding of how their body works. Children that struggle with fine motor skills can reap significant rewards from the slow and repetitive movements that the sport employs. 

It's also valuable to children who have a hard time relaxing or sitting still. Hyperactive children can benefit from the mind over matter teachings. Over time, they will understand how to use a calm and focused mind to sit still. 

Self Defense Skills
When a child goes to martial arts, they can have fun while learning new things. However, what the child may not realize in the beginning is that those new things could one day save their life. While wanting the children to have fun, the instructor is also teaching them is how to defend themselves. 

The instructor will always focus on defense teaching that they should never use martial arts to hurt others or start a fight. Our program concentrates explicitly on taekwondo. However, we've designed a curriculum to maximize self-defense skills by incorporating other forms of martial arts. This mixing creates a well-balanced student that gets all the benefits possible from the program.

Energy Release
If you have a hyper child, you know how hard it can be to find an outlet for them. Unlike sports that keep them sidelined, martial arts is all in all the time. This all-in mentality provides an excellent outlet for children who need a way to channel excess energy at the end of the day. While many parents might worry that this energy release could teach them violent behaviors, the instructors are there to help.

As mentioned before, the instructors emphasize each class that fighting should be the last resort. They teach the kids healthy was to channel frustrations as well as how to employ mindfulness and compassion when they are upset. Through the use or bags and boards, children are shown the correct ways they can use their anger or frustration while also working on self-control.

Individually Focused
Though still in a classroom environment, martial arts is individually focused. Each child grows and learns at their own pace and with their own skill set. Children can often be seen helping each other get it right. The children do this because each child is working on his or her personal goals rather than competing against each other. 

Enjoyable for children who aren’t great at “normal” sports like basketball or soccer, this sport allows for as much time as they need rather than one season where they might be on the bleachers. Lastly, it’s also great for children who don’t like the idea of competition and instead desire to better themselves and beat their own goals. 

Overall, children can heal a lot from martial arts. It’s a form of physical activity that teaching mind over matter, self-control, self-defense, coordination, and anger management. Over time, participants will get more in shape both physically as well as mentally. If you are interested in learning more about martial arts for your child, why not come to one of our classes!

​Meet Calvin and Alanis, two students in our martial arts program.  They are siblings and are both members of an elite crew of dedicated students we refer to as Black Belt Club.  They come to an extra class every week, where we work on building muscle for the tough, physical requirements for Black Belt, perfecting poomse, and learning a Filipino weapons system. 

Calvin and Alanis are pretty hard-core.

Calvin is 12 years old, tall for his age, with dark brown hair and hipster glasses.  He’s startlingly smart and very observant.  Calvin's got lots of questions, and he always wants to do things right.  He earned his red belt a few months ago and is well on his way to Black Belt.  Calvin spent his holiday break writing an extra credit book report for Black Belt Club.  

Alanis is nine years old, also tall for her age, and generally pulls her long brown hair into a ponytail with glittery pink scrunchies.  She manages to balance martial arts and dance, and she’s pretty good at both of them.  Alanis is a blue belt, but she’s within spitting distance of red.  She’s always excited to be in class and works hard to learn the material.  

Calvin's Board Breaking Experience

One of the homework assignments for our Block 3 (red belt) students this segment was Focus, which included breaking a board for the first time.  The students are usually pretty excited until they look at a one-inch-thick hunk of pine board.  Their eyes get big, they swallow hard, and they think the instructors are crazy when we say it’s easy to smash their foot through.  Calvin was no exception.  It can be intimidating, no doubt.  But – like a true red belt – he got after it and smashed right through without any trouble. 

His favorite part of martial arts? “I like learning the self-defense and other cool moves.” Then, with a grin on his face, “Oh, and kicking through the boards!”  Part of Bodies in Motion’s purpose is to encourage empowerment.  Can you think of many things more empowering than a 12-year-old kid realizing he can smash his foot through a board without it even hurting?  He learned that he can quickly and successfully tackle scary-looking challenges.  It also doesn’t hurt to know he’s got a killer kick.

Calvin also says he values the self-discipline he’s learned over his years of martial arts practice.  It helps him get to class and work hard even when he’s tired.  He also appreciates the self-defense skills he’s learned and the physical strength he’s gained. 

Alanis's Love of Poomse

Alanis hasn’t had a chance to break a board yet, but her opportunity is quickly approaching.  Until then, she really likes learning the poomse.  Poomse (or forms) are a prescribed series of techniques.  The goal is to increase the power and speed of techniques by synchronizing the breath with the movement.  She likes being able to do them with precision and control at the Belt Ceremony to show off to her family.  It takes a lot of practice to be able to do the poomse that well, but she uses the self-discipline she’s learned to make it happen.  

Alanis says she really likes having strong self-defense skills along with the confidence those skills give her.  If she had a friend thinking about starting martial arts, she would tell her friend, “You should join to be able to defend yourself and to gain strength.”

Why Should a Friend Join?

If Calvin were to persuade a friend to join, he thinks his argument would be something along the lines of:

“You should join so you can get good at defending yourself and to learn good life skills like focus and self-control.  We should learn to respond to problems, not with violence, but learn to use some self-control to figure things out.”  

Parental Thoughts

Calvin and Alanis’ mom, Clare, usually brings them to class, and she has a lot of positive things to say as well.  She really likes the confidence and physical strength they’ve gained.  She’s a fan of our character development homework assignments and watches Calvin and Alanis put a lot of effort into those assignments.  She’s thrilled to know her kids have practical and useful self-defense skills. 

How does she know they have good skills?  They’ve practiced on their dad!  He says they work really well.  Clare also really loves the flexible class schedule.  We recommend that students come twice a week, but our students aren’t locked into classes on certain days at specific times.  Clare says, 

“If my daughter has a bad day or my son doesn’t feel well, it’s not a big deal.  We’ll skip that class and just come to one a different day.  It makes it so much easier for our schedule to not have to stress about making it to class at specific times.”

Calvin and Alanis (and their mom) agree that they are learning practical life skills in class as well as from the character development homework assignments.  They are building strong self-defense skills, which builds their confidence in different situations.  From poomse and board-breaking (as well as sparring, grappling, and boxing) they are learning that they can take challenges head on, and – with consistent, hard work – they can be successful.  That’s empowerment.