Difficulty with Life Skills in Today’s Society:

Life skills are the collaborative basic requirements deemed by society to be the “correct” way to relate to others around you.  Life skills include kindness, consideration, sharing, manners, focus, compassion, the ability to listen, patience, determination, courage, perseverance, goal orientation, physical and mental strength and wellbeing, common courtesy and positive leadership qualities.  Once mastered these skills allow each individual to succeed in today’s society despite obstacles or hardships. 

Learning to function in our world has always been a difficult lesson for children to have to learn as they grow.  In today’s fast paced and often busy schedules, it has become almost impossible for parents to be able to completely prepare their children for the challenges they may face as older children, teens or adults.  The basic etiquette and life skills which were once easier to attain, have now become harder to distinguish because of society’s need to have things accomplished “yesterday” and an overwhelming feeling of an individual’s false sense of entitlement sometimes replacing the idea of having to work hard for one’s own success.  These lacking life skills can often frustrate our teenage children as they attempt to function in a culture that does not totally accept them without these necessary skills.  As a result, we, as a society, are left with angry and frustrated teens who believe that their only recourse is to lash out in a negative, non-productive manner.

The earlier we can begin teaching our children the importance of how we relate to others, the more chance that each child will be able to effectively communicate with those around them.  At ATC, our programs are developed specifically for each age group to have the most positive impact possible on the constructive development of today’s children.  By starting training at the Little Lion level, children are better ready to listen and incorporate ideas as they grow older.  Those Junior students who have been through the Little Lions program already have the basic listening, coordination, discipline and focus skills necessary to effectively implement all they are experiencing through their martial art, both in the studio and out in the general public (i.e. school, stores, formal functions, etc.).

Learning Negative vs. Positive Choice-making:

Children in today’s society face many problems on a daily basis.  The social structure of the family and society in general are not nearly as supportive as they have been in the past.  Children are consistently faced with new and difficult decisions to make and are often at a loss on how to deal with them.

The choices our children make can frequently change the course of growth from that of a positive experience to that of a negative one.  Our children are too easily led astray by negative and sometimes harmful influences in the form of peers or influential adults.

To avoid such a negative outcome, it is extremely important to open a constructive dialogue with our children at a young age, on how to deal with situations which may arise.  Learning to make good choices on a day-to-day level at an early age reduces the likelihood of bad decisions as a preteen or adolescent.

A large part of being able to make sensible choices is for children to learn how to surround themselves with positivity.  Opting to “hang out” with friends who share the same morals and values can assist in avoiding unconstructive attitudes.  Positive begets positive; negative brings about negativity.  So if we teach our children how to pick and choose peer relationships wisely, they are not as likely to be lead astray.  In the same way, the best way to teach our children is by example.  So it follows that it is important that the family as a whole, associates with other families who have positive values. 

At ATC, we constantly stress the importance of choosing the right friends.  The instructors and Masters are readily available and eager to assist parents in helping their children make good choices.  Private and confidential consultations are encouraged by the organization.  Sometimes, lessons stay with children better if the thoughts are relayed by another authority, other than the parents.  This way, no parent needs to feel overly frustrated at the day-to-day decisions their children are faced with.

Life Skill Story Books, Manners & Etiquette Books, Educational Toys, Videos and Clothing