Dear parents and/or guardians…
SELF-CONTROL IS A WAY THAT WE SHOW RESPECT FOR OTHERS AND RESPECT FOR OURSELVES. SELF-CONTROL MEANS MAKING CHOICES NOT BASED ON OUR EMOTIONS IN THE MOMENT, BUT BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW IS RIGHT FOR OURSELVES AND FOR OTHERS.
This month, we are discussing self-control. This is an essential skill for children to develop as they mature, as it is crucial to success in school, work, and in relationships. Your child has the chance to regularly practice self-control through martial arts training; however, they also need to develop this skill outside our school in order to prepare for more stressful situations in life when self-control is harder to practice.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
- Praise your child for good behavior – especially good behavior that you did not witness firsthand (e.g. “Your teacher said she saw you at recess today. You got off the swing set without being asked to give another girl a turn. That was very kind of you! I’m proud.”)
- Model self-control by having “a long fuse.” Try to avoid snapping at or in front of your children and use calm, rational problem solving over angry gestures.
- Go over household rules and responsibilities as a family. Show your children what place they have in maintaining order (cleaning their rooms, helping with dishes, taking out trash), and remind them why it is important. Explain that them using self-control to do their share, even when they don’t feel like it, is important and appreciated by the whole family!