Instructor Spotlight: Mr. David

Mr. David is AWESOME! 

Mr. David may look like a giant during our children's classes, but he's a total softy on the inside. He gives amazing bear hugs and is always there to brighten everyone's day.

Mr. David strives to teach our Little Warriors:

"To always have integrity and do what is right no matter what!"

The kiddos love Mr. David because:

He likes to change his voice while counting off exercises, so they never know if he's going to be a pretty princess or drill sergeant for the day.

Because he makes sure everyone has the material before moving on.

Because when he rustles their hair for encouragement it is similar to being mauled by a bear.

Because of his big smile and his love of laughter

A few of Mr. David's favorite things:

Mr. David absolutely loves spaghetti! So much that he would be able to eat just that for this rest of his life. Talk about a commitment!. Mr. David loves martial arts and has been training with us for nearly 10 years! He also loves the movie 'The Godfather', dragons, reading, writing, lifting weights, and thinking. He is always up for a good debate and truly keeps our younger instructors on their toes with his almost daily thought provoking questions.

A little bit more about Mr. David:

Mr. David is a military retiree who is father to four of the cutest little girls ever. When we asked him what his dream job is he said "Being a dad to my girls. There is nothing I enjoy more." Definitely shows that this tough guy has a heart of gold. It's no wonder he fits in on the mat teaching our Little Warriors.

Mr. David you're a rock star! 

You set a great example for your girls and our students. We are so blessed to have you on mission and on our team. Can't wait to see how far you go!

#RaiseAWarrior 

A More Positive Way to Discipline

Ever wished your kiddo came with a remote control? Volume off button? Or a user manual? Trust me we've all been there. Sometimes you just have to escape reality for a moment with these kind of impossible day dreams. Because being a parent and Raising a Warrior is hard. I get it. We give them so much of our time, our day, our life and they push and push us until we just blow. Sometimes we yell. We always regret it, but we don't really have another tool that works when things get hot and tempers flare. 

But the truth is we know that yelling isn't okay to use for disciplining our child regularly. Yelling teaches a child that it's okay to use aggression to manage their issues with others. And I don't know about you, but that is definitely not the kind of trait we are trying to permanently instill. So this week's blog offers a more positive way to discipline. You don't have to yell. There is hope and a better way to keep things from getting to that point. So here are some excellent positive disciplining tools that we try to use in the Academy every day.

Offer choices:

Ever given your child a command and got a "no" as a response? It just makes your blood boil doesn't it? Rather than delve into this messy and dissatisfying power struggle realize there is a better way. Children have very little control of their life. They don't get to choose their food, what the schedule will be like, when they go to bed, or much of anything. So when bluntly ordered about they take a stand and try to show some autonomy. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can be very trying for us as parents. So instead of matching wills with your child offer them a choice. Even something as simple as "would you like to put your jammies on first or brush your teeth" allows them to exert some control in their life. We use it with punishments all the time. "Would you like to take a nap or write sentences?" It is very effective. Just make sure you can live with both decisions regardless of what they choose. And here's to less defiance in the future.

Create a yes environment:

How many times do you say "no" to your child throughout the day? Now consider how many times you say yes... there's a big difference between the two. The more we say "no" to our child in our day to day lives the less meaning it has and the more likely they are to ignore it. So work to make your home a "yes" environment. I'm not saying let them run the roost. But it is beneficial to give them a chance to try things and express their individuality within safe limits. Rather than saying "no" to a child who wants to spend the night at a friends, create a sleep over guideline, and if they violate that agreement and don't respect the boundaries it's buh-bye sleepover fun. This same plan works when teens want to drive, youth who want to go to the mall alone, etc. The less you automatically say "no" in day to day the more likely they are to pay attention when you do say it. 

Focus on how to set it right:

We often respond negatively to our child's mistakes. It's kind of our knee jerk parenting reaction. We say "No hitting," "Don't name call," "No pushing." But all of these "no's" don't teach our child the solution that should replace their behavior. It's okay to say "we don't hit" or "no hitting" you just have to follow it up with the solution as well, like "we use our words instead." This formula of correction clearly sets the boundaries and expectations for your child. And it also gives them a formula for success in the future. It's not guaranteed that you won't have to say "no" several times to get it to sink in, but you definitely won't be saying it for the rest of eternity. 

Check how you view mistakes:

Have you ever been around those parent's who call their child "bad" or "mean." This is such a terrible thing to say to a child. Even in moments of anger, the words we use to describe our child are fundamental in how they begin to view themselves. They aren't "bad." It is their behavior that is unacceptable, not them. And you cannot stress this enough during these formative years. So make sure, even in anger, you keep these goals in mind. It will go a long way towards helping your Little Warrior be confident and to continually keep building positive relationships with your little.

Be consistent:

Consistency is key when it comes to discipline. And it helps your child understand and learn what is and isn't acceptable. Without a consistent message from us, their parents, how can they know how to behave? We learn from our mistakes and we move past them. A kid with inconsistent consequences won't be able to do this. So set them up for success and be consistent in your discipline. Even when you're busy, or tired, or frustrated. It matters more than the rest of these all combined.

We've seen these changes to discipline work wonders for us and we hope they help your home life too! Keep it up parenting warriors! You're awesome!

#RaiseAWarrior 

Connecting with your Warrior: 5 Daily Habits to Make a Priority this Summer

     Ask any fellow parent how life is going and I guarantee you'll hear some version of "we're staying busy." Between the never ending emails, work, keeping house, play dates, kid's extracurricular activities... it seems like our to do list's and days are unending. But is all this busyness beneficial for our families? It is easy for us to view any productivity as a good thing when there are tiny humans involved because we parents all know how challenging it can be to get anything done on time with a kiddo or two in tow. So when we truly look at this currently trending 'busyness' epidemic is it a good thing or is it stealing chances to connect with our child away from us?

     Here at Warrior's Way we are firm believers that family time is the best time. The good news for you busy parents is that quality one on one time with your little ones trumps quantity any day. We know that your days are jam packed, but it only takes a few spare moments in between life to truly connect with our kids. So this summer lets make family our priority Warrior parents. We know that if you take the time to build these special moments into your daily routine a few minutes here and there, you will truly see your relationship transform in unexpected ways. So here are 5 easy daily habits to help make connecting with your Little Warrior a true priority this summer.

Hug it out:

     There is a lot of good that comes from simple hugs or an affectionate touch. In fact it is such a studied topic that family therapist Virginia Satir is most famously known for saying, "We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth." This is also probably the easiest new habit to squeeze into our already busy schedules. So give it a try and snuggle your kiddo a little extra today. Whether it's a good morning squeeze, a pat on the back, a friendly hello, or a gentle hair tousle these moments are priceless when it comes to our since of connection and well-being.

Enter their creative worlds:

     Kid's are so imaginative. Their minds are truly magic at all ages. So take time to enter their creative worlds. Get to know them in each and every creative stage, explore their likes and dislikes. As parents we know how quickly these interests and play worlds change. So savor each stage. Whether they are inviting you to color, kill creepers in Minecraft, build with legos, or have a tea party make it a priority. When you make time a few weeks from now that stage could be gone forever. So make their creative world a priority. These are the moments you will miss and wish for when they are older. And a child who feels connected and understood is less likely to act out than one who doesn't feel a priority. So make one on one play time a weekly priority.

Take 5 and be present:

     Because life is so busy we have become master level multi-taskers. I mean be honest with yourself... how many times have we been guilty of half listening to a story of our child's day while answering emails, texting, or making a grocery list? So take 5 minutes. The work will still be there when you're done. So turn off your phone or turn down the music for even 5 minutes. Your child will remember for the rest of their life that they were important enough that your stopped what you were doing and gave them your undivided attention. This is also an excellent practice in the car when picking up your child from whatever activity or event they just came from. Lowering the music and just asking them how today was can be a powerful invitation to connect. The lack of eye contact in a car really takes the pressure off so kids are more likely to open up and share.

Weekly one on one date:

     This is a cute tradition that even if done bi-weekly can lead to some truly special memories. We see varieties of this in many of our Warrior families and it's too precious not to share. And the best part is this can be whatever you want it to be. Some families get ice cream every Friday, others have game nights or go bowling every week. The thing is it doesn't matter what you do for your family date. Having something you can reliably look forward too, a chance to just let loose, laugh and have fun is good for everyone. So start some awesome traditions and make family date night a priority in your home. 

End the day on a high note:

     I get it Warrior parents. Sometimes your day is just too busy and you can barely squeeze in 12 affectionate hugs. Have no fear! Bedtime is an excellent chance to make up for this and reconnect. By bedtime we're usually winding down also and any left over work from the day can be put off until tomorrow. So use bedtime to ask about their day, read a story together, or just cuddle on the couch to a favorite show. This quick moment of connection makes bedtime special and helps to end the day on a high note. It is also a chance to air out any hurts or concerns from the day before. Taking a moment to handle those before bed helps start tomorrow off on a better note. So take advantage of this chance to connect and check in before bedtime.

      We know fitting these 5 things into your busy summer schedule is a tall order some days. But we wouldn't advocate for it if we didn't truly believe in the positive power of family time. Life with its infinite distractions and separate schedules has a way of eroding connection. So find those spare moments in-between your daily routine and make the most of them. The benefits are worth too much for us not to make an effort. I mean who of us doesn't want increased connection, understanding, and cooperation in our homes? Building these routines may take some work, but it will leave you more connected, stronger as a whole, and with a heart full of happy shared moments long after your child has grown and begun to spread their wings.

#RaiseAWarrior 

Instructor Spotlight: Mr. Brendon

Mr. Brendon is AWESOME! 

He grew up in our children's program and is still going strong in our adult classes! He is a great example for all of our Little Warriors and his little brother (who is also in our program) on the perseverance, hard work and dedication it takes to be a great Warrior and a Black Belt!

Mr. Brendon strives to teach our Little Warriors:

"To believe in themselves no matter the challenge. We teach them complicated sweeps and throws and I love watching the surprise on their face when it all works perfectly."

The kiddos love Mr. Brendon because:

Because his teaching is full of shenanigans like weird sound effects, combat rolls, and showing off

Because he knows and lives by the principle: learning isn't fun unless your teacher is having fun too

Because he is so silly and finds ways to cheer them on for every single improvement

Because he is always finding ways to teach them their test material plus bonus moves

A few of Mr. Brendon's favorite things:

Mr. Brendon (or Mr. B to his fellow staff) wholeheartedly believes that "a good burrito is the most superior food." This may sound extreme, but Mr. B doesn't do anything half way. He gives 110% in every thing he does and that is one of the things that makes him so amazing. In addition to loving a good burrito, the color purple, 'Baby Driver' the movie, and his sweetheart (who he met here actually. Talk about cute!) Mr. Brendon loves to create art with his drawing tablet and computer. 

A little bit more about Mr. Brendon:

Mr. Brendon just graduated high school and was accepted into the MSU Honor's Society. We are so excited that he is choosing to get his education locally and wanting to continue helping raise Warrior's while he's in school. Mr. Brendon dreams of being a surgeon and traveling the Irish countryside. When asked about his dream super power he wished for "telekinesis because the potential for shenanigans is very high." All in all he truly is a sweet, goofy, and fun loving guy. We also loves that his hero is "my father. He grew up in poverty then managed to come up from it and serve the country, be awarded the bronze star, and continue serving as a Police Officer." That powerful example of leadership and selflessness definitely shows in everything Mr. Brendon does.

Mr. Brendon you're a rock star! 

It's been amazing watching you learn and grow through all these years! 

We love having you back as such a great example and "big brother" figure to our student's. We can't wait to see how far you go!

Some tiny baby Warrior pictures of Mr. Brendon just for fun:

#RaiseAWarrior 

Summer Fun for the Whole Family

     Summer break is next week and the Academy will be closed for that 1st week in July so our staff can go on vacation. Some of you may have the week already planned and filled with epic activities, or vacations of your own. However, some of you just read that first sentence and are panicking, because that means no summer camp next week. Whichever parenting category you fall into (prepared or panicked) we've got your back. This week's blog post is full of family fun ideas that are only a car ride away. Feel free to use them next week or anytime during summer break for some truly memorable family fun.

Little Eden Farm and Exotics:

     Located in Harrold, Texas and making it a little less than an hour drive from the Falls town this is a staycation experience unlike any other. Treat your kiddos (and let's be honest, yourself also) to some sweet animal cuddles. This is your not so average petting zoo experience that includes kangaroos, lemurs and more. They open their farm by reservation only. So give them a call at 940-733-5250 or contact them on Facebook. Whether you go next week or sometime during the summer this will be a fun adventure to share with your Little Warrior.

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center:

     Located in Glen Rose, TX this fun little safari experience is worth the 3 hour drive. View over 1,000 endangered animals from the comfort of your own car or take one of the guided safari tours in their open-air buses. For a few extra bucks, you can even buy animal food at the front gate to hand out during your tour. We promise that if you're lucky enough to coax a giraffe over the experience of feeding them is unlike any other. Check them out at https://fossilrim.org/

Dinosaur Valley State Park:

     For the kiddos who love animals that are of the extinct variety Dinosaur Valley is a must go. Also located in Glen Rose, TX this is the perfect follow up to your Fossil Rim adventure. Here your adventures include geocaching, hiking, camping, swimming, fishing, horseback riding, and of course searching for dinosaur tracks. The dinosaur tracks in the river bed are amazing! But you can't always see them because they're in the river bed so be sure to check their site for more details on the water level and to bring swim shoes and suits. They also have an awesome FREE Junior Park Ranger Program that if completed earns your little adventurer a special edition Honorary Ranger Pin. For more information and to see if the dinosaur tracks are visible check them out at https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/dinosaur-valley 
        

Graham Drive In Theater:

     For those of you looking for a fun summer adventure a little closer to home don't forget about the Graham Drive In. Open most weekends, they play a variety of family friendly new movies. Plus their snack bar is delicious! Check them out at http://grahamdrivein.com/ to see what's playing next and plan a family night under the stars. Bonus is most weekend performances are double features and they are waaaaaaaaaayyyyyy cheaper than going to the actual theater.

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History:

     Maybe you've heard of them and maybe you haven't, but this kid centered play experience is different enough to be worth mentioning. With a dinosaur dig, rotating interactive exibhits, the innovative building studios, and the children's museum you can easily spend a whole day playing here. With activities for children toddler age to early teen they are definitely worth checking out. Plus there are so many things to do in the area for an ultimate midweek getaway experience. More details available at https://www.fwmuseum.org/explore/


   

Water activities:

     We all know nothing beats the Texas heat like a little water fun. The options nearby are endless with Castaway Cove, Hurricane Harbor, the multitude of splash pads in the DFW area, Great Wolf Lodge, and of course more homey things like a good ole' water balloon battle in the backyard. So plan on getting a little wet next week and let the good times roll!

Experimental play:

     Looking for something a little closer to home? Check out Downtown's Crashwork Studios! This creative play space has an assortment of odds and ends that provide hours of entertainment for all ages. And with a price of under $10 you truly can't beat it. Check them out at https://crashworkswf.com/about-us/ 

     This doesn't even cover a quarter of the Texas adventures you can fill your family's summer with, but we thought these were a few of the lesser known, and unique ones worth sharing with your Little Warrior. You could totally go to Six Flags, Legoland, the Zoo, or the Aquarium and fight the crowds again. Or you could go bigger and have an adventure unlike any other. In summer the options are endless. So have fun! And be safe during our Summer Break next week!

#RaiseAWarrior 

Instructor Spotlight: Miss Tamera

Miss Tamera is AWESOME! 

She may be small, but Miss Tamera truly packs a big punch! Her personality, kind heart, and technical skill makes her a rock star on the mat!

Miss Tamera strives to teach our Little Warriors:

"The value of inner strength. Even when the world is dragging you down you have the ability to fight for happiness and everything you want. So don't let them get you down!"

The kiddos love Miss Tamera because:

She really is the easiest to work with because of her size.

She's always singing or humming while she works.

She gets all the Disney references.

She truly is great at explaining and breaking techniques down in bite sized pieces.

A few of Miss Tamera's favorite things:

Miss Tamera loves martial arts. She was so excited to move up to adult class and be challenged by the new material that she requested to transition soon after her 15th birthday instead of waiting till 16. And she kills it in class. In addition to martial arts, Miss Tamera (aka Red, tomatoe, or "Tuh-meera") loves to read and loves to eat. She can frequently be found snacking, although her favorite is by far mac n'cheese. Since Miss Tamera is always singing, humming, and dancing her way through class it is no surprise that her favorite movie is the classic "Dirty Dancing."

A little bit more about Miss Tamera:

Miss Tamera has a passion for small animals (she has 5 pets), music, the martial arts, and for children. She loves to help the students learn and grow just like she did here at Warrior's Way. When we asked who her heroes were her answer definitely was the best. She said "My heroes would have to be Tuhon and Mrs. Krystal (not to sound too cheesy) because they build something out of basically nothing and look where they are. Changing lives. I know I wouldn't be the person I am without them." We couldn't be more proud of this young lady and her goals to continue working with children as a music teacher after school. She's awesome out on the mat and all her work with our student's are excellent reps to help her achieve her goals!

Miss Tamera you're a rock star! 

It's been amazing watching you learn and grow through all these years! 

We love that you enjoy and want to give back to future generations of Warriors. 

#RaiseAWarrior 

Sportsmanship: The Warrior Way

     No matter the age there is always a thrill that comes with playing games. We can't help it. As humans our innate nature and drive is to win. Now some competition isn't necessarily a bad thing. I mean after all competitive drive is what pushes us to do better in work, relationships, academics and life in general. However, a competitive streak can easily spin out of control.

      Here at Warrior's Way we're not about winning at all costs. We try to teach your kiddos that good sportsmanship means honoring everyone on the field of the competition, including opponents, instructors, parents and spectators. Because sportsmanship, when it really comes down to it isn't about games or rules, but rather it is about treating others with respect and being a good person. 

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     There truly is no great secret to teaching sportsmanship. Kids follow our lead and need chances to test what they're learning. Most Warrior characteristics are like a muscle. They need to be utilized frequently to become stronger and ingrained within your child. So here are some easy steps to focus on in your home to start making sportsmanship a greater priority to your Little Warrior!

Don't let them win:

     When your child wins a game or sport it can be the cutest. They're excited and happy. As parents we're happy they're happy. However, this can easily become a moral pitfall if you let your child win every time you enter a contest or play together. It is unrealistic that we (or our child) will come first in everything, every single time. Life just doesn't work that way. You know it and I know it. So stop indulging their continued winning streak. It may be the easiest route, but our children need to know what it feels like when you come out on bottom as well as top. Losing teaches us to be flexible and resilient. It teaches us to work hard in the face of adversity and to cope with disappointment. These are vital lessons our children need. Because life won't be pulling any punches when they leave the nest. I'm not saying hang them out to dry. Consistently give them advice on how to do better in the future, but do not let them win just because.

Put the focus on what really matters:

     The goal of games and competitions aren't to win-win-win! That's a bonus of course, but it will be very unfulfilling life if that becomes our sole goal. Competitions and games give us a chance to test our skills and see how our hard work is paying off. And they're meant to be fun! To build relationships and strengthen our teamwork and cooperation. So instead of focusing on the stereotypical "Did you win?" up your game by asking instead "What did you learn?", "What would you do different?", and "Did you have fun?" With these tiny focal shifts you are teaching them to relish the process rather than solely looking forward to the end result. This goes a long way towards helping them deal with the many disappointments life will inevitably throw at them. And wouldn't we all be happier if we stopped looking forward to the end goal and celebrated every single moment?

Set some goals:

      Competing with others is great, but our true competition throughout life is ourselves. There is always someone bigger, faster, and stronger than you. You just can't change certain genetics or physical traits. So set some goals with your Warrior and teach them to always strive to be their best self. Don't be in competition with the world when you have personal goals to crush. This reorientation of goals and focus also consistently gives the satisfaction of small wins. You can very tangibly see your daily, weekly, and monthly progress in between life's challenges. Like we tell the kiddos after every tournament. If you don't love your performance or if you want to do even a little bit better. Set a goal. Show up. Work hard. Crush those goals. And see how far you can go!

Not sure what kind of sportsman your kiddo is yet? 

Put these character building lessons and their skills to the test:

Don't forget to stop by the front desk and register for THIS weekend's GRAPPLING TOURNAMENT!!! 

Our Warriors have been training hard in class to prep for this event! 
We'll see you on the mat. Details posted throughout our academy

#RaiseAWarrior 

Instructor Spotlight: Mr. John

Mr. John is AWESOME! 

Mr. John's upbeat energy, constant jokes, & happy attitude makes him a rock star on the mat!

Mr. John strives to teach our Little Warriors:

"To have fun and always be yourself."

The kiddos love Mr. John because:

He is always joking with them and making them laugh

He has an awesome attitude no matter what

He is full of the most random facts and trivia

He truly knows all the memes and quotable YouTube moments

A few of Mr. John's favorite things:

Reading! Mr. John is never without a book or his trusty kindle. He is always encouraging others to try new series and learn new things. It is one of the things he brings to class that we absolutely love. In addition to loving pizza Mr. John also loves the show Game of Thrones and re-watching the movie Interstellar. 

A little bit more about Mr. John:

Mr. John (or Mister Jay according to his friends- definitely a Batman/Joker reference) used to be in our Little Warriors program many years ago. He has a lot of confidence and is always up for an invigorating debate. He truly loves to make people reconsider their typical views and think outside of their comfort zone. One of our favorite things about him is the example of confidence and courtesy that Mr. John shows our children every day even when his opinion might not be the most popular or correct. And although he may joke and tease daily, he truly is the kind of friend that has your back no matter what.

Here's some Little Warrior pics of Mr. John from his younger student days for you to enjoy:

Mr. John you're a rock star! Thank you for being you & making all of our days brighter because of it.

#RaiseAWarrior 

Avoiding A Summer Electronics Black Hole

      Summer is just around the corner! And let's be honest, it's wonderful that our sports and homework schedules have finally slowed down enough for our child to just be a kid and stretch themselves in all the ways they typically can't during the school year. However, it's safe to say that summer time definitely comes with a unique set of challenges for us parents. We want to relax our rules and the structure of our day to day life so our kids get a chance to just be kids, BUT we also know that's a slippery slope. Because with the prevalence of endless play as you go video games and binge worthy TV shows any child would quiet happily get on their electronic devices and not get off until school starts end of August. So as you start to map out your summer keep these useful tips in mind to help you craft a balanced summer play diet.

      Now let me be the first to say this Warrior parents. Screen time and electronics are fine. In fact they're often our saving grace when it comes to not losing our sanity on the hard days. Saying no to electronics for the entire summer just isn't realistic. They want to game and that's okay. Good habits truly are all about balance. When we set limits on things like screen time, we are working to create a healthy play diet for our child that balances all the different types of play (just like a well rounded diet balances the five food groups). Digital screen time is a component of play, but we must not let it overshadow or steal time away from other forms of play like physical, social, unstructured, and creative play.

      So how do we create this play diet and put a stop to the dreaded summer screen time abyss? We've compiled a list of great methods to help you Warrior parents set and enforce screen time limits within your home. Not all will fit your style, but you might just find one and make it stick. And isn't our children worth the extra effort to try?

"The Dessert Approach"

     Some people treating gaming or television time like an allowance. You just get it, every day, guaranteed. Maybe it's to buy you some quiet time or allow you a chance to get work done. However, it's important to remember that the easy way typically isn't the best option. We aren't a fan of this approach. We prefer to treat screen time like dessert. You don't just get dessert because you ate your dinner. Dessert is a treat, a privilege. And screen time works the same way. It becomes a reward rather than a guarantee. And utilizing gaming or TV time in this manner not only helps you balance their play time, but also gets them motivated to work and strive for ways to earn extra time doing what they want to.

Get outside with Apps

     This is a great way to have your cake and eat it too. The kids are on their phones using an app but they're also outside doing activities that you don't typically have time for during the school year. There are a bunch of awesome star gazing apps (for FREE!) that you point at a constellation and it tells you it's name or traces the outline of it for you. There are apps for Geocaching which is like a treasure hunt in your own town (we've done it in Wichita and there are actually quite a few fun ones near Warrior's Way, Academy, etc. Just make sure you bring some small knick-knacks or trinkets to replace the treasure you find). There are also countless apps that can help you do an outdoor impromptu workout, or apps with timers for spontaneous outdoor or creative competitions. There are apps to teach you how to make better shadow puppet figures. Truly your options are endless when it comes to integrating apps and outdoor play time!

Create stations

     Kids like gaming because it is easy, convenient, and fun. And it makes the time pass. When kids aren't off at summer activities, camps, or other structured events they are incessantly complaining of boredom which makes the weekends especially prone to endless game time. So instead of using screen time to stop this complaining give them an anti-boredom plan for success instead. Have entertainment stations set up in advance for those long days in. Reading, board games, cards, magic tricks, drawing, screen time, outside play, etc can all be stations used to break up the monotony of lazy summer days. With all these vastly different activities readily available it makes it easier for you to say no to endless hours of gaming and for them to have no justification when saying "I'm bored." Truly it's win win!

Have rituals to help with transitions

     It's hard to just jump into home life immediately after work. Most of us have rituals that help us transition into this other role. Our kiddos need the same things. When they've been killing creepers for hours, they truly are occupied and somewhere else. So lighten the mood by summoning them back to the real world or earth with a silly transmission space style "I missed you." This lighthearted come back to reality can become a sweet and meaningful ritual that not only helps them transition, but can also become a meaningful tradition they carry on into their own families later.

     Another great transition is to consider using a timer! A 30 minute episode on Netflix makes it easy for you to keep track of their screen time. Things like Minecraft are a little trickier. So try setting a timer for 30-60 minutes. Time can fly pretty fast when you're absorbed in technology so a timer can offer a no-arguing start and stop that was previously set and agreed upon. When the timer buzzes its time to turn off the game and get active. You can do this with some quick jumping jacks, or a quick stretch. Either way the timer lets you know times up and having a physical ritual after helps transition awareness back to the body after they've been sitting in the same hunched over position for an hour or so.

Have Summer time specific traditions 

     Evening time is prime game time because you can't really be outside and need to be winding down. So instead of all settling in for a movie, or playing on individual devices start new summer traditions in the evenings. Have a no devices rule at dinner time, read a book series together, sit out by the fire pit, tell ghost stories, chill in a blanket fort, challenge each other to epic candle lit board game battles, or even take the electronics outside with a projector or a drive in movie at Graham. All of these are great ways to take the focus off of video games and to build lasting and meaningful memories together this summer.

      Not all of these will be the right fit for your family and your life style, but we hope you have some fun trying out these ideas and finding a better way to balance your play time habits during this summer. Setting these limits will take

some practice, but if you consistently say no to the summer electronics black 

hole now it also sets you up for success when school time comes around.

#RaiseAWarrior 

Big Emotions: A Lesson in Self Control

     Patience is probably one of the biggest things we struggle with as parents. We start each day refreshed with a full energy bar of patience that our tiny humans chip away at until we literally cannot even anymore. Perhaps it was because you had to repeat yourself 437 times today, maybe it was the stressful morning rush trying to make it to school and work on time, the forgotten lunches, sibling fights; the list and your day goes on for eternity and your patience just doesn't. Problem is we are the role models 24/7. Through the good and the bad. So how do we teach our child to manage big emotions in a healthy and calm manner when the heat is on and our own temper flares?

     The truth is no matter our age, emotions are a powerful force to be reckoned with. Yet emotions aren't inherently bad. Emotions allow us a glimpse into how well things are going in life and what we need more of. For example happiness lets us know we are on track, sadness lets us know we are lacking something and might need to reach out to loved ones more, the list goes on and on. But if we don't have good coping mechanisms for each of these vastly different feelings than they can quickly overwhelm us and spin out of control. The result of this lack of self control when emotions start to cloud our judgement can be dramatic to say the least.

     Kids emotions may seem more extreme than ours, but it is only because they have yet to work out some good coping mechanisms and healthy responses to these big emotions. That can be especially evident if you look at anger for example. An angry child is a force to be reckoned with it. Which is a shame since you truly can't reason with them until they are much older. So how do we manage these big blowups that strike over the smallest of injustices without losing our sanity and our patience as a parent?

      The secret lies in having a calm down plan in place before the inevitable blow up. Having this strategy in place before any incident doesn't negate the importance or validity of your child's big emotions. But it does give them a formula for socially accepted methods of expressing themselves and dealing with this tricky emotions with one important key... they aren't allowed to hurt others. Many children will use their emotions as an excuse to strike out. Warrior's, however, know that it is never okay to hurt another and they take time to cool down and think through their feelings before acting. One of our Warrior parent's is a child psychologist and she first introduced us to these 5 steps for managing big emotions. We've been using it in our school ever since and have seen huge improvements because of it. So give it a try at home. You might be surprised with the result.

(1) Remind myself it is never okay to hurt others:

     When it comes to raising warriors this is the gold standard. No matter how you are feeling it is never okay to hurt others or their property. Not even with our words. When we forget that we are not acting with courtesy and respect. And our student creed says we will act with courtesy and respect at all times. That is a promise we say every class. And we warriors mean it!

(2) Take 3 deep breaths or count to 10 slowly:

     We like to cue the kiddos to do this by saying "let's take 3 for 3." This is a reminder to take 3 deep breaths and hold each one for 3 seconds. This doesn't make our big emotions go away, but it gives us a chance to think calmly rather than simply reacting which is a very important lesson most kids are a long way from learning. Ways we reinforce this with the kiddos is by going over the warning signs they need to recognize within their body that shows they're about to blow (i.e. fists clenched, racing heart, or tense up within the body) before an emotional event occurs.

(3) Use my words to say how I feel and what I wish would happen:

     Our emotions are valid and they need to be addressed so we can grow and move past them. When your child is able to accurately identify what emotion they are experiencing and state it the battle towards self control is half way there. This is the hardest lesson to learn, but it is the most rewarding. It requires the child to analyze why they feel that way and state what they want instead. Initially this will be out loud with some prompting on your part. As they burn more reps on handling their big emotions, however, your kiddo will be able to internally prioritize their emotion and whether or not it is worth making a big deal about (much like most healthy adults do).

(4) Ask for help to solve the problem:

     This is one thing that is difficult no matter your age. It is hard to ask for help. It is hard to admit we can't manage alone. However, this is such an important lesson for a growing Warrior. The more instilled this habit is, the more likely they are to come to you when challenges arrive during the teenage years. So take the time to let them voice their concerns out loud and give them a chance to work through their problems with you as a sounding board. The dividends in adolescent years to come are too priceless to let slip bye. So keep those lines of communication open and strong warrior parents!

(5) Take time to calm down:

     Sometimes the proposed solution isn't enough to make big emotions go away. Even if it is the best option available you can still be left feeling hurt, or like it wasn't fair. So sometimes your child might need some space and that's completely okay! Support them through this final step if they need it. And don't forget this step isn't required or used to isolate a still emotional child. It is okay to still be having big feelings. Our priority is to manage them in a productive and respectful way. So acknowledge the positive steps and decisions your Warrior has made thus far. Working through these steps is positive progress towards ending emotional meltdowns altogether.

You've got this Warrior parents!

#RaiseAWarrior