7 to 9 Year Old Kids are INTENSE!

Kids between 7 and 9 years of age tend to have strong opinions and very little volume control. On the other hand, when they are intellectually or emotionally overwhelmed, they tend to shut down completely.

In our Core SKILLZ child development program, these ninjas learn how to apply self-regulation techniques so they can balance out their levels of intensity.

They learn that sometimes big goals require maximum focus and effort, and that at other times, intensity should be turned down, like when they tell mom about class as they drive home.

By helping these children find the balance, they are better able to focus on what is happening around them and apply effort appropriately.

https://skillzofpatchogue.com/program/core-skillz/ …

Everyone knows that 3 and 4 year old kids don't listen, right?

Except… they do!

Sometimes, when we adults are in a hurry, we are in our own heads trying to get everything done. We bark out a command and expect our ninjas to comply. And when they don't, we get frustrated, doubt our abilities as parents, or our kids' abilities to listen.

Next time things aren't going your way, try this:

Pause for a moment to take a breath and remember that kids at this stage of development do not have the intellectual abilities to comprehend what could be so important beyond the activity they are currently enjoying. They also only have about 30% of their language processing skills so the things you asked them to do may have been out of their comprehension level.

Now that you've paused and taken a breath, remember that we adults DO have the ability to pivot easily. Intead of getting louder, get closer. Get down on their level physically, make eye contact, physical contact, and even say their name to ensure you have their focus.

Then ask them for what you need in simple language, no more than a few words per instruction, and no more than 2 to 3 instructions (their brains can't handle more).

As an added bonus, phrase instructions as "We are going to…" "Let's start cleaning…" and similar inclusive phrases. Start the task with them and then offer them greater autonomy as they take to the task.

Does it take longer in the moment? Sure, but in the long run, you are equipping your preschooler with the tools to focus, listen, and execute, so that next time you ask, they will be better able to comply.

Want to learn more about how we engage preschoolers in our martial arts themed child development classes? Click here: https://skillzofpatchogue.com/program/early-skillz/ …

Melanie didn't get down into her split by accident. It took Discipline!

To some people, discipline is something you do TO children: Be quite, sit still, pay attention… or ELSE!

But the true meaning of providing Discipline is "To teach."

Discipline becomes something they are excited about, because it means they get to learn, to grow, and to try new things, all while earning the trust and approvasl of their caregivers.

And if you haven't noticed, kids between the ages of 5 and 6, like Melanie, are driven by caregiver approval. They want to be good, to have discipline, and to be recognized.

Our Basic SKILLZ Program helps early learners develop the habits and tools they need to have the good discipline neede to be successful in any endeavor… even when no one is watching 😉

To learn more about the Basic SKILLZ child development program, click here: https://skillzofpatchogue.com/program/basic-skillz/ …

🚨 Introducing: Ms. Camila🚨

Camila is a high school student, currently studying child psychology and childcare at a Boces program where she works with students creating lesson plans and teaching learning skills.

Her passion is all art forms and teaching new things to her students. She likes to paint and do photography in her spare time.

She also speaks Spanish and her favorite food is strawberries 🙂

Be sure to say hello when you see her! …

Parkour Warrior Parents' Night Out is Here!

Your kids will learn some cool parkour moves, like flips and rolls, while having a blast with their friends (and being monitored for safety by our team).

3 Reasons why your child can’t miss this Parents Night Out!

1. Just like you, sometimes kids need a night off too.

Believe it or not, kids get stressed out just like adults. So give yourself a night off while your child gets a night of fun with their friends and instructors.

2. They get to jump, climb, and roll!

Now they get to do all of these three things in a safe place with some amazing instructors. Not only will they have a blast, they are also going to use a lot of energy and be ready for bed when you pick them up.

3. Make new friends!

Your child will not only be having a great time with friends, they will also get the opportunity to make many new friends as many of the games and activities focus on teamwork.

(BONUS: You get some YOU time while the kids have fun with us!)

Your kids and their friends are going to be talking about this forever! Currently, there are only 20 spaces still available. Register Below!

Perfect for kids 7 & Up (Basic Skillz Members may attend with instructor approval)

Reserve your child's spot here: www.SkillzOfPatchogue.com/events

Only 20 spots are available!

Date: Saturday, January 8th
Time: 5pm to 7pm
$25 per child …

Ahhh kids… making people question what their parents must be like for generations 🤣 …

Children build anxiety and insecurities when we dismiss, criticize, and shame them for having unhappy feelings…

Saying things like "I don't blame you for being sad that you lost the game…," or "I was nervous about my first day of camp too…" helps them feel accepted and stimulates feel-good chemicals in their brain, which will then help them cope and self-regulate their feelings.

Try it next time a child expresses unhappy feelings and watch what happens. 🥰 …

Michael and Jacob are working on their second degree SKILLZ black belts. They also just attended an international SKILLZ teaching workshop in St Petersburg, FL.

This evening, they shared the floor as they led their first Elite SKILLZ class all by themselves.

We are so very proud of them! …

What does Hopping have to do with child development?

Liam thinks it's because ninjas have to be able to leap from building to building…. but there' much more to it!

Most people know about the 5 main senses: Sight, Hearing, Taste, Touch, and Smell. However, there are several other sensory systems through which we experience the world.

Two of these are the vestibular system, which controls balance, and the proprioceptive system, which helps us keep track of where our body parts are.

The vestibular system is the most connected sensory system in our body. It works alongside our other sensory systems (including the proprioceptive sense), enabling us to use our eyes effectively and process sounds in our environment.

When Liam hops from pad to pad, he must engage his sense of proprioception to make sure all of his body parts are where they belong for an effective launch and a safe landing.

He has to learn to rely on input from his vestibular system to stick the landing on the unstable surface.

In addition, he is learning to regulate the exciting emotions that are encouraging him to jump higher, faster, and farther so that he can follow directions and focus on his target.

When he falls over, he is learning to be resilient by trying again when his classmates laugh; and his classmates are learning about social interaction as they discover that cheering helps their friend.

But for Liam, his Ninja classes are just a chance to have fun with his friends. That's the power of play and game-based learning 🙂

www.SkillzOfPatchogue.com …

When you're training with the team and find out that Miss Nicolette has a secret talent: handstand walking around the entire training floor!

#StrongWoman #RoleModel …

We believe long-term training in martial arts is key to empowering children with skill sets that will last a lifetime, so we've integrated stripe and belt systems which include long-term goals that are exciting and at the same time measurable.

www.SkillzOfPatchogue.com …

🚌 Bus coming too late to make it to class? 👀

🚨 Introducing: new later ⏰ class times available one Wednesdays and Fridays!

To take advantage, schedule your child's free placement evaluation here: www.SkillzOfPatchogue.com

👉🏻 Early SKILLZ for preschoolers between the ages of 3 and 4 at 4:30pm
👉🏻 Basic SKILLZ for kids ages 5 and 6 at 5:05pm
👉🏻 Core SKILLZ for kids ages 7 to 9 at 5:55pm
👉🏻 Elite SKILLZ for advanced 10 to 14 year olds at 6:45pm …

We believe every child can excel in life, so we designed curriculum that targets a broad pattern of developmentally appropriate skill sets.

www.SkillzOfPatchogue.com …

Meet our newest team member: Ms. Briana!

Briana is studying exercise science at Suffolk County Community College, serves as a Specialist in the National Guard, she speaks Spanish, has a background working with children as a camp counselor, and can eat 13 slices of pizza in a single sitting.

We are very excited to have her join the SKILLZ team! …

STORM kids working on some recreational knife throwing! …

We Believe….

‘Children Learn Best Through Play’
We believe children learn best through play so we designed fun game-based learning drills and integrate them into every class!

‘We Provide Age-specific Training’
We believe it's important to teach children according to their stage of development so we break our classes up based on age.

‘We Apply Positive and Nurturing Teaching Strategies.’
We believe long-term discipline and confidence is fostered best through supportive role-models so we train our instructors to apply positive and nurturing teaching strategies.

‘We Integrate Skill-Based Training’
We believe every child can excel in Martial Arts, so we designed a curriculum that targets a broad pattern of skill sets.

‘We Foster Long-Term Goals’
We believe long-term training in martial arts is key to empowering children with skill sets that will last a lifetime, so we've integrated stripe and belt systems which include long-term goals that are exciting and at the same time measurable.

www.SkillzOfPatchogue.com …

Flexibility is about more than just being bendy!

In our Core SKILLZ program for kids ages 7 to 9, our ninjas learn that flexible muscles are important for performing at high levels.

But they also learn that mental flexibility is important for working as a team.

If something goes wrong, or they experience something they aren't used to, have the flexibility to compromise or change ideas is vital.

When making new friends or balancing needs amongst siblings, that flexibility can make for a more peaceful experience.

And, like our muscles, flexibility has its limits. Our Core SKILLZ kids also learn about having boundaries and respecting the boundaries of others. Push too far and things might SNAP!

www.skillzofpatchogue.com/program/core-skillz/ …