As parents, we all do the best we can. This past year put every parent to the test as you balanced working from home and helping your children learn remotely – all while trying to keep the family healthy and safe! First, we want to applaud you for juggling so many responsibilities as 2020 kept throwing obstacles our way!
COVID-19 took center stage this past year, affecting families around the world. Not only did the pandemic drastically affect the health and mental wellness of adults, but children have also been heavily affected by this new way of life.
Remote learning and lack of social activities has created sedentary lifestyles as the new norm for kids that were used to being active every day. State restrictions and stay at home orders prevented kids from socializing with their friends. Many children turned to screens to pass the time, becoming addicted to their tablets, TV, and video games. Combine all of these factors with easy access to sugary beverages and constant snacking, the youth of America are in a state of emergency!
The Word Health Organization shares: “As of 25 April 2020, around 1.5 billion children have been out of school and as a result, many of them may be spending more time on screens to complete online activities as part of homeschooling, socializing with peers or playing video games given that outdoor activities may be restricted due to lockdowns. Young people can be particularly vulnerable to the harms associated with excessive screen time or gaming including unhealthy sedentary lifestyles, exposure to harmful content (violent or sexual), misinformation about COVID-19, cyberbullying, development of gaming disorder, or engagement in online gambling.
Health risks of excessive screen time or gaming
- It replaces healthy behaviours and habits such as physical activity and sleep, and leads to harmful habits such as reduced sleep or day-night reversal, malnutrition, headaches, neck pain, etc.
- It may lead to the development of a gaming disorder.
- It can encourage migration to gambling as some games have gambling-like elements.
Signs of excessive screen time or gaming
- It affects a person’s ability to focus and complete school tasks.
- It negatively impacts a person’s relationships with family members and peers.
- It takes priority in a person’s life over the basic functions such as eating, sleeping, personal hygiene and exercise.
- It causes significant changes in a person’s mood or ability to control outbursts (e.g. physical aggression) when asked to stop.”
Remote learning + lack of socialization + 24/7 screen time + extra snacking = low energy, depression, poor grades, and bad sleep quality.
Have you noticed any of these symptoms or behaviors in your child? As a parent this can be tough to face, but you and your family are not alone! The impact of this past year has taken a toll on everyone’s mental health, physical wellness, and general excitement for life. Fortunately, Total Impact can help you reverse the negative impact that COVID-19 has had on your kids!
Wouldn’t you love to see your children happy, active, making friends, and feeling good? We have the perfect solution…
Check out our Kids Karate Program at Total Impact!
Are your kids watching too much TV? Struggling to pull them away from the video games? Do they seem to lack the enthusiasm and excitement for life that they used to have? No worries, we have just what they need to get back on track! Our fun and engaging kids karate classes provide an opportunity for your child to get active, make new friends, and build their confidence!
Let’s join forces to help the children in Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Wheeling, and Palatine feel good about themselves again. Now that the restrictions have been lifted and the environment is safer, students are very welcome to join us at our physical dojo! Social distancing, mask wearing, and cleaning protocols are still in place to ensure we provide the safest environment for our community. If you don’t feel comfortable sending your child to the dojo yet, that is completely understandable; that’s why we are still offering virtual training from home as an option!
Experience the Best in Kid’s Karate with Total Impact!
We offer a variety of classes at our Arlington Heights martial arts dojo for you and your family. Students gain confidence, build strength, learn focus, and embrace a healthier lifestyle! Our youngest students start training as early as four years old! We pledge to teach every class with the excitement, respect, professionalism, and knowledge your child deserves. If you’re seeking a positive environment for your kids to train and achieve life changing results, you’ve come to the right place!
You may be wondering, “What can karate do for my kids?” Does your child struggle with self confidence? Has their teacher noted low self control on their report card? Or maybe they need to practice teamwork? At Total Impact, we understand that every child is unique and has their own challenges. Our professional instructors are here to give your child the structure and discipline they require, all while enjoying the fun that comes with martial arts! The benefits of our kids karate program are endless…
- Anti-Bullying Strategies
- Better Grades
- Develop Discipline
- Foster Respect
- Improved Focus
- Increased Confidence
- Make Healthy Choices
- Pursue Goals
- Build Friendships
More About Kids Karate…
Total Impact Martial Arts is about positive, life changing, results! Help your child gain more confidence and empower them to succeed. Our blended martial arts system is about self improvement and children’s development to aid your child in developing focus, learning respect, and practicing anti-bullying strategies to feel great about themselves and others. They will train with kids from Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, Palatine, Wheeling, and more suburbs. Total Impact Martial Arts & Fitness will have a strong positive impact on your child’s success!
If you are interested in helping your child get back on track this year, check out these awesome benefits from Children’s Martial Arts…
Physical Health
Have you noticed your child has been snacking more this past year than they did under normal circumstances? Has your doctor reported a noticeable weight gain? Sometimes this is driven by stress, emotions, or simply boredom. Without playing at recess, daily gym class, or extracurriculars, kids don’t stand a chance against the inevitable weight gain.
According to Mayo Clinic: “Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It’s particularly troubling because the extra pounds often start children on the path to health problems that were once considered adult problems — diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Childhood obesity can also lead to poor self-esteem and depression. One of the best strategies to reduce childhood obesity is to improve the eating and exercise habits of your entire family. Treating and preventing childhood obesity helps protect your child’s health now and in the future.”
It’s not too late to reverse COVID-19’s affect on your child’s physical health! By participating in our Kids Karate program, they’ll start to gain energy, build muscle, and lose those few extra pounds!
Mental Health
Have you noticed your child has been feeling down? Do they lack their old excitement for life and school? Are they displaying signs of anxiety or increased fear due to COVID? Between the change in their daily routines, new ways of learning, being apart from their peers, and missing fun celebrations like birthdays, it’s not a surprise that the pandemic has had a huge affect on the mental health of young people. And if a parent lost their job during the pandemic, that is another cause for stress and concern for a child.
According to Cureus: “The unexpected disruption of the social fabric and norms has affected the behavioral and mental health of the public, including children. The mental health of children has been influenced in several ways, as this unprecedented situation changed the way they typically grow, learn, play, behave, interact, and manage emotions. Children with pre-existing psychiatric disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and behavior disorders could be adversely impacted during this stressful situation .”
Fortunately, getting back into a regular extracurricular activity could be just what your child needs! When they join a Children’s Martial Arts program, the increase of endorphins, serotonin, and socializing will surely lead to an improved mood, better sleep, feeling calmer, and increased self esteem!
Teamwork
As students have acclimated to the life of remote learning and being at home 24/7, many have gotten a little too comfortable keeping to themselves and not wanting to engage with others. Team work and social interactions are paramount skills and experiences for a child’s success and balance in life! Our curriculum creates a healthy, safe environment for kids to socialize together and understand that there are situations when working together in groups is necessary and helpful.
As a child’s character and respect develop through martial arts, they learn that we are better together when we work as a team in school or are part of a community. If anxiety or low self esteem is what holds them back from engaging with others, you will be sure to see an improvement in their self confidence and self regulation skills with our classes! As an added bonus, kids love to be in our classes with their friends and are often smiling, laughing and having great fun! The students develop friendships and experience being part of a community.
When your child joins our Kids Karate program, they’ll benefit from the support of the class as well as individual encouragement from our instructors. We are proud to offer the highest quality martial arts training in Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Wheeling, and Palatine!
