The sun has returned from hiding and warm weather is finally here! The school year is coming to an end; it will officially be summertime before we know it. You know what that means…it’s time to begin planning your child’s summer schedule! Will they be going to summer camp? Have you signed them up for any classes, teams, or groups around the community? Don’t wait to sign up for programs once summer arrives and classes are at capacity!
2020-2021 has been a very different – and in many ways challenging – school year for both parents and kids alike as our community navigated through the challenges of virtual learning. Parents watched their little ones get antsy having to stay at home all year round during the pandemic. Many children and teens turned into “screen zombies” and couch potatoes, becoming addicted to TV, tik tok, and video games. Parents reported noticing their kids becoming withdrawn, feeling “blue”, and losing excitement for life.
However, now that we are starting to see the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel and many people are getting vaccinated, it’s a great time to bring your child out of the pandemic blues and see their eyes light up with excitement for life again! Summer is the perfect time to consider acclimating your child or teen back into the world and reunite them with their peers! Teach them to be active and regularly socialize again by joining a club, local team, or a summer camp.
We highly recommend creating some sort of structure and routine for your child or teenager during the summer. School gives kids structure, purpose, and a way to connect with others. When the school year finishes, help your child continue to develop and progress by participating in fun, healthy activities that give them a sense of fulfillment and purpose!
“While children look forward to the lazy days of summer, the lack of predictability and irregular routines plague kids with anxiety and boredom. These lead to behavior problems at home and a headache for parents. The lack of structure during the summer even encourages children to develop unhealthy habits. They often spend more time indoors in front of the TV or computer and consume unhealthy snacks. This sedentary lifestyle has proven to negatively impact kids as they grow, and often leads to higher rates of obesity. Structure helps your children channel their energy into productive, engaging activities that boost their confidence, limit learning loss, and encourage healthy habits.” Sunshine House
You may be wondering: How can I provide structure for my child during the summer?
That’s a great question! Here are a few ideas:
- Enroll your kids in a summer camp, weekly classes, or other activities such as Total Impact’s Martial Arts classes.
- Stick to a family schedule for consistency, such as wake up times, family dinner time, and bedtimes.
- Make sure they get some sort of physical activity every day, whether it be soccer practice, swimming at the pool, or Kids Karate at Total Impact.
- Limit screen time for TV, smartphones, tablets, and video games. Set a daily limit for fun screen time, and encourage daily educational screen time so they continue to learn during these “off” months.
- Remember to make time for fun activities as a family! Without the busy schedules of the school year, you may notice your family has more downtime to enjoy outings or activities all together, such as game nights or going to a museum.
“Camp does a really good job of teaching kids it’s okay to fail and helps them recognize their limitations and see these are things that are not fixed and can be improved upon. By allowing children to take risks and face challenges, camp helps children build their independence, resiliency, and self-esteem in a safe, supervised and supportive environment. These invaluable life skills often translate into improvements at home and at school.” OurKids.net
What are the benefits of summer activities for young people?
Signing your child or teen up for activities, such as kids karate and martial arts, during the summer will set them up for life-long success in the following ways:
- Socialization: Nurturing friendships, meeting new people, and cultivating teamwork encourages socializing with others.
- Physical Health: Becoming (or staying) active with regular exercise for a growing body and learning to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
- Emotional: Belonging to a group and accomplishing goals helps build self-esteem, develop a sense of purpose, and experience positive emotions.
- Mental Health: The combination of taking in fresh air and sunshine, having fun, and getting exercise contribute to an improved mood.
- Cognitive: Learning new skills and overcoming challenges builds resilience and keeps their brains active.
- Bonus: Additional benefits include experiencing independence, growing in a safe environment, and having fun without screens!
“Only one in three children is physically active every day, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical activity is crucial for heart health and maintaining a healthy weight, and it boosts confidence and helps manage stress. It is important to teach the necessity of physical activity when children are young so they can carry exercise habits into adulthood.” GWR YMCA
Why is Kids Karate the Ultimate Summer Activity for Children and Teens?
Total Impact’s fun and engaging kids karate classes provide an opportunity for your child or teen to get active, make new friends, and build their self confidence this summer! We offer a variety of classes at our Arlington Heights martial arts dojo for you and your family. Our youngest students start training as early as four years old! Students develop respect, build strength, learn focus, and embrace a healthier lifestyle.
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 this summer, 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 at Total Impact…
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 lifelong success!
If you are interested in providing an enriching experience for your child this summer, check out our previous blog to learn more about the awesome benefits from Children’s Martial Arts!
When your child or teen joins our Kids Karate summer program, they’ll benefit from the support of other students 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!
We have exciting news…
Introducing Our Ninja Summer Camp Series!
Ninja Summer Camp days will take place on Wednesday, July 14th & Thursday, July 15th, 2021
Our full Summer Camp will be postponed until the summer of 2022, but in the meantime we are excited to offer a special 2-day Ninja Camp! There will be karate games, a Ninja Warrior obstacle course, karate training, and snacks! This camp will be held from 9:00am-12:30pm.
The fee is $65 per student for both days. We are allowing a maximum of 25 students, and the minimum for the camp to run is 10 students. To sign up and for more info about this fun program, please contact Shihan Brian!
