Safe Kidz Educational Services

I am so sorry that I have been way behind in keeping up with the blog. I have been in the process of setting up a new blog over at www.safekidz.us/blog that will be more reflective of what I want to accomplish with my commercial activities. I want to continue to keep this as one of two major sites to keep students of the various classes that I teach, up to date on what is going on.

 

The other major site for student information will be my facebook page. If you are on facebook already, friend me, I'll send you a copy of a short quick start guide to family fitness and safety. I am hoping that I can keep everyone up to speed on what is going on with our classes.

 

 

Speaking of which, Action Arts students get ready for the black belt testing on the 21st. I am really hoping that all of our classes will have a good turnout for the testing. Even if you are not testing come out and support your black belt candidates. I'll be testing for 3rd degree so come on out and play!!

 

For our adults there will be a Leader ship counsel meeting following the testing. Check your newsletter for the location!

 

See you in class!

 

No class at Ft. Eustis on Tuesday 11/10 and no class in Williamsburg on 11/11.

 

Enjoy your break and remember those that have given and continue to give everything for our safety and freedom!

 

Mr. Don

People often mistakenly think that personal safety and self-defense are one in the same. Self-defense is what we do if our personal safety strategies fail. Based on this fact the Safe Kidz - Safety Awareness Desk Top Coaching program tends to focus on the preventative aspects of maintaining personal safety. While we feel that self-defense and other forms of reactionary safety steps are important, taking preventative steps to reduce and even eliminate potentially dangerous situations is our primary focus.

 

Meth labs, drug dealers, predators, bullies and rapists are hidden in the rolling hills of small towns and villages as well as in large cities. Drug addicts are breaking into homes and hijacking cars in places where violent crime was unheard of only a few years ago. It is nice to think that our national and local law enforcement agencies will take care of the problem.

 

The truth however is that personal safety is not solely a law enforcement issue: it is everyone's responsibility. Knowing how to keep yourself safe and to avoid becoming a victim of crime and dangerous situations is critical, no matter where you work or live. Personal safety tips everyone should know include:

 

• Stay alert - be aware of your surroundings.
• Be confident - walk with confidence and purpose.
• Trust your instincts - learn to trust intuition and react to unsettled feelings. What should I do when I am shopping or walking in public?

 

Everyone should know these because personal safety is a state of mind! It is having a plan and always being prepared to follow it. Following simple personal safety practices, using your instincts and your common sense will go a long way in making you less likely to become a victim. When children are taught personal safety skills such as trusting their instincts, being alert to their surroundings, and walking in a relaxed yet confident manner  increases and practice them it increases the likelihood of them NOT becoming a victim as well.

 

Our Safety Awareness program provides student's and parents with lessons teaching simple, effective and proven personal safety concepts designed to allow them to  escape a dangerous situation. Lessons cover awareness, prevention, and avoidance of potentially dangerous situations.

 

Personal safety is actually a fun and entertaining family experience. It is not complicated or time consuming. We show you how to teach the fundamentals of personal safety in a positive and motivating environment. When young people learn new material in a non-threatening and stimulating environment they are much more likely to retain and use the information. You have all the ingredients to protect your family; we just give you the step by step recipe.

 

Remember personal safety is defined as "freedom from fear or worry concerning one's physical and mental well-being and awareness of situations, conditions, or events that are potentially harmful or dangerous to one's well-being.

 

Personal safety is first and foremost a personal responsibility.  Ask yourself, "am I increasing the chances that I may become a victim of crime? Personal safety starts with the use of your common sense, and all of your physical senses, easily ignored in our busy everyday lives. The need for safety information and tips is nothing new, but it is important to be reminded of them from time to time. It is equally important that you use them! Crime happens during the day as well as at night. It is happening around the corner and around the globe.

 

As parents we must teach our children safety awareness as part of their personal safety practices!

 

Sign up for the Free Safety Awareness mini e-course at Mom~Z~Mean Business

 

Until next time,

Take care and be safe!

 

Mr. Don

Safe Kidz Educational Services

These days, martial arts are something that everyone should know.  With crime at an all time high, knowing how to defend yourself is essential.  For the children, martial arts can mean a lot of things.  Even though martial arts is great for adults to know and practice as well, it is also a great way for children to stay in shape and learn how to defend themselves from attackers.

 

Although martial arts can teach children how to defend themselves, it will also teach them self control and self confidence as well.  If your child has a bad temper or low self esteem, learning a martial art can actually help them to get back on the right path.  Martial arts will help children with life in general - which will take them a lot farther in life.

 

The first thing you will need to do when getting your child involved in martial arts is pick a style that they will enjoy.  With several different styles to choose from, it can be a very difficult choice to make.  Among the most popular for children are Karate, Taekwondo, Judo, Muay Thai, and Jiu-Jitsu.  When making the decision, you should go by what your child has interests in, such as punching and kicking, or ground grappling and submission.

 

Once you have a style in mind, you’ll need to start checking out the local martial arts centers and dojo’s.  If you live in a big city, you’ll have a lot more to choose from than those who live in smaller areas or rural towns.  Those who live in smaller towns or rural areas may be very limited on the choices available for themselves and their children.

 

Rural and smaller towns are limited in choice, although what they offer is normally among the best styles of martial arts.  The instructors are black belts and above, with the highest ranked students helping them instruct classes.  If the classes are small in attendance, the instructors and student teachers can spend a lot of hands on time with the kids to help them improve in their weakest areas.

 

When you decide to enroll your child in martial arts, you should always check out the dojo or classes first.  You don’t want your child to be in a class that isn’t goal focused, nor do you want them to have a teacher who doesn’t know what he is teaching.  The environment is also important, as you want to be sure that the dojo and equipment are clean, and that everything is up to the latest and greatest standards.

 

Even though a martial art may be beneficial to your child, it won’t do them any good unless the facilities and the instructors are good.  You want to make sure you get the best available to you, which is why it always pays to look around.  If you look at all of your available choices, you’ll normally be able to find the best for both you and your child.

 

When it comes to children and their future, martial arts is a great way for them to start.  Martial arts can help them improve in many different areas, not just self defense.  A martial art can help a child develop a lot of essential areas, including self control and responsibility.  The longer a child studies a martial art, the more goal oriented and responsible they will become.  Martial arts are a great investment for parents and children - which is why they are so very popular.

 

If you are changing schools for some reason, ensure that you child carries any advancement certificates with them when they visit the school. It will give the instructor a chance to determine the best way to have your child start training in their stlye.  As always, you know I highly recommend that you study Martial Arts with your child. It gives you a chance to share some real quality time togeather and it gives you a chance to discuss any material presented in the class with your young person.

 

Until next time,

Take care and be safe!

 

Mr. Don

 

This episode will look at some of the benefits of a good after school program for both children and teenagers.

 

The next one that will be coming out will be the audio version of the "Teaching kids to save" article posted earlier. It is a little less formal than the printed version, but again, I'm still working on it!

 

Thanks for listening and here is the player.

 

 

 

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A quick little heads up, I hope to soon start putting up audio files/podcasts of the articles that get posted here. I know for some folks it is easier to listen to a short program than it is to sit down and read it. So look for new podcast to start being added soon!

 

 

 

How to Teach Your Safe Kids to Save Money!!

 

Having safe kids, means more than just their physical safety. Safe Kidz are kids that are resilient and forward thinking. When it comes to money many of our young people do not fully appreciate the concepts of saving, investing and building for the future. (For teenagers, it’s the nature of the BEAST!)

 

A lot of teens nowadays do not understand the value of earning and spending money. They may not have been taught that investing is necessary even if they are still students. As parents, we play a crucial role in this area. Our spending habits, like our savings habits are learned behaviors. We learned from our parents. What are children learning from us?

 

You must be able to show your kids, in a very real manner, how to save money. They should be able to understand the concept of money and investment as early as childhood. This will prepare them to continue learning money management skills as they grow older.

 

Here are some tips on how you can teach your children how to appreciate money as a resource and use it to be financially safe kids:

 

1. Your children should have a clear understanding of the meaning of money. Once your children have learned how to count, that is the perfect time for you teach them the real meaning of money. You should be consistent and explain it to them in simple ways and do this frequently so that they will be able to remember what you taught them. Use real life examples of having to choose, choosing to save for later or a future purchase or to spend it right now.

 

2. Always explain to them the value of saving money. Try to have them understand its importance and how it will impact their life. It is important that you entertain questions from them about money and you should be able to answer them right away.

 

3. When giving them their allowances. You need to give them their allowances in various denominations. Then you can actively encourage them to keep a certain bill for the future. You can motivate them to do this by telling them that the money can be saved and they can buy new pair of shoes or the toys they want once they are able to save.

 

4. You can also teach them to work for money. You can start this at your own home. You can pay them fifty cents to one dollar every time they clean their rooms, do the dishes or feed their pets. This concept of earning little money will make them think that money is something they have worked for and should be spent wisely.

 

5. You can teach them to save money by giving them piggy banks where they can put coins and wait until they get full. You can also open bank accounts for them and let them deposit money from their allowance. You should always show them how much they have earned to keep them motivated.

 

Money and saving is not something that children pick up in one sitting. You should be patient in teaching them and relating the value of money in all of their activities. Children can and will learn to be financially safe kids if you are patient and consistent in guiding them and encouraging them.

 

As adults we know that proper management of financial resources is an on going life long activity. The more we demystify this topic for our young people the easier it will be for them to use the information in the future for their safety and security!

 

Until next time,

Take care and be safe!

 

Mr. Don