Temecula Krav Maga Blog - West Coast Krav Maga

Why Martial Arts is a game Changer for 3-4 year olds...

Why Martial Arts is a game Changer for 3-4 year olds... At this age, children are entering their "magical years" of growth and development. They begin experiencing rapid progress in foundational skills, and martial arts provides the perfect structure to enhance this growth in a positive and engaging environment. Top developmental milestones for 3 & 4-year-olds Physical milestones 1. Strengthening upper body, core, and lower body muscles to hold positions for 10+ seconds 2. Developing coordination to alternate feet and hands for 10+ reps 3. Enhancing spatial awareness to catch an object from various directions five times in a row Intellectual milestones 1. ....
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The Brain Bank: How Daily Deposits Shape a Child’s Development

Imagine if every interaction you had with a child was a financial transaction. Every encouraging word, smile, or success adds a deposit to their Brain Bank—a reservoir of confidence, resilience, and emotional well-being. On the flip side, criticism, stress, or failure act as withdrawals, depleting their mental reserves. Just like financial health, a child’s mental and emotional health depends on regular deposits that outweigh withdrawals. When their Brain Bank is in the positive, they thrive. When it’s in the red, they struggle. As parents, educators, and coaches, we have a powerful role in shaping this balance every single day. What ....
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Why Coaching From the Sideline is Harmful for Your Child's Development

As parents, we want what’s best for our children, and we also want our children to give it their best when they participate in extra-curricular sports and activities. The problem is, we sometimes get caught up in our desire to see our children perform well andwe speak up at the wrong times. With that said, I’ve put together some details about how coaching from the sidelines plays aharmfulrole in our child’s emotional development. (Please note as it relates to this article, I’m focusing on a martial arts parent because that’s the environment I’m an expert at when it comes to this topic. However, this information is easily related to other sports and ....
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Quick way to calm your Child in an Emotional Flood

As we know, children can lose control of their emotions for various reasons, and the behaviors we witness are generally unplanned. And since anxiety can look like defiance, adults often respond in counterproductive ways. When children are stressed, the amygdala, in the downstairs brain, is triggered, and the “fight or flight” response takes over. This hijacking of the brain makes it hard for children to be reached through conversation resulting in a disruption in the current environment. Implementing rapid resets can calm children and get their brains back “online.” When children are out of the zone, and their “lid is flipped,” the ....
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Supporting Children’s Emotional Needs During the Pandemic Part 2

Supporting Children’s Emotional Needs During the Pandemic Part 2
We are all human and our responses
to our current situation vary. Some have hunkered down and sorted through their new reality in a way that has motivated them to complete tasks and put new goals in place. Others have become increasingly overwhelmed and feel like they have no control over their lives at all. It’s important to note, however that there is not a right or wrong way to respond to what we have been presented with. It solely depends on each individual person and how they cope. And as parents are working to navigate their own emotions, they must also help their children manage
their feelings. ....
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Supporting Children’s Emotional Needs During the Pandemic - Part 1

Supporting Children’s Emotional Needs During the Pandemic - Part 1 As the pandemic carries on, our coping skills are starting to unravel. For many people, this has become the ultimate emotional test. As we continue to maintain our distance from each other, not only have our social lives been halted, but our emotional support is wavering as well. And while we have been living this reality this for some time, it is not getting any easier. In fact, it is getting a bit harder, esp ecially for children. In order to mitigate this emotional imbalance, it is important to put things into place to help them feel more stable . Understanding that feelings and responses to the same ....
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Helping Children Feel Secure in an Uncertain World

Helping Children Feel Secure in an Uncertain World
The news can be full of scary stories and information, especially for children. Our current situation has brought about even more concern for everyone in the world. If adults are feeling panicked, imagine how children must be feeling. And no matter the age, children can be emotionally
affected by the news and begin feeling anxious about what they are hearing. For this reason, it’s important for parents to spend time connecting with their children and implementing ways that help them feel secure. And, of course, during this worldwide turmoil, parents may also feel unsure and struggle with what to say to their children. But ....
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Conflict Resolution for Children

Conflict Resolution
Let’s face it, conflict is hard and is bound to happen no matter what ground rules are put into place. Whether it’s on the playground or right in our own homes, childrenwill clash. And while it can create challenging situations, it is a normal event that occurs between children. This is why conflict resolution is an essential life skill for them to learn. In order to help them, though, early instruction is key in making this a standard routine during disagreements with others. Often when children
are involved in conflict, one of two things happen. Either the parent rushes into save their child or the child goes to an adult immediately. And ....
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Resilience: Helping Children and Teens Build Coping Skills

Resilience: Helping Children and Teens Build Coping Skills
Stress is a significant part of our lives today. And while we all experience it, children and teens have a more difficult time managing it. Academic pressure, social tensions, family stressors, etc. all impact a young person’s mental well-being. For this reason, it’s important for parents to help their children develop coping skills by guiding them through tough times instead of jumping in to save them from any discomfort that may come along. Children and teens often present stress as what adults call a meltdown or a tantrum. Psychologists call it “flooding.” This happens when a wave of strong, ....
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Brain Development for 18 – 36 Months

Brain Development for 18 – 36 Months
Healthy brain development is one of the most important aspects of childhood development. More specifically, the first few years of life are a significant time for this because synaptic connections are at a peak level. This is the time when positive and nurturing experiences are vital so that the brain can form strong networks that set the foundation for learning. By understanding the importance of early synaptic connections, parents realized that having their children participate in enriching programs, that assist in this development is worthwhile. Synapses are connections between neurons that transmit signals to each other in the brain. ....
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Why Martial Arts is a game Changer for 3-4 year olds...

The Brain Bank: How Daily Deposits Shape a Child’s Development

Why Coaching From the Sideline is Harmful for Your Child's Development

Quick way to calm your Child in an Emotional Flood

Supporting Children’s Emotional Needs During the Pandemic Part 2

Supporting Children’s Emotional Needs During the Pandemic - Part 1

Helping Children Feel Secure in an Uncertain World

Conflict Resolution for Children

Resilience: Helping Children and Teens Build Coping Skills

Brain Development for 18 – 36 Months

Missy D.

Request Information Now!