Wild About Karate

What a novel idea, check out this after school program at Haynes TKD in Clarksville. We know from research that children are best kept occupied, even as they get older. Now they can earn a Black Belt and gain some real life skills and self esteem. In our expert article Beth Howland talks about after school issues.

Reasons Not to Leave Children Alone After School
By Beth Howland

Leaving your child alone after school until you return from work may sound like a good plan, but there are some strong reasons why it is not such a great idea.

Not Good for Children

Research shows that children are at the highest risk during the hours after school. This is the time of day when juvenile crimes triple and kids are more likely to participate in risky behavior.

However, even if your unsupervised children are not getting into trouble, they are often at home eating, playing games or watching television%u2026and not benefiting much from the time they spent alone.

It Effects You At Work

While worries about unsupervised children put pressure on families, they also have been found to even effect your work.

Recent polls show that 87 percent of working moms say the hours after school are when they are most worried about their child's safety, and this stress can cause distraction that causes lower productivity and higher sick days. In fact, over 80 percent of employees with kids miss some work because of childcare issues.

There is Another Way

There are other ways to manage this after school time better. Here are three suggestions to help you find a better alternative to the children's self care:

1. Arrange a swap. Find another parent in your area who is home when you are not. Arrange to watch their kids at a time when they need it and have them watch your kids after school.

2. Look for After School Programs. Many churches and schools have great after school programs for kids that are fun and engaging.

3. Look Online for Help. There are some great online sites that match parents with affordable babysitters in their local area.

Take steps to make a plan not to leave your children alone after school. Then there will be no more worries after the last school bell rings.

Beth Howland is a reviewer of parenting products like Sittercity.

If you need help finding the right sitter for your family, visit http://www.sittercityreview.com for more information.

Clarksville After School Program

By Dr. Gary S. Goodman
Long before I studied karate, I studied karate.

I read books on the subject, involved myself in an appreciation of Eastern philosophy and living practices, and sensed, on a deep level, that my journey and the martial artist's, are one.

And long after I've studied karate, in a formal dojo, I intend to study karate by applying its principles to my life.

The key to karate, as I see it, is your frame of mind.

Attaining a Black Belt after eight years of arduous practice and formal instruction might be your idea of what it takes to be a martial artist. I went through this phase of study, and it was very valuable.

But it is just a phase.

Gichin Funakoshi, the Father of Karate, left us with 20 principles for understanding this art. One of them says: Karate is a lifelong pursuit.

By this, I don't believe he meant to say: "Use it or lose it!" as some martial arts bureaucrats would like it to mean. In other words, keep doing your strikes, kicks, parries, techniques and kumite, and above all, pay your dojo dues, and you'll retain your martial arts-ness.

I believe Funakoshi was saying every day gives us a multitude of ways in which to practice.

Walking into an exercise room for the first time yesterday, selecting some equipment to use, and not getting in the faces of the ardent gym rats, was a martial arts test for me.

Could I cast no shadow? Could I politely do my workout and not really be noticed?

I'm not competing, even for the attention of that fitness babe that just walked in. I'm occupying just the right amount of space, without trying to be bigger.

If you could learn to be a karateka without making a single strike or block, without sustaining a bruise or breaking a bone, yours or someone else's, I'd say more power to you.

The ultimate goal of the martial arts isn't about conquering others; it's about conquering yourself.

And your entire life is your classroom when it comes to mastering this topic!

Dr. Gary S. Goodman is the best-selling author of 12 books, over 700 articles, and the creator of numerous audio and video training programs, including "The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable," published by Nightingale-Conant-a favorite among salespeople and entrepreneurs. For information about booking Gary to speak at your next sales, customer service or management meeting, conference or convention, please address your inquiry to: gary@customersatisfaction.com.

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