Category: Parenting

Building Confidence & Assertiveness in Tweens As parents, we want to raise children who are kind, respectful, and compassionate—but we also want them to have the confidence to stand up for themselves. If your child struggles to speak up when they need help, advocate for themselves in school, or assert their boundaries with friends, you […]

Children’s emotional reactions may seem extreme, but understanding their developing brains and providing supportive strategies can help them build lifelong emotional regulation skills.

Discover science-backed strategies to end homework battles, reduce after-school stress, and create a positive, productive learning routine for your child.

Children thrive when motivation is nurtured through curiosity, autonomy, and connection—understanding their developing brains can transform everyday challenges into opportunities for growth.

Understanding Memory Development in 2nd-4th Graders Have you ever asked your child to put away their shoes, only to find them wandering off to play instead? Or reminded them about a homework assignment, only for them to stare at you blankly? If so, you’re not alone. Many parents of 2nd-4th graders wonder why their children […]

Parenting a 7 to 9-year-old is like walking a tightrope—you’re balancing their growing independence with their ongoing need for guidance. At this age, children are transitioning out of the early childhood phase, where parents are their sole source of comfort and direction, into a world where peers, school, and their own sense of self play increasingly significant roles. It’s a time of incredible growth and exploration, but it’s also a time when new challenges often emerge.

As parents, encountering disrespectful remarks or hurtful words from our children can be both perplexing and disheartening. It’s especially challenging when we’re striving to raise respectful and empathetic individuals. If your child is between the ages of seven and nine and you’ve noticed an increase in sassiness, rest assured you’re not alone. This behavior is […]

How to Stay Active & Energized Together Life moves fast, and for busy families, it can sometimes feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. Between school drop-offs, work commitments, after-school activities, and everything in between, finding time to stay active as a family can be a real challenge. But maintaining physical health is […]

BACK TO SCHOOL: A Comprehensive Guide for Every Age As the summer winds down, anticipation for the new school year grows. For children and parents alike, the transition from laid-back summer days to structured academic routines can be challenging. To ensure a smooth transition and set your child up for success, it’s crucial to prepare […]

The impact of bullying on a child can be severe, both emotionally and academically. Bullied children may experience sadness, anxiety, and fear and have difficulty concentrating in school. They may also have difficulty sleeping or eating and may have low self-esteem. Bullying can also lead to absenteeism and poor academic performance; in some cases, it […]

Helping Kids Through the First Days of School… and Beyond   Imagine the scene: kids return home from their first day back at school. Parents eager to hear about their child’s day ask the ever-present question, “How was it?” Instead of excitement, the reply might be filled with disappointment, maybe about the loss of freedom, […]

As the final weeks of summer in Patchogue unfold, you might find yourself taking a moment to reflect. The sun-drenched afternoons of playdates and pool times are gradually giving way to the inevitability of the school bell. That slow-growing anxiety about school preparations, re-establishing routines, and ensuring your child’s social and academic well-being starts to […]

Grade school can be quite the experience for any child. It is a place where a child not only learns academically but one where a child must learn to socialize and function in the world. Unfortunately, there are a lot of negative experiences that a child may have when going through school. Whatever those experiences […]

Over the past five months, schedules have been upended and downtime has taken over. However, as the new school year gets underway, reality is going to show up and we are going to be scrambling to get ourselves and our children back on a productive path. In the book “The 7 Habits of Happy Kids” […]

As we continue through the current pandemic and re-opening efforts present real challenges, school districts everywhere are trying to devise the best plans for children, teachers, and staff to return. While there will be no perfect solution for each family, parents must consider all the information and choose the option that works best for their […]

Our new Life Skillz program starts this week! Each month, kids will participate in weekly age-specific discussions on the character traits that will help them become even more amazing ninjas. We will be starting the series learning all about CHARISMA! (Trouble seeing the image?  Click here for a pdf version of this month’s Life Skillz […]

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 […]

For a child, being stuck at home can get boring quickly! While we know that boredom is actually one of the key drivers of creativity in kids, it can also be challenging for children and parents alike as kids struggle to cross the line from complaints to imaginative activity. Hopefully, this coloring sheet will help […]

With schools and other activities closing due to the coronavirus outbreak, many parents are finding themselves filling the roles of teacher, coach, guidance counselor, and hall monitor as the kids try to continue their studies in the home learning environment. The first few days were likely an exciting new adventure, but as we continue to […]

Let’s face it, conflict is hard and is bound to happen no matter what ground rules are in place. Whether it’s on the playground or right in our own homes, children will clash. And while it can create challenging situations, it is a normal event that occurs between children. This inevitability is why conflict resolution […]

Being a nurturing parent means adjusting your child’s behaviors, not trying to change them. In other words, change the behavior, not the child. 1. Let them Know that Mistakes are Okay I get excited when my son makes a mistake because it gives me the opportunity to teach him, which is what parenting is all […]

*** Updated at 6:00 pm on Sunday, March 15th, 2020*** *** Updated at 2:30 pm on Friday, March 13th, 2020*** We are continuing to monitor the situation, and to maintain the highest level of sanitation. We will be closely watching our colleagues in the Patchogue-Medford and South Country School districts.  If those school districts close […]

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, and family stressors can all impact a young person’s mental well-being. For this reason, parents need to help their children develop coping skills by guiding them […]

We live in a competitive world, and most parents would jump at the chance to give their child every advantage imaginable. The world can also be unkind, and, as parents, we feel a need to protect our children from everything possible. And yes, parents are supposed to help and protect their children, but when does […]

The New Year has arrived, and many of us have set lofty resolutions. Anything from working out daily to saving money to losing weight, our society knows how to dream big! However, when we don’t break big dreams down into smaller, achievable goals, failure often ensues. And to make matters worse, our children watch us […]

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holidays are for celebrations, togetherness, and relaxation. It’s a magical time, and all the fun activities, shopping, and baking keep everyone busy. And with all the excitement comes a great deal of preparation and scheduling. It’s easy for parents to get caught up in it all […]

We’ve all heard of the main 5 senses: taste, touch, smell, sight, and hearing. However, there are two other, very important, senses that don’t get enough attention. Those are the vestibular sense and proprioception. These two senses are vital in the development of a child but are often overlooked, especially in today’s world. This is […]

As they say, kids will be kids. And yes, children and teens can be unkind to their peers and feelings get hurt. The problem is when these behaviors become common and target the same person repeatedly. This is the point at which the idea “kids being kids” begins to cross the line to bullying. And […]

Oppositional Defiant Disorder A Supplemental Resource for Families Coping with Oppositional Defiant Disorder All children act out from time to time. However, children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), as defined by the Child Mind Institute, “have a well-established pattern of behavior problems that are more extreme than their peers.” Children with ODD display aggressive behaviors […]

When we think of human behavior, we often first focus on the problems or deficits that people have and how this affects their achievements, or lack thereof. Rarely is the first thought of what motivates someone and how to utilize that to help them grow and develop. Abraham Maslow’s development of the “Hierarchy of Needs” […]

Realistic Behavioral Expectations What to Expect from 10 to 14-year olds The tween and teen years often feel to parents and teachers like they are back at the “terrible twos” stage. The challenges of working with children at this age can be frustrating. They are very smart but their emotions are all over the place. […]

Realistic Behavioral Expectations What to Expect from 7 to 9 year olds The golden years for children are between the ages of 7 and 9 years old. At this age, children can grasp new information quickly. They start seeing the world in a new and exciting way and, because of this, they are beginning to […]

Realistic Behavioral Expectations What to Expect from 18-36 Months Children between the ages of 18 and 36 months are at an exciting growth period in their lives. Parents and caregivers observe leaps and bounds in the development of these children and are excited to see all their skills progress. However, as with any growth, there […]

Realistic Behavioral Expectations What to Expect from 5- and 6-year olds Children between the ages of five and six years old are no longer “little kids.” They are in a very important transition in their lives. They have developed skills that make them appear to have things more together, so they are often approached by […]

What to Expect from 3- and 4-year olds Children between the ages of 3 and 4 are at a very unique growth period in their lives. They are growing at a rapid rate in all areas of development and are discovering new things daily, while also learning how to cope with new challenges. Additionally, they […]

Hey 4GK Friends and Families! Here are some great tips on the Parent SKILLZ topic: PATIENCE. As we posted earlier this week on Facebook, “A few seconds can make a BIG difference…” Sometimes as parents we respond with too much anger, and that can be harmful and cause regression in our child’s behavior. When you […]

When many of us were coming up in the martial arts, we learned about the power of praise when working with kids. In fact, I was handed a piece of paper by my Sifu that was entitled “100 ways to Praise a Child” He simply handed it over and said, learn these, then use them in […]

  As seasoned Pediatric Ninja Specialists, we have witnessed just about every sort of behavior and outburst from working with hundreds of kids over the years. We have seen it all from playful name calling to angry tantrums. Some things are hard to not take personally, but our experience allows us to put things into […]

Science has proven again and again how digital screens, the specific types of light they emit, and the content our kids consume on them, can be highly addictive and have negative impacts on behavior, learning, mental health, and sleep. A big part of this is the way they stimulate the brain’s production of the happy […]

Summertime is coming to an end, and with that comes all of the back to school anxiety and jitters that are common amongst children. Your child may experience common physical effects of anxiety associated with back to school time including symptoms from stomachaches to sleeping problems. They will also experience emotional stress from the fear […]

From Tantrums to Triumphs: Emotional Coaching in Martial Arts Imagine your child on the martial arts mat, tears brimming after a fall. How does the instructor not only calm them but also transform this moment into a positive experience? This is where understanding child psychology, neuroscience, and effective coaching comes into play. As parents, diving […]

Fostering Resilience in Young Martial Artists: A Parent’s Guide As parents and instructors at Vision Martial Arts in Patchogue, we witness daily the joy and pride children experience when they master a new martial arts form or skill. But, as in any journey, challenges are inevitable. It’s crucial to remember that facing and overcoming these […]

Harnessing the Power of the One Thing: Motivating Your Child in Martial Arts & Beyond As parents and instructors at Vision Martial Arts in Patchogue, we understand the challenges of keeping children motivated, especially after a long day filled with schoolwork and activities. It’s a common scenario – how do you get your child to […]