Articles category: sports music
Art and Fencing
By Darcy Nee
With spring just around the corner, there are some decisions parents and children will be making this month to ensure an enriched and entertaining summer. One of these decisions stems from the question, "What activities are available for my child this year?" or rather something like "What would my child like to do this summer that will be beneficial for him or her?"
Many of the Kinetic Konnections® parents mention that their children enjoy arts and crafts. In addition, although more advanced, we learned that fencing is becoming popular and provides children with a plethora of benefits. To get a better idea of the educational benefits of each and class options locally available, we talked with the experts.
Alyssa Kulak, executive director for Brickton Art Center (BAC) in Park Ridge, said art is one of the first forms of language for children. For those challenged verbally, they can use art as a form of expression and communication. Perhaps, a child struggles with writing and can use pictures to create a story, said Kulak, who also holds a Masters Degree in Art Therapy. BAC is a fun environment that also encourages socialization, Kulak added.
According to the BAC 2009 summer brochure, the educational benefits children receive through the fine arts program also include "learning critical thinking, problem solving and analytical judgment, developing self-esteem and self-discipline, and learning and understanding artistic practices including multi-cultural traditions and viewpoints."
The summer session offers a variety of classes, including Pee Wee
Patriots, which celebrates America, and Pee Wee Picassos, which
introduces some of the great artists, world cultures and their works to
the preschoolers. For the older children, there are Clever Clay classes
and Summer Stock Theater which includes drama lessons, script reading,
stage direction, set construction and publicity.
Fencing
Hristo Etropolski, owner and director of Midwest Fencing Academy in Chicago, said fencing teaches children to think quickly, builds motor skills, coordination and self-confidence. It is mentally and physically challenging, which is very useful in our daily lives. He added that the sport also is becoming popular in American colleges and universities opening up opportunity for scholarships.
Affiliated with the Park Ridge Park District, Midwest Fencing Academy offers classes to ages six and older at its facility in Chicago.
"It is a good sport," Hristo said. "It is an individual sport and one that teaches you to count on yourself."
Martial Arts for Kids
Want to help build your child's self-esteem and confidence? Improve his balance and coordination? Or maybe you would simply like for your child to participate in a structured and fun atmosphere? For many of our clients Martial Arts training has been an effective way to address these goals.
There are a variety of martial art styles offered for children, including judo, aikido, taekwondo and karate. The different styles emphasize different techniques. However, all of them offer an opportunity for your child to learn a new skill set of different movements, and teach children to set and achieve goals. In addition, the practice has been noted to help boost children's self-esteem, help them gain more confidence and improve their overall physical ability.
Two local martial art schools have been recognized by our parents for offering unique coaching for children needing more attention than most programs are able to provide. If you are not nearby, the qualities exhibited by these programs can be a guide to you as you interview other programs for the proper fit with your child.
Master Instructor Roger Park of Chang's Tae Kwon Do Academy in Morton Grove attended the 7th Foreigner's Tae Kwon Do Instructor Training Course five years ago in South Korea where he worked with children and adults with developmental and mental challenges. Since then, he has had students in his academy with a variety of special needs, including autism, ADHD, sensory integration dysfunction, motor and coordination impairments, processing issues and learning disabilities."I really enjoy working with the kids," said Roger, who manages the Morton Grove location. "They are so thankful for how you are helping them."
During a class at Chang's Tae Kwon Do Academy, Roger, as well as higher-ranking black belts, moves among the students providing individualized instruction. Roger is especially keen at tuning into a student's particular learning style. Whether a student requires a hand-over-hand kinesthetic approach, needs to have steps verbally or visually broken down into many small elements, or requires him to move in parallel so that movements may be imitated, Roger adjusts his teaching style to accommodate student-by-student. He wants all children to feel empowered and take that sense of self with them into life outside the dojang. "The teachings of Tae Kwon Do are intended to influence the life of the student inside and outside the dojang. It is our goal to help build strength of character that will carry our students through whatever challenges they face in the future," he said.
Sensei Jeff Kohn, director and founder of North Shore Dojo in Glenview, shares a similar sentiment for his students.
The skills learned in North Shore Dojo, such as learning to listen to direction and learning to focus, are meant to emphasize mental and physical skills that will help students succeed outside their karate practice, he said.
"It is so inspiring to see them work hard," he said. "We want them to believe and think 'I can do it.'" Sensei Jeff Kohn, kicked off in May the Kids Can-Do! Program and Foundation. North Shore Dojo teaches Shotokan karate and the new program offers specific classes for children with challenges including ADD/ADHD, autism, behavioral problems, sensory integration disorder, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. The Kids Can-Do! Foundation is a nonprofit organization that aims to give children who previously may not have had the opportunity to take karate. It also aims to work to get karate into the special and Para Olympics.
Inside the North Shore Dojo is an array of fun games and apparatus for the children to use. On one side sits a balance beam for the kids to walk across, punching bags, and an uneven surface to walk across. During class, Jeff may work with one or two of the students while at least two other black belt instructors are working with the other children. In the Kids Can-DO! Foundation, younger black belts volunteer to teach, with at least three instructors present during every class.
"The beauty of this all is that each child is being taught to do the same thing, however, the path at which they choose to get there is different," Jeff said. "And the dream and hope for me is they all get there."
For more information on Chang's Tae Kwon Do Academy call 847-966-8002. For further information on the Kids Can-Do! Foundation and children's program at North Shore Dojo visit www.northshoredojo.net or call 847-729-0001.
Nicholas’ Sports Interest Blooms
Last summer, 10-year-old Nicholas showed no interest in playing sports. Muscular coordination and maintaining balance were such challenges for the fifth grader that it was difficult for him to enjoy any athletics, his mother Diane described.
"His motor skills were always poor. I'm talking basic skills, such as balancing (on two feet)," Diane said. "He used to trip a lot, and his feet turned in, so he didn't walk well."
But, that no longer is the case. Just eight months after starting Kinetic Konnections, Nicholas now chooses to play basketball or toss a ball around. He wants to begin Jujitsu lessons.
"After working with Cara, everything began to change," Diane said. "There is no question in my mind that her work helped him tremendously."
Nicholas came to Kinetic Konnections last fall, hoping to improve his motor skills. He is considered to have an autistic spectrum disorder, and at that time, was challenged with basic balance and coordination.
After five visits in a two-month period, Nicholas made remarkable improvements, Diane said. He began shifting his weight left to right. His overall body strength improved and he was using a proper heel-to-toe walking gait. In addition, he was standing taller and walking without unnecessary shoulder movement.
Although Nicholas had worked with various physical and occupational therapists prior to his visit to the Park Ridge studio, Diane said the work with Kinetic Konnections has been the most successful and beneficial for her son. The exercises Nicholas performed as "homework" were easy to understand and time efficient, she added.
"The changes occurred very quickly. Quicker than anything I've ever seen," she said.
"It jump started some motor skills and his interest in sports. He was never interested in sports before but now he is playing basketball. And, he is trying horseback riding."
"It is just fun to see him want to try all these activities," Diane concludes.