Creating a HAPPIER Community
Bullying Prevention thru Olweus and Songahm Taekwondo

Bullying is one of the most difficult issues that students, parents and educators might encounter in or out of school. Discipline, order and respect are mainstays of Songahm Taekwondo, but many instructors offer additional support with presentations from the The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, the most researched and best-known bullying prevention program available.

Learn more about bullying, how to prevent or resolve it, and more about the Olweus program

Protect your children with bullying prevention skills and strategies by calling ATA Martial Arts of Branchburg to inquire about our upcoming seminar based on the Olweus program.

Event: Kidz ‘N Power Bullying Prevention Program
Date: Friday, July 30th
Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Cost: FREE!! Bring a Friend!!

We have another awesome event coming up in the next few weeks! We will have another chance to invite all of our friends in to take another great class themed after an up-and-coming martial arts-based movie, The Last Airbender!

Noah Ringer, the star of The Last Airbender is a 1st Degree ATA kid from Texas and he is going to be awesome in the movie! We’re going to have a special buddy camp on Saturday, July 3rd (9am to 3pm) for kids and it will be about Goal Setting and Perseverance. The characters in the movie, TV show, and books have a goal and meet many obstacles along their way and we believe that using them as an example will help teach kids to Never Give Up!

Airbender Jahng Bong/ Bo Staff Seminar!
Special Guest Instructor Mr. Lee Brings it!! We’ll do a Avatar-style Bo Staff seminar with awesome spins and strikes and maybe master the element of WIND!! Learn to use your Bo Staff like Aang the Avatar! We’ll use Bo Staff techniques and a themed weapons training class. Students will learn combinations that they can use to put into forms and make their weapons skills better!!
*Bo Staff NOT Included. Cost $35. Pre-Register Before June 30th and Save $5.

Avatar: The Last Airbender Lunch & Movie
We’ll watch as many episodes of Avatar as we can in 90 minutes. Don’t forget you can bring a friend too!! As long as they’re an Avatar fan!!

Avatar: The Last Airbender Stunt Training
Learn how to act and train just like your favorite Action Hero’s!!

Date: Saturday, July 3rd
Time: 9am – 3pm
Cost: $50 (Includes Lunch)
Friends Train FREE!!

Schedule of Events
9am – 11am – Airbender Jahng Bong/ Bo Staff Seminar! (Jahng Bong NOT Included)
11am – 1pm – Lunch & Movie
1pm – 3pm – Airbender Stunt Training Seminar

Fee: $35 per Seminar or $50 for the Whole day (Includes Lunch). Bo Staff $35.

By Shei Franco

Reading, writing, arithmetic, name calling, teasing and pushing. They all have something in common.

You might be surprised to know they all are taught in school. Perhaps only three are actually part of the curriculum, but the rest are just as prevalent. Even if a child is not the victim of harassment, chances are he has witnessed students under attack.

For some parents, the topic of bullying seems irrelevant. After all, the sweetly dressed 5–year-old at the bus stop can’t possibly be a threat. But, according to Lori Linden, an elementary school guidance counselor in Millcreek, Pa., bullying can start at any age. “As early as kindergarten, [there is] pushing in line and making demands to other children,” Linden says.

How Bullying Starts

Teachers and parents need to identify children who bully. Classroom and household sanity depends on it. While most parents concentrate on whether their child is being bullied, they should not ignore the possibility that the bully might belong to them.

“The bully usually exhibits disrespectful behavior, in general, to peers, teachers and others,” says Brien O’Callaghan, a clinical psychologist and marriage and family counselor, in Bethel, Conn. “The disrespect may be obvious or subtle. There is usually an arrogant, know–it–all, sarcastic attitude. There are also usually other signs like academic underachievement, other misbehaviors like stealing and a pattern of making excuses for misbehavior and blaming others.”

While these signs indicate an underlying character issue, O’Callaghan adds that nothing is certain. “It is important to note that it is also possible that the bully will keep a low profile and not be easily identified,” he says.

How to Tell

Most parents do not witness their child being bullied. They believe, in good faith, that a teacher or adult that cares for their child will notify them of any harassment. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen.

How, then, can parents know when their child is being bullied? O’Callaghan warns that uncovering the victim is not always easy. He points out the child may feel embarrassed, threatened or may simply believe that her claims will fall on deaf ears.

In the theme of the new Karate Kid movie, students and their buddies will learn how to deal with bullies and defend themselves if anyone tries to hurt, hit, or grab them. Students and their buddies will also learn the negative effects that being a bully has on a kid. We’ll also do some of the techniques and exercises that the main characters from the Karate Kid movies used when training (catching a fly with chopsticks and other fun games).

The first 20 kids and their friends that come to the seminar will get a FREE Karate Kid poster, and other Karate Kid prizes. This seminar will be PACKED, so RSVP right away by calling us at 908.541.9800 or email Info@ATABranchburg.com.

Date: Saturday, June 26th 2010
Time: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Location: ATA Branchburg
Street: 999B US Hwy 202N
City/Town: Branchburg, NJ 08876

Children can take steps to discourage bullying. A basic strategy is to hang out with friendly kids at school and to stay away from those who seem not to like them.

Bullying is also less likely to occur when children are in groups and are in areas supervised by adults. For example, children who wish to avoid being bullied can:

* Play or take breaks near adults while at school.

* Walk to school with older brothers and sisters or friends.

* Sit near the bus driver.

These strategies are only effective when schools have firm policies in place against bullying. Staff must be trained and supported in consistently enforcing these policies.

Children who bully look for an easy target. Bullies are less likely to pick on those who:

* Can quickly respond to threats in a self–assured way. Help your child practice what to say if he or she is bullied.

* Act confident and do not seem easily scared. Help your child learn to use strong body language, such as standing up straight, looking other children in the eye, and speaking firmly.

In the theme of the new Karate Kid movie, students and their buddies will learn how to deal with bullies and defend themselves if anyone tries to hurt, hit, or grab them. Students and their buddies will also learn the negative effects that being a bully has on a kid. We’ll also do some of the techniques and exercises that the main characters from the Karate Kid movies used when training (catching a fly with chopsticks and other fun games).

The first 40 kids and their friends that come to the seminar will get a FREE Karate Kid poster, and other Karate Kid prizes. This seminar will be PACKED, so RSVP right away by calling us at 908.541.9800 or email Info@ATABranchburg.com.

Date: Saturday, June 19th & Saturday, June 26th 2010
Time: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Location: ATA Branchburg
Street: 999B US Hwy 202N
City/Town: Branchburg, NJ 08876

The first 20 kids and their friends that come to the seminar will get a FREE Karate Kid poster, and other Karate Kid prizes. This seminar will be PACKED, so RSVP right away by calling us at 908.541.9800 or email Info@ATABranchburg.com.

Date: Saturday, June 19th, 2010
Time: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Location: ATA Branchburg
Street: 999B US Hwy 202N
City/Town: Branchburg, NJ 08876

*Parental advisory: IRON MAN 2 is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some language.

Nine Steps Toward HEALTHY EATING HABITS

Nothing is more discouraging than going on a diet. Plus, studies show that diets don’t really work. What’s important, they say, is to eat in a healthy way that supports an active lifestyle, like that of a martial artist or athlete. Follow these suggestions to improve your nutrition without going on a diet.

1. Eat the right amounts of vegetables. According to the Food Guide Pyramid for Children, kids under age 6 should have three servings of vegetables in a day. Kids over age 6 should have three-to-five servings of vegetables. Most vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories but high in nutrients that our body needs, including vitamins, fiber and potassium. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, eating your vegetables helps protect you against heart attacks and cancer, and even can help maintain your eyesight.

2. Eat the right amounts of fruits. According to the Food Guide Pyramid for Children, kids under age 6 should have two servings of fruits in a day. Kids over age 6 should have two-to-four servings of fruits. Fruits have many of the same nutrients as vegetables and also help satisfy that sweet tooth as a healthier alternative to candy. A serving of fruit is one piece, like a banana or an apple. (this sounds funny to me. Is it saying one serving of fruit is equal to one piece of candy?) Eating a banana after a Taekwondo workout can replenish the potassium your muscles use, helping you get ready for your next class.

3. Drink more fluids. Kidshealth.org reports that when you’re really thirsty, cold water is the number-one thirst-quencher. And there’s a reason your school cafeteria offers cartons of milk. Kids need calcium to grow strong bones, and milk is a great source of this mineral. How much do kids need? Aim for three cups of milk per day, or its equivalent. Mix it up by serving milk and some other calcium-rich dairy foods.

4. Cut back on fast food meals. Eating a cheeseburger and fries from time to time can fit into a healthy eating plan, but fast food meals for kids need to be monitored by a parent to prevent over-eating. A cheeseburger and fries do provide some nutrients, but by super-sizing the meal, a child can take in more than 1,000 calories in a sitting.

5. Snack throughout the day. It’s hard to believe, but eating more food that is good for your body will help you get fit quicker than if
you eat less food and walk around hungry. When your tummy is grumbling, instead of reaching for the chips or cookies, try crackers and cheese, popcorn, pretzels or yogurt.

6. Listen to your body. According to Kidshealth.org, people sometimes keep eating even when they’re full because they don’t pay attention to their bodies. Learn to tell when your stomach is full. Don’t rush through your meals–it can take 10 or 15 minutes for your stomach to register that you’re eating and that it’s getting full. Remember, that feeling of extreme fullness will slow you down and can lead to unhealthy weight gain.

7. Don’t skip breakfast. If you skip breakfast, you’re likely to become tired when your brain and body run low on fuel. Usually by mid-morning you are hungry and crabby, and a sour mood might make you more prone to unhealthy choices at lunch. Eating a good breakfast sets the tone for the rest of the day.

8. Take your vitamins. Supplements are not a substitute for good food, and they should never be used to justify a poor diet. If you’re not eating well, take steps to improve your eating habits, along with taking a supplement. According to WebMD.com, “Any generic type of children’s multivitamin (in chewable or liquid form) will do, unless your child has special needs.” Since your diet may not provide all of the nutrients you need, taking a daily vitamin is typically a good choice to fill the gap.

9. Give yourself a break. Being healthy doesn’t mean you can never have chocolate again! It’s important that you deal with cravings as you take steps toward fitness and still enjoy the foods you love. Feel free to have some birthday cake–just don’t have the biggest piece with the most icing. Don’t treat it as a reward but rather enjoy it as an indulgence. Just be sure your healthy habits aren’t forgotten.

What Parents Can Do?

Keep healthy food around the house. Being hungry is not a crime, but it’s what you and your child choose to fight that hunger that can create bad choices.

Find healthy foods you and your child like. To find out what food your child enjoys and is most likely to eat, ask him or her to “grade” the different choices, suggests WebMD.com. That gets your child involved in the process of making healthy choices he or she can live with. If your child doesn’t like broccoli, try green beans. Play with different recipes and find things that are tasty and healthy.

Don’t reward your child with food. Dessert shouldn’t be the reward after a healthy dinner. Instead, reward your child with playtime in the park or a similar activity that supports a healthy lifestyle.