Category Archives: Martial Arts

This category of blog posts is about martial arts training at [city] martial arts in [city], [state].

Child Health, Discipline, Martial Arts, SYN Digital Enrollment Director

Why Parents of Children with ADHD Should Consider Martial Arts

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common condition that affects children worldwide. Children with ADHD may struggle with hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention, which can cause challenges in various aspects of their lives, including their academic performance, social interactions, and emotional well-being. While there are various treatments and therapies available for ADHD, one activity that has gained notoriety in recent years is martial arts.

Martial arts is more than just a physical activity; it is a holistic approach that emphasizes mental and emotional development as much as physical fitness. This approach is particularly beneficial for children with ADHD as it addresses the specific challenges they face and provides a framework for developing self-discipline, focus, and confidence.

In this post, we will explore the value of martial arts for children with ADHD and how it can help them manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Developing self-discipline

One of the primary benefits of martial arts for children with ADHD is the development of self-discipline. Martial arts requires children to follow a strict set of rules and guidelines, such as bowing before entering the training area, addressing their instructors with respect, and adhering to a specific training schedule. This structure provides a framework for children with ADHD to learn self-discipline and self-control, which can be challenging for them due to their impulsivity.

Martial arts also teaches children the importance of perseverance and hard work. Children with ADHD may struggle with tasks that require sustained effort and focus, but martial arts training provides a safe and supportive environment to practice these skills. Through regular training and practice, children with ADHD can develop the habits they need to be successful in their day-to-day lives.

Improving focus and attention

Another significant benefit of martial arts for children with ADHD is the improvement of focus and attention. Martial arts training requires a high level of concentration and attention to detail, which can help children with ADHD improve their ability to focus and stay on task. In addition, martial arts techniques such as meditation and breathing exercises can help children with ADHD learn to calm their minds and improve their ability to concentrate.

Martial arts instructors often use games and exercises that require children to focus on a specific task or goal. These activities can be particularly beneficial for children with ADHD, as they provide a fun and engaging way to practice focus and attention skills. Over time, children with ADHD can transfer these skills to other areas of their lives, such as schoolwork and social interactions.

Building self-confidence

Many children with ADHD struggle with low self-esteem and self-confidence due to their inability to transfer whats in their head into action. Martial arts training can help children with ADHD build self-confidence by providing a safe and supportive environment to develop their skills and abilities. As children progress in their martial arts training, they can earn belts and other awards, which can boost their self-esteem and provide a sense of accomplishment.

Martial arts training also teaches children to respect themselves and others. Children with ADHD may struggle with social interactions and may find it challenging to build positive relationships with their peers. Martial arts training provides opportunities for children to interact with others in a supportive and structured environment, which can help them develop social skills and build positive relationships.

Reducing stress and anxiety

Martial arts training can also help children with ADHD reduce stress and anxiety. Children with ADHD may struggle with managing their emotions and may experience high levels of stress and anxiety. Martial arts training provides a safe and structured environment to release stress and tension through physical activity. In addition, martial arts techniques such as meditation and breathing exercises can help children with ADHD learn to manage their emotions and reduce feelings of anxiety.

Promoting physical fitness

Finally, martial arts training is an excellent way for children with ADHD to improve their physical fitness. Children with ADHD may struggle with sedentary lifestyles due to difficulties with impulse control and focus. Martial arts provides a fun and engaging way for children to get active and improve their overall fitness levels. The physical activity involved in martial arts can also help children with ADHD release excess energy and improve their ability to focus.

Martial arts training can also improve coordination and balance, which can be challenging for some children with ADHD. Improved coordination and balance can lead to better performance in other activities, such as sports or dance, and can improve overall quality of life.

Choosing the right martial art

For children with ADHD, martial arts that focus on structure, discipline, and mental focus is very important. Martial arts like karate, taekwondo, or judo provide this. 

In addition to finding the right martial art, it’s important to remember that martial arts should be just one part of a comprehensive treatment plan for children with ADHD. Other treatments, such as medication, therapy, and behavioral interventions, may also be necessary to help children with ADHD manage their symptoms.

In conclusion, martial arts can be an incredibly beneficial activity for children with ADHD. Through martial arts training, children can develop self-discipline, focus, and confidence, improve their physical fitness, and reduce stress and anxiety. Martial arts also provides a safe and supportive environment for children to interact with others and develop social skills.

Martial arts should be part of a comprehensive treatment plan for ADHD and should be tailored to your child’s individual needs and interests. With the right approach, martial arts can be an incredibly positive and life-changing experience for children with ADHD.

The post Why Parents of Children with ADHD Should Consider Martial Arts appeared first on Better Kids Institute.

Child Fitness, Martial Arts, SYN Digital Enrollment Director

Winter Activities For Kids

Between the cold temperatures and the snow and ice outside, it’s no surprise that so many kids would rather stay inside with a video game or the television. The more time that those children spend inside inactive and snacking, the more likely it is that they will gain weight.

Parents and educators can look for some creative winter activities during those long winter months to keep kids healthy and moving.

 

Use Nearby Facilities

Many parents may not consider taking advantage of nearby recreation centers and other facilities that kids can use in winter.

An ice skating rink is a good way for kids to have fun and get plenty of exercise. They can have fun learning the basics of balancing while moving across the ice.

If the city has a branch of the YMCA, kids can also use the facilities there. Most locations have indoor racquetball, tennis and basketball courts as well as swimming pools.

 

Embrace the Cold

Instead of shunning the cold and staying inside, parents can encourage their kids to embrace the cold weather outside. Nothing beats the fun and excitement that comes from a snowball fight, and adults can turn a simple snowball fight into a game of capture the flag.

Kids may also love building a snowman family together and decorating those figures with their friends or siblings.

 

Take Classes

Kids who hate the idea of going outside in the snow and ice might like the idea of taking an indoor class with other kids in their age group. This helps them see that they can still have fun when the temperature drops.

An indoor swimming class is a good choice for kids who want to learn something new or who love the water. Other activities that are suitable for keeping kids active in the long winter months include gymnastics and karate classes.

 

Do Chores Together

Children often learn by example. If they see their parents remaining active, they’ll want to stay active, too. Doing chores together is one of the easiest ways for parents to set a good example for their kids.

This can include doing the dishes, vacuuming or even rearranging the furniture in the room. Parents and kids can also shovel the walk and clean off the family cars together as some examples of helpful winter activities.

It doesn’t take a lot to get kids active, but it does require the involvement of adults.

 

Child Fitness, Martial Arts, Online Safety, SYN Digital Enrollment Director

5 Ways To Help Your Child’s Education At Home

Parents are a child’s first and most influential teachers. Children’s lives begin at home and throughout their formative years, most of their time is spent there and its where a surprising amount of education can take place. Parents can help kids excel academically by taking the following steps:

 

1. Quality Time Together

Every parent is busy and has demands to meet. Despite those demands, it’s vital that parents carve out quality time to spend with each child. During this time, parents should ask their children about their day and about their studies. Every parent needs to take an active, interested role in the life of his or her children in order to nurture that child’s academic prowess.

 

2. A Supportive Home Environment

Every child needs a safe place where he or she feels loved and accepted no matter what. Parents should focus on creating such an environment at home. Stressful home environments where yelling, bickering or fighting are common can cause emotional distress and hinder a child’s academic abilities.

 

3. Unconditional Encouragement

Whether a child is a straight-A student or has difficulty passing classes, that child needs to hear words of encouragement from a parent. Parents can help their children do their best by complimenting each child and showing unconditional positive regard.

 

4. Communication with Teachers

Involved parents are able to help the children excel by communicating with teachers and other educators. At minimum, parents need to attend regularly scheduled parent-teacher conferences. Keeping open lines of communication with teachers and a child’s school helps parents learn more readily when and if academic issues arise.

 

5. Monitoring Study Habits

Kids will be kids, and few of them actually enjoy studying. Parents need to monitor their children’s study habits and help them get assignments completed. This doesn’t mean that parents have to have all the answers or be able to do a child’s algebra homework. It does mean that parents take the time to make sure kids are studying rather than playing computer games. Providing small rewards such as a snack or active playtime between study segments can help to motivate and encourage struggling students.

Education begins at home. While parents send their children to school to learn even more, paying attention and remaining involved in a child’s education can help kids excel in any classroom.

Child Fitness, Martial Arts, SYN Digital Enrollment Director

Recess is necessary for proper child development

Schools are in a tough spot these days.

Between the pressures to meet minimum student performance standards and needing to work within slimmer budget constraints, recess has become an expendable program. More time is spent in class and fewer resources are needed for playground supervision and maintenance.

It is a decision that seems straightforward on the surface but, as it turns out, could have a host of negative unintended consequences.

 

Grades could suffer

Many studies have been conducted on the relationship between recess and grades. The results indicate that a mental and physical break from classes helps to refocus the kids’ attention span and burn off extra energy that is distracting in the classroom.

Kids are naturally active and curious about the world around them. They are not well suited to extended periods of prolonged concentration such as sitting in a classroom without some form of mental and physical break.

After sitting for a while kids (as well as adults) start to get fidgety and cannot concentrate on what they should be. The mind starts to wander and the lessons being taught in the classroom become

Recess is also the time where kids can interact with their peers, learning through shared experience and building social development skills. These are lessons that can’t be taught from a book. They have to be experienced to learn from.

 

Improved health

Another huge concern for schools these days is the physical health of their students. Recess affords kids an opportunity to run and play which helps to burn calories, build muscle and provides aerobic exercise.

With concerns over childhood obesity and related illnesses, providing a health school lunch does very little good if they aren’t allowed time to exercise. And with gym classes being cut as well, some students don’t get any physical activity at all while at school.

Schools across the country are starting to realize that eliminating recess is a poor option for them and their students. In some cases, recess is making a comeback which is good news for the overall happiness and well being of the students.

 

ADHD & Focus, Child Health, Martial Arts, SYN Digital Enrollment Director

Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Autistic spectrum disorders are a range of related developmental disorders that begin in childhood and persist throughout adulthood. Autistic spectrum disorders can cause a wide range of symptoms, which are grouped into three broad categories:

  • Problems and difficulties with social interaction

Such as a lack of understanding and awareness of other people’s emotions and feelings.

 

  • Impaired language and communication skills

Such as delayed language development and an inability to start conversations or take part in them properly.

 

  • Unusual patterns of thought and physical behaviour

This includes making repetitive physical movements, such as hand tapping or twisting. The child develops set routines of behaviour, which can upset the child if the routines are broken.

 

The term ‘spectrum’ is used because the symptoms of ASD and their severity can vary from child to child.

Children with autistic spectrum disorders usually have significant problems with language, social interaction and behaviour. Many children with autistic disorders will also have learning difficulties.

Children with autistic spectrum disorders often prefer to have clear structure and consistent support in their lives. It is important to find out what the child’s preferred communication method is, as a lot of behaviours which can be seen as challenging are often caused by an inability to communicate what they want, or to understand what is going on around them. Communication tools include pictures, photos, symbols, Makaton and choice boards.

 

An overview of Asperger syndrome

Children with Asperger syndrome have milder symptoms that affect social interaction and behaviour. Their language development is usually unaffected, although they often have problems in certain areas of language. For example, understanding humour or figures of speech, such as ‘she’s got a chip on her shoulder’ or ‘it’s raining cats and dogs.’

Some children with Asperger syndrome are particularly skilled in fields requiring logic, memory and creativity, such as math, computer science and music.

 

Frequency of autistic spectrum disorders

Autistic spectrum disorders are uncommon but not rare. In England it is estimated that 1 in every 100 children has an autistic spectrum disorder. Autistic spectrum disorders are more common in boys than girls. Boys are three to four times more likely to develop an autistic spectrum disorder than girls.

The number of diagnosed cases of autistic spectrum disorders has increased over the past two decades, but this does not necessarily mean that the condition is becoming more widespread. Some experts argue that the rise in diagnosed cases may be due to health professionals getting better at diagnosing cases correctly. In the past, many children with an autistic spectrum disorder may have been incorrectly labelled as ‘slow’, ‘difficult’ or ‘painfully shy’, and not given the support they needed.

 

The Future

Today, here is a lot more information and support available to parents of children who have autistic spectrum disorders. Children with mild to moderate symptoms often grow up to be independent adults with jobs, long-term relationships and children. Children with more severe symptoms may need additional support and assistance for the rest of their lives. However, there is no reason why they cannot enjoy a good quality lifestyle and live as independently as possible.

——

The author of this article, Crispin Jones, has first-hand experience of children with autistic spectrum disorders through his work with Voyage Care. He is currently campaigning to raise awareness about autism, and regularly takes part in fundraising activities for the cause.

Child Safety, Family Safety, Martial Arts, SYN Digital Enrollment Director

7 Reasons to Enroll Your Child in Private School

Melanie Hargrave, guest contributor

When it comes to your child’s education, you want to pick the system that will benefit your child the most. Do you choose to put your trust in the public school system or the private school system? Or maybe you’re considering taking the responsibility on yourself by attempting home schooling. No matter what your options and considerations, private school is often the best course of action, both for you and for your child. Here are 6 reasons why you should seriously consider enrolling your child as soon as possible.

 

High Parental Involvement

Private schools don’t come cheap. They require far more of an investment than public schools do, but that investment pays off. You can even make sure your money has been well-spent. Private schools expect you to be involved in your child’s education.

Where public schools typically provide one night a year for parents to come to the school and meet the teachers, private schools host many parent-teacher conferences and other activities to which parents are invited and encouraged to attend. The teachers strive to involve parents, and they encourage parents to discuss the educational needs of their children.

Generally, the administration and the teachers of private schools both want what is best for your child, and they want to show you that your child is getting that great education promised.

 

Dedicated Teachers

The classes at private schools are significantly smaller than the class sizes at public schools. This means that the teachers can dedicate more individual time to your child. They will know almost immediately if your child doesn’t understand a topic, and the teacher can focus on your child, teaching him or her one-on-one until your child understands.

The public school system is geared toward the mid-range of students—for children of average intelligence. If your child is above or below that range, they won’t get the attention they deserve, and their education will suffer for it.

Private schools, however, are a lot more flexible, lending to a better learning environment for children who are intelligent and quick to comprehend and for children who are slower learners. There are programs, classes, and teachers for both types of students, where they can get the attention and the education they deserve.

 

Life-long Education

Unlike public schools, private schools aren’t funded based on test results. They’re not funded by the state, and the tests themselves don’t matter as much. It’s about teaching the students so the students understand.

The teachers focus more on the subject matter than the tests themselves, because they understand that when too much focus is placed on a test, students think that that’s the only reason they need to know the subject—to pass the test. Then, once the test is taken, the students forget. But when the teachers focus on the subject matter, the knowledge lasts a lot longer, because the students really understand the subject.

 

Balanced Program

Private schools have a balanced program for all of the students. They go through a mix of academia, physical fitness, and extra-curricular activities like music, drama, and debate teams. Many public schools don’t have all these options, because states choose to cut programs, like drama or music, in favor of more profitable events, like sports.

Private schools make a variety of programs available to their students, supporting a well-rounded education.

 

Teachers as Role Models

Private schools only have a limited number of teachers, so the teachers have to know multiple subjects and activities. This means that your child’s math teacher could also be the supervisor of the physical activities.

When teachers are over multiple subjects like this, it gives children more time to bond with the teacher and look up to them as role model. That helps when you child doesn’t understand a topic. They will accept help from the teacher they look up to and may even gain a love for a subject they otherwise wouldn’t have cared about.

 

Curriculums You Agree With

There are many different types of private schools available, and you can find one with a curriculum you agree with, so your child gets the education you want them to have. Private education gives you, the parent, the opportunity to choose a school that shares your values. Whether you prefer a more religious-centered curriculum, or appreciate the diversity that many private school programs offer in their education, you can enroll your child in an institution that fits you and your child’s needs.

 

Transportation You Trust

When your child attends a public school, they typically have to rely on either their own two feet to get to school or a bus driver employed by the school district. Not only will you not know the bus driver—most likely—but the school probably won’t know them either.

When private schools offer transportation for students, they hire the driver directly and can vouch for the safety of your children while in transit. And if the school doesn’t offer transportation, you can get involved with a carpool, saving money on getting your child and some of his or her classmates to school.

Your child’s education is not something you should take lightly. Their education will affect the rest of their life, so put some thought into it, and give them the education that will put them on the path to greatness.

——

Melanie Hargrave is a wife and homemaker whose pride and joy is her family. She is her daughters’ number one fan, always ready at a moment’s notice to grab her foam fingers and spirit shakers and cheer on her girls. In addition to spending time with her family, she loves being outdoors, playing sports, and learning more about cars and mechanisms like Rexroth Hydraulics.

Discipline, Martial Arts, SYN Digital Enrollment Director

Simple Tips to Make Moving out Easy for Kids

Ashley, guest contributor

A lot of kids hate the thought of moving out. When a family decides to move to a new home, children are mostly affected thus showing separation anxiety. There are many factors associated with this. Maybe you are wondering why kids dreaded the possibility of moving to a whole new environment.

Friends are the prime reason as to why children do not want to transfer to a new neighborhood. Come to think of it, kids have built strong attachment and good friendship with other kids then suddenly they will be separated. This thought is worrisome for the little children. Furthermore, being in a new environment means children will see unfamiliar faces and meet new people. This scenario often scares them a bit. But there are simple ways you can consider to make your kids fully grasp the plan to move.

 

Talk it Over Ahead of TimeMoving out can be fun and exciting for the little children if they are prepared.

One effective way to encourage your kids that the move will be beneficial is to talk about it a few months before the scheduled day. Discussing this matter will likely prepare them for the move out. Maybe they will cry or even oppose but it is natural (just let them pour their heart out). Try to explain the situation and the reason why you have to transfer to a new home. Well of course, they might not be able to fully understand all the things you will tell them but at least they have something to reason out to their friends. Tell them they can still keep in touch even if you move to a new state. Talking it over beforehand will help them get ready emotionally.

 

Discuss New Opportunities

When you discuss about the plan of moving out, give them an overview of all the possible things that might happen in your new home. Tell them they will be able to meet new friends and playmates – who can be good addition to their list of friends. If your new house is bigger, bribe them with new stuff for their bedroom. Or, you can ask them to go on shopping with you for new devices and necessities for your new home. Describe other exciting opportunities like new school and activities which they can share with their old friends.

 

Ask Kids to Help Segregate/ Pack Their Things

Once they are settled with the plan, tell them to segregate their things. Check out their stuff and ask them to give out unused toys or garments to their friends. These items can be good remembrance to their friends when they are apart. But be sure these items are still usable. Never give out torn clothes or heavily damaged toys. Segregating is a fun activity to do with your kids as you can bring back memories connected to each item.

After segregating which stuff should stay and what items must go, ask them to help you pack. Ask them to put their all their toys in boxes and label them. Every box should have labels to easily distinguish what are stuffed inside. While you hold the box flaps, let them run the packaging tape to secure the items. Isn’t it a fun activity?

Moving out can be fun and exciting for the little children if they are prepared. Whether you are moving into a bigger house in California or one of those apartments for rent in Houston, it is vitally important to consider the kids during the planning. This way it will not be that hard to convince them to move out.

 

 

Child Safety, Fun Activities, Martial Arts, SYN Digital Enrollment Director

Three After-school Activities That Encourage Cognitive Development

Leslie Mason, guest contributor

Any parent wants their child to be constantly learning, growing and developing, whether school is in session or not. With school starting up again, it’s time to start thinking about extracurricular and other after-school activities—hopefully choosing one that will encourage healthy cognitive development. Of course your child will have to choose for themselves, but here are three fun activities to suggest that will encourage their cognitive development:

 

Theater/Acting ClassesThere are many extracurricular activities that grow cognitive abilities the obvious way—intellectually.

There’s nothing like acting to spur cognitive development. Kids have to learn lines, react naturally in contrived situations, and reconsider their presumptions about the world. Acting, when properly directed, forces kids to become the character, putting themselves into the mind of a character with possibly different prejudices, thoughts, morals, and ideas than their own, forcing them to acknowledge that other mindsets exist.

This puts their cognitive development into what Piaget called a state of disequilibrium, which forces them to learn more about their world and helps to jump-start their cognitive development.

Maybe there’s a good children’s theater program or workshop in your area. Maybe the local high school or junior high needs one or more young children for a production. Maybe the elementary school is putting on a play. Who knows—you may be raising the next Tom Hiddleston or Meryl Streep!

 

Team or Individual Sports

Yes, you heard right—sports encourage your child’s cognitive development. It is all about finding a sport that your child is not only enthusiastic about, but also one that they are willing to stick with and become proficient in.

Sports will bring your child together with other children from all walks of life, and in most cases, they’ll have to work toward a common goal with these kids. Or they may have to learn to compete against them in a sportsmanlike way and continually adapt to improve their own performance.

It may take a little trial and error on your part to find a sport your child is willing to dedicate that much effort to, but when they find one it will be a blessing to them, their cognitive powers, and their future (say it with me now, “scholarships”).

 

Intellectual Pursuits

There are many extracurricular activities that grow cognitive abilities the obvious way—intellectually. Think scholastic decathlon, chess club, and science fair. These will get your children out there meeting youngsters of their own intellectual level and force them to recall massive amounts of information while solving problems in real time, whether it be on a team, over chess boards, or while experimenting.

——           

About the Author

Leslie Mason is a homemaker and garden expert. Leslie enjoys writing, gardening, do-it-yourself projects, and fixing up the house.

Child Fitness, Child Safety, Martial Arts, SYN Digital Enrollment Director

Taking a New Direction as a Parent – Is Foster Care Right For Me?

After the birth of our son, my husband and I couldn’t wait to continue growing our family. We loved the whirlwind that followed him around, and loved the way he could light up a room – and the lives of everyone in it.

Unlike most couples though, we took a slightly different route when it came to having a second child. We became foster carers.

We wanted to fill our home with a child’s laughter, but we also wanted to make a difference in a child’s life. After seeing an advert on Facebook recruiting carers in our area, we jumped at the chance and haven’t looked back since.

If you’re thinking of taking a new direction as a parent, foster care could be right for you. Here, I’m going to share with you a warts-and-all account of the process to help you make the right decision – for you and a child.

1. Are you prepared for the application process?

The process to become a foster carer was unlike anything we had undergone before. The first thing to be aware of is that this is a long, daunting, challenging, and often intrusive process; something which puts many prospective parents off.

Our journey took 6 months to complete, something which we were assured is completely normal. It began with us making an enquiry online, and was followed by a telephone chat with the agency.

Before you’ve even signed on the dotted line, you need to be aware that you will receive a home visit from the agency. This is to discuss your enquiry in more detail, and get a general idea of how suitable you will be. It is at this stage that you will then complete an application form.

The assessment that follows is pretty intense, and not for everyone. Our social worker visited 7 times to carry out a full assessment of our home and suitability as carers. We also had prior training to ensure we were fully prepared.

Finally, after this stage, we were approved and told to await news of our first placement. Be under no illusions that this is a lengthy process; and something you really need to prepare for before you begin your journey.

2. Do you have a spare room?

One of the first questions we were asked when enquiring about foster care, was did we have a spare room. Even though we already had a child of our own, any foster child would need their own bedroom to sleep in. You’ll need to prove that you have the space at home to house everyone comfortably.

In the UK, there has been some concern over how ‘Bedroom Tax’ will affect foster carers; a further challenge that has been putting many families off foster care. My advice would be to see how this will impact on you, before you enquire.

3. What type of placement are you able to offer?

Another thing to consider when deciding if foster care is right for you is what type of placement you are able to offer. Fostering is not to be confused with adoption; in fact, there are a number of important differences to consider.

When we looked into fostering, we didn’t realise there were quite so many types of placement. These include:

  • Emergency Placements – These are offered on extremely short notice, and are for children whose parents have been deemed unfit to care for them.
  • Short Term/Temporary Placements – These are only a few days or weeks long, and provide a ‘middle ground’ before a child moves on to long term care or adoption.
  • Long Term Placements – These placements can last months or even years, before children are moved on.
  • Respite Placements – These placements are designed to give the birth parents of challenging or disabled children a well-deserved break.

4. Can you deal with difficult children?

Another question to ask yourself when considering fostering is: “Can I care for a child with behavioural difficulties?”

When our foster daughter came to live with us she was very challenging due to her upbringing and it took her a long time to settle in and calm down. You may find yourself caring for a child with a physical or mental disability; and you need to be able to offer the specialist care they need.

While you will receive training and support, it’s important to do your research and be sure that you can cope with anything fostering throws at you.

5. Are you willing to foster children of all ages?

When we enquired about fostering, we were surprised to learn that there is a real shortage of carers for older children.

If you’re thinking about fostering, you need to be willing to care for children of all ages, backgrounds and upbringings. Making a difference to an older child’s life will no doubt challenging, but it’s the most rewarding job you can do.

Taking a new direction as a parent and becoming a foster carer was one of the best decisions we made, and we wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s challenging; but it is truly rewarding and we’d recommend it to anyone.

——

Rachael Walker is an ex-marketing manager turned full-time Mommy blogger. When she’s not looking after her children, you’ll find her baking, gardening, and keeping fit. Find out more about her journey as a foster mother on her blog.

Child Fitness, Fun Activities, Martial Arts, SYN Digital Enrollment Director

Tie Dye With Kids

Long hot summers can be hard to fill, with children on your hands and most activities costing way too much to make a regular occurrence it can be hard to think of exciting things to fill their days.

Bonding with children is unique and special, and something necessary to forge a happy familial relationship. It shouldn’t need to cost money, simple things like going for a walk, cooking together or just eating together can be great to build memories, what’s more they are both fun and healthy.

Sometimes though, the weather can affect certain free activities, as can children’s concentration. They can enjoy lots of things, but do need variation and change to grow and develop. So, creative crafts are a great way to develop children’s interest in different activities and help them find what they enjoy and are good at.

Tie dying is simple, easy, fun, and creative! What’s more the result is something you can use or wear, meaning your child has a great time and a great object at the end of it.

Equipment List

Garment

dye

rubber bands

rubber gloves

a plastic bag

a bucket

salt (can increase intensity of the color)

For the garment always go for plain, it can be anything, but I usually opt for a plain white t-shirt as the effect looks great, it’s a good size and there is nearly always one lying around.

The clothing dye you buy depends on what colors you’d like to create.

You can buy dye at a supermarket, at a specialty craft shop or online, but it is available for just a few dollars and shouldn’t cost the earth. You can buy specially pre-mixed dye from shops if you would prefer. Always make sure you read your dye label to check for specific instructions as there may be some equipment it requires not listed here. 

Once you have your equipment you’re ready to go and get creative.

Wash your garment before you begin so there is a clean surface for the dye to sink into.

Fold and tie your garment as desired. Do this by tying sections of the t-shirt with rubber bands and twisting the garment. There is no right or wrong way to tie dye, it is about having fun and being unique so don’t get too tied up with getting a perfect circle in the center. If your child wants a certain pattern you might want to do some small test strips on unwanted fabrics to work out how that pattern is achieved.

Once your dyes are prepared from the packets instructions, you are ready to get going. If you are going for a mix of colors it is best to start with the lightest first, then either rinse or wait between different colors depending on the dye instructions. The actual dying doesn’t take long but some dyes need to be left for 24 hours until they are ready to be rinsed. 

The glorious thing is that every item you tie dye, no matter if you use the same technique and the same dye, will turn out different. It is a great way to teach your children about how they are unique and everyone is different. It is also great to learn about different colors, science behind chemical reactions and color combinations as well as being an arty and creative activity. Meaning, there is something of interest to practically every child.