The following expert tips were published in the Rancho Penasquitos Family Karate newsletter to provide parents the skills to encourage karate students, but these techniques are helpful in all areas of child development.

Parents tips for winning kids 
published in Family Karate bulletin Febrary 1999

Let your child solve it himself

Don't rescue your child. When you offer advice, you deny your child a chance to work out problems themselves. Allowing him to solve the problem on his own will build his self esteem.

Do give positive feedback

Your goal is to encourage communication. Remember to praise the effort, not criticize any areas that are lacking. Nothing stops a conversation so completely as criticism.

Praise progress.

There will always be someone better; more accomplished, more talented than you or your child. Make your child proud of what he's accomplished, not focused on how well others are doing in his class. Comparing may only weaken your child's self esteem.

Remember that your child's feelings are important.

Allow your child to confide in you, even if you think his concern is insignificant. On the flip side, avoid making mountains from molehills because that too may erode your child's self confidence.

Listen!

No matter how trivial or overwhelming their problem appears to you, listen to your child and respect how he or she sees things.

Your child will be more comfortable confiding in you. Make the time to understand. We are all learning how to express ourselves and sometimes just talking about it will make your child feel better.

Offer encouragement.

Encourage your child to ask his or her coach/instructor for assistance. Extra attention from an instructor can "nip frustration in the bud."

Encourage your child to practice at home. Offer to watch if that's what he wants, but also respect his desire to work it out alone in the privacy.of his own room, garage, back yard, etc.. Be available, but don't insist on being with him every moment.