We all know our kids watch far too much television but its a bit difficult to change the habit, particular if PC games are banned as well! So why not take a leaf out of this wonderful project in Colchester and set a challenge to your young TV addicts? Or perhaps it would even be a good thing for the adults to try. What games to play could you think of…………………..
Colchester Karate ACADEMY Students take the Nifty Ninja ChallengeÂ
Each month Colchester Karate Academy sets it’s Nifty Ninjas (students aged 7 – 14) a monthly challenge. Those completing the challenge are rewarded at the end of each month. Some months they receive a certificate and other months they receive a gift. However, October has seen the most challenging of all challenges when they were told they were not allowed to watch ANY television, play any PC games, games on mobile phones or any other electronic games. Instead, they were challenged to invent games, build things, read, write stories and generally just be more creative and keep a diary about their activities. Â
Initially the opposition from both parents and children were heavy. Children who didn’t want to miss out on playing computer games with their friends or watch films, and parents, who use the television as a distraction to enable them to get on with other household tasks.Â
However, once they all got use to the idea, they embraced it fully. Now at the end of the challenge, feedback is positive on all fronts, except only one parent who jokingly complained saying “it’s driving me nuts! I can’t wait for the challenge to be over, even though the children didn’t complain much…it was more difficult for meâ€. Even the children, who thought they would find the challenge very difficult, are now admitting it’s nowhere near as hard as they thought it would be. Most parents said how easy the kids found it despite initial protest and they really thought the children would give them a hard time about it.Â
A month is an awful long time in the life of a child in this age group. Just try and remember how long it felt when it was only a week till your next birthday at that age. So it’s highly commendable that a large group of students have tried to take part in the challenge, and many still haven’t given up. Some managed to do it for a day or two, others for a week or so, but more than 30 children are still successful in keeping to the challenge. Their rewards will be big but they don’t know what the reward is yet.
Feedback so far included children saying how many new board games they have learned to play or spending more time with their parents. Parents are saying how much calmer children are, more compliant and helpful around the house they have become. Other children have spent their free time making things from craft material, whilst others started reading books they never would have read before. Others have done more chores around the house and earned more pocket money.
All in all the children took to it very well, making a real effort and are almost at the finishing line.
The challenge finished on 31st October, when a 113 club members of all ages celebrated, by going to Colchester Zoo for their annual Halloween visit.
This month’s challenge also coincided with the club’s 2nd birthday in its own full time premises.
To celebrate students success this month Colchester Karate Academy offers FREE training for all of December to all new students who sign up before the end of November 2009. For more information contact Landé Fourie on 07753627204.
Ms Landé Fourie
Colchester Karate Academy
Unit E2 Cowdray Centre
Cowdray Avenue
Colchester
CO1 1BP
info@colchesterkarateacademy.co.uk
www.colchesterkarateacademy.co.uk
Phone: 07753 627 204