The holiday season is upon us.  A time for family and friends, too much food and presents.  Many parents I know worry about how much is too much when it comes to presents and gift giving.  Parents buy many many toys that are sometimes tossed to the side and not used in the ways that you hoped.  This can bring up feelings of frustration and resentment and may make you wonder what your child is grateful for, if anything.  If you ask your child what they are grateful for, many times you will hear that they are grateful for their tablets or phones, toys, maybe their house or if you’re lucky they might say you or their family.  While these are definitely things to be grateful for, the ideas of gratefulness or gratitude are much bigger than the things we possess.  How can we teach our children about the power of gratitude?

​Extra-curricular activities can be a fun way for children to learn skills and values such as time management, the value of team work, the value of hard work and dedication, as well as many others.  There are all types of activities that are beneficial for kids to participate in; music, art, volunteering in the community, drama, and athletics.  If you have a high energy or hyperactive child, providing your child ways to exercise and burn off some of that energy is needed and athletic activities are great for this.  If your child has ADHD, it can be challenging to find an extracurricular activity that will keep your child engaged, motivated, and will help with the illusive skill of time management.  Many children with ADHD not only struggle with focus and attention to detail, many also struggle in the social world as well, making team sports more difficult.  Some children with ADHD do very well in a team environment and the team dynamics do not cause anxiety or blows to their self-esteem.  If you do have a child that struggles in the social arena and may need an individual sport, martial arts may be exactly what you are looking for.