07/09/2026
Dear High Impact Families,
This month, our Character Lesson is all about SELF-CONTROL — an important skill that we believe every child can develop through practice, patience and guidance.
Self-control is about learning to pause, think and make good choices, even when we are feeling frustrated, excited, angry or tempted to do something we know we shouldn’t.
For our students, self-control is not just about following the rules in class. It is a life skill that helps them manage their emotions, make positive decisions, handle challenges and become more confident and independent.
🥋 Self-Control at Different Ages
Every child develops self-control at their own pace, so what we expect from a 4-year-old will be very different from what we expect from a teenager.
🥷 Ages 3–4
Our Mini Ninjas are just beginning to learn about boundaries and appropriate behaviour. We can help them develop self-control by teaching them to wait their turn, listen when someone else is speaking, use gentle hands and avoid hitting or fighting when they are frustrated.
🥋 Ages 5–6
Children are beginning to understand rules and boundaries, but they will still test them! This is a great age to teach them that rules are there to help keep everyone safe and that they can control how they respond when they don't get their own way. This might mean learning to calm down instead of kicking, screaming or having a meltdown.
🥊 Ages 7–9
Children at this age are becoming much more aware of their own behaviour and how it affects others. We can encourage them to think about other people's feelings, manage disappointment and understand that they won't always get what they want — and that's okay!
💪 Ages 10+
As children get older, self-control becomes even more important. They are learning to make their own decisions and deal with greater pressures and distractions. We can help them develop the confidence to stand by their choices, manage peer pressure and avoid letting negative influences or distractions take them away from their goals.
⭐ Remember — Self-Control Takes Practice!
Just like learning a new martial arts technique, self-control doesn't happen overnight.
There will be times when our kids get it right and times when they don't. That's part of learning. Our job as parents, instructors and role models is to give them the tools, guidance and encouragement they need to keep practising.
At High Impact, we love seeing our students develop not just as martial artists, but as confident, respectful and capable young people. Learning to control their actions, manage their emotions and make good choices is a huge part of that journey.
We encourage you to talk about SELF-CONTROL at home this month and look for opportunities to recognise your child when they demonstrate it. Sometimes a simple, “I noticed how you stayed calm and made a good choice then — well done!” can make a huge difference.
Thank you, as always, for your support in helping us build these important life skills alongside martial arts.
We can't wait to see our students put SELF-CONTROL into action both on and off the mats!
KRMAS High Impact Team
