Greetings Dreamers!

We are closed Monday, February 18 for President’s Day.

Our next Mixed Martial Arts belt test is Thursday, March 14. The promotion ceremony will take place on Saturday, March 16. There is no charge for class belt tests. There are no tests for Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

A private test can be scheduled for Saturday, March 9 if you cannot make the March 14 group test. There is a $40 fee per student for the private tests.

The February seminar at SubForce in Lyndhurst originally scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 16 is postponed. We will announce a new date soon.

Registrations for Spring Break (4/22-4/26) and Summer Camps are now OPEN! Go to our website for links and information. www.dreammartialarts.com

The moral of the month for February is Honesty. Here are some tips and talking points about reinforcing honesty.

Establish honesty as value/moral of your household.

Discuss with your children from an early age that honesty is a foundational part of your family.

Being honest is not always easy.

Sometimes it seems like lying will make a situation easier and allow us to avoid punishment or difficult conversations, but in the end, it is the best and simplest course.

Join the feeling that caused the lie.

Make sure a child knows that lying is not okay, but also let them know that you understand why they lied. For example, if they cheated on a test be sure to communicate that you are empathetic that they were worried about getting a good grade. Once they feel that their feelings in the moment were understood, you can then guide them to better choices.

Praise truth-telling. When your child does tell the truth, reward him/her with praise.

Set an example. If your child sees you as someone who is truthful, they are likely to follow your example.