In case you missed it, 2017 is going to be a BIG YEAR for NinjaZone. We’re officially here to announce the 2017 Ninja Games and the Road to Indy!  Here’s the skinny: ‘ We are holding regional Games in June and July, slowly working our way to National Ninja Games in August. Here’s how the schedule lines up:  June 17, 2017: Regional Games #1 in Chicago, IL  July 8, 2017: Regional Games #2 in Sacramento, CA July 22, 2017: Regional Games #3 in Cedar Rapids, IA August 5, 2017: National Ninja Games in Indianapolis, IN Ninja Games are an official event of Ninja Sports International, and they currently take place in member NinjaZone gyms internationally. The Regional and National Games will be held on a larger scale, in venues which will be announced at a later date. Ninja Games are a competition series for Ninja Sport. The competitive format of a Ninja Games includes chase and conflict scenes. Chase scenes consist of the athlete maneuvering through obstacles. Core strength, speed, and agility are tested. Conflict scenes are comprised of freestyle movement, compulsory combos, and the ability to skillfully elude an opponent (minus the opponent). Ninja Games are a crowd pleaser, combining the visual and auditory elements of a stage show, with the excitement and anticipation of live competition. Get more information about hosting or competing in a Ninja Games here: theninjazone.com/ninja-games/ .

How are you settling in with the New Year?  It has barely been a month into it, but we are wondering how everyone’s New Years goals and resolutions are going?!  Have you been sticking to it, or have you found yourself throwing in the towel? Here’s a bit of inspiration for ya.  Check out this video of normal people being amazing.  Okay, we aren’t asking you to jump out of a plane, but take it as a push to remind you of what you resolved to do.  Anyone has the power to be extraordinary, including you.  So, be fearless and continue attacking your 2017, Ninja style! Share with us how your 2017 goals are going! We want to know! #ninjamodeon

Don’t lie, you’re sick of your child being glued to the television or iPad screen.  Trying to pry this young generation from digital devices almost feels like an extra chore.  To be honest, it seems to be easier to allow them to just sink their little souls into their favorite TV shows for the day. Ironically, the internet can be useful for stimulating the adult mind.  Thanks to brassyapple.com , I was able to come across a cool idea that might help your child ignite some Ninja fun outside of Ninja class, and away from a screen. This DIY Laser Maze is simple, affordable and yeah pretty entertaining (totally tried it out). What you need: Brightly colored party streamers or string Tape Scissors A hallway You will want to begin by cutting the streamers into strips no shorter than the width of the hallway.  Cut some longer too.  Next, begin to tape your streamer ends to either side of the hallway walls.  Tape them diagonally and horizontally, also make sure to intertwine and crisscross different streamers to create a challenge for your little Ninja. Now let the makeshift Ninja stealth training commence!

Our kids are awesome! The high energy ones? Awesome in a much more enthusiastic way! I love my high energy kids. Life would be so boring without them…although, I’d probably be less caffeinated. Here are some silver linings for long days that may seem to never end, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. You know you have a high energy child when… You try to keep up, but you find yourself fizzling out around 2pm. Or noon. Or 11am. Gahh…give me all the coffee. You find yourself saying, “Honey, the dog doesn’t want to go out and jump on the trampoline with you.” You have to brace yourself like a football player getting ready to be tackled, when you go in for a hug from your kid. No complaints here, though. I’m kind of ok getting knocked over, if I get a hug out of it. 🙂 All you want to do is push your three year old on the swings that the park, but he taught himself how to pump his legs when he was in the womb. Parents are celebrating their kids first steps, and your kid is running circles around them…and they’re the same age. Your kids are never bored, because they love to make their own fun! Unless they’re in the car for more than, like, five minutes. Then, it’s game on. If it’s quiet in the house, something’s up (ok, this is all kids, but ya know…). You jokingly say, “I need to run five laps around the house!” after Thanksgiving dinner, but your kids don’t know you’re not serious, and they immediately challenge you to a race. You thought you had sweet dance moves, but you realize your kid can seriously kill it to some Justin Timberlake in the back seat. In a five-point harness. You can’t figure out how a little person that moves sooo fast usually, can eat their meal sooo sloowww… Your kid walks out of your closet in a pair of heels that you thought died with your 80’s bangs. Your weekly bartering system always starts and ends with a promise to go to the park later (I always follow through…they sleep so well at night after they’ve ran around in the fresh air!). So even if you’ve had “one of those days,” remember that there’s always a silver lining. If you’re struggling to find one, hunker down, pray for daylight, grab a glass of wine, and know that you’re only a day away from another shot. If all else fails, grab a hug from your kids. Maybe it’ll knock you down and you’ll remember that as parents, no matter the struggles, we wouldn’t change a thing.

Ok, time to get real. I love my kids.  That’s why I have decided to stop relying on yours.  Don’t get me wrong—I use the word “your” collectively. I’m talking to all of you. The kids of the single mom. The kids of the single dad. The big happy family. The kids with two moms or two dads. The guardians and caregivers, or the foster parents (thank you—you’re amazing). I simply can’t rely on your child. Or any of them, for that matter.  Why? Because it is MY job to make sure my children are respectful, mind their P’s and Q’s, and practice behavior that aligns with the character development that I have set before them. Where do your kids come in? Glad you asked. They are YOUR kids. I am responsible for mine. You’ve got yours. Your kids are awesome. They make my heart happy. They have beautiful smiles and say funny things. A 7 year old told me an awesome joke yesterday. She wasn’t my kid, but she was really cool.  Your kids bring joy to the people around them. They have after-school activities and homework. They request waffles for breakfast, then decide they want eggs as soon as the Eggo’s pop out of the toaster. They’re pretty kick-ass. I have decided that I am going to stop trying to change the world by relying on other people’s kids to set examples for mine. I am doing the best I can do, day by day. My kids are a direct reflection of ME. When people see my family in public and one of the kids starts acting crazy, people are looking at ME.  It’s up to me to make sure that they are upstanding citizens, take instruction, stand up for themselves, and know right from wrong. Sure, there are other influences in their lives, but as their mother, I feel responsible.  I understand that that my children could be molded through their peers.  No matter to what extent they are molded, it is still up to me to make sure that I am with them every step of the way, guiding and helping. Their character development happens in everyday life. At the breakfast table. In classes at the gym. While holding doors open for their elders. Even though I can’t rely on your kids, I do know one thing:  You are doing the same thing I am. You’re making sure your kids are living life at their highest potential. And you know what? You’ve got this. We’ve got this.  And here’s the thing: I don’t expect you to rely on my kids either.  You’ve got enough going on.

“Man. I wish I had just an ounce of his energy.” How many times have we said that about kids? I know I’ve said it a million times, and that’s just about my own kids! Kids have lots of energy, and that’s just how it is! Often, their parents can’t even keep up. There’s nothing better for energetic kids than to allow them to give into their desire to run, jump, and play. However, there seems to be a bit of a stigma when it comes to high-energy kids. They don’t always get the best reputation by adults, because it’s assumed that they can’t sit still, and they will ‘just run around and destroy things.’ If kids witness these comments from adults, eventually they could fall into that category, and that could definitely cause disciplinary issues down the road. It’s so important that kids are given an outlet to channel their energy. It’s important because it does more than let them run the wiggles out. It also: Gives them confidence. If kids are put in a situation where they can safely run and jump, while testing the abilities of their own body, their desire to try new things is almost immediately stimulated. Encourages group sport participation. Most kids feed off the energy of others around them. If your child is on a soccer team, for instance, they will be able to focus their energy on the common goal, and when they see other kids reaching to achieve this goal as well, they are successful and have a sense of accomplishment. Reinforces setting limits. High-energy kids can get excited easily, and may need some redirection to encourage them to focus. Setting limits early on will teach them that there is a time and a place for running wild, and it will encourage good behavior based on rewards. Setting up deals (or pacts, as they’re called in my house) with them can work well, if you promise to take them to the playground as a reward for being awesome during the trip to the mall. Other rewards that could excite them may be a trip to the splash pad, a family bike ride, Friday night open gym, or other ways for them to expel some of their energy. Whatever you decide to do, always follow through on your promise. High-energy kids are AWESOME kids. They entertain themselves. They have active imaginations, they love challenging themselves, and they never fail to keep US entertained, as well. Kids with a lot of energy function best being themselves—letting that energy fly. Keep them focused, give them a place to redirect their energy, and give them lots of love. Fight the desire to try to reign them in, and remember that they’re still kids. Remember to cherish every high-strung, crazy, absolutely precious moment while they’re still young enough to hug us so hard and fast that they practically knock us over.