Little Tiger Series Children’s Books
…provides a unique learning opportunity on valuable life principles taught in a conversational and carefully forged story involving children and adults. Written in a child-friendly, cartoon, picture-book format; the books are educational, entertaining, and especially fun to read.
In Taekwondo, we believe that happy childhoods can lead to productive, enjoyable, and rewarding lives. We know that movement fosters learning and physical activity helps kids develop social, cognitive, and physical skills.
Valuable Life Principles
Movement activates the brain and stimulates children to think, thus, increasing their ability to focus and become independent; which is why Taekwondo is such an excellent medium for learning these key life principles.
The life principles we focus on are (1) Guardian of Peace (never start a fight), (2) Respect, (3) Discipline, (4) Confidence, (5) Self-Control, (6) Persistence, (7) Courage, (8) Compassion, (9) Integrity, and (10) Indomitable Spirit (never quit).
1: Guardian of Peace
As a Guardian of Peace, we never start a fight, and we do everything in our power to prevent one.
Respect is one of the most important virtues a child can learn. It’s the glue that holds their relationships together. A respectful child accepts someone for who they are, even if they’re different from them.
Discipline is the single most important key to excellence. We learn discipline through training and practice.
Confidence rises out of a sense of competence. In other words, children develop confidence not because parents tell them they’re great, but because of their achievements, both big and small.
In everyday terms, self-control is your child’s ability to stop and think before acting, which gives your child a much better chance of making a correct choice in a given situation.
Persistence is a driver of achievement and success, independent of and beyond what talent and intelligence contribute.
Courage has surprise benefits – it boosts resilience, confidence, and willpower as well as their learning, performance, and engagement at school.
When we teach children compassion, we’re teaching them to practice gratitude and where kindness is both given and received.
Developing integrity in our children is not as simple as teaching good values. It requires a broader and complete understanding of the reasons that we live according to these values.
10: Indomitable Spirit
Developing an indomitable spirit requires conquering our fear of embarrassment, rejection, and pain. It requires parents and teachers to encourage children to continue doing what they are doing, no matter how difficult it seems or how impossible the prospect of success appears.
About the Authors
Steve Doherty is a former US Air Force officer and aviator. He holds a Doctorate in Flight Instruction from the United States Air Force and completed post-graduate studies in adult education at The Ohio State University. Steve has authored four historical fiction novels. He is also a 1st Dan Instructor in Taekwondo.
Olivia Dybik is a seventh-grade student at New Albany Middle School in New Albany, Ohio, where she is a ‘Straight A’ student. Olivia holds a Dark Blue Belt in Taekwondo. She also has a passion for art, music, and helping others. She is a summer reading volunteer at the New Albany Library.