Canvas wall art is an exceptional art that can add beauty and elegance to the most lifeless of wall spaces. With its ability to bring stylish ambience to any interior choosing canvas wall art for yourself or others can be an inspiring process.In this day and age buying wall art is easier than ever, with the internet providing a better and wider selection of paintings and prints compared to those in the past that came from the traditional galleries you could look in.When it comes to canvas wall art there is a great deal choice, one of which being the opportunity to pick and use your very own digital photo’s and have them transformed into your own special canvas wall art. All you need to do is find a reputable professional company that ideally specialize in canvas wall art and there are plenty around.Using your own digital photography can make your canvas wall art extra special and personal too, this can make it a great gift for that special occasion.If however, you have decided and have your heart set on purchasing a work of art then there are more decisions to make.There is the choice between Landscape and abstract.Landscape could be for you if you are looking for that understated natural beauty and the earthy colours that a landscape picture usually contains this can add a certain warmth and comfort to any given wall.On the other hand you have Abstract, Abstract pictures are usually made up of forms and colours and can be a striking colourful piece for a blank wall. Abstract art is a type of art which can conjure up different ideas and thoughts to individuals, making it open to interpretation.There is also the choice of iconic images of people and places, these works of art are popular and can be a great talking point.Some people like to choose a piece of art strongly taking colour into consideration, you could either choose colours that go with your interior design so that the work or art is subtle and enhance the look of a room or on the other had you could choose contrasting colours to make to make your picture really stand out from the rest of the room.All being said, choosing a canvas wall art picture is a personal decision and one that should be considered carefully.Whatever your decision the main thing is that you are happy with it.
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Choosing a Self Defense, Martial Arts School – A Parents Guide
“Daddy, I want to take Karate!”"Mommy, Jimmy on the bus hit me again today”There are many reasons why parents want to sign their children up for Self Defense or Martial Arts classes. Once you have made the decision, now you are faced with many different options and questions. What style? How much does it cost? Is my child to young?Martial Arts and Self Defense StylesThere are as many different styles of Martial Arts as there are religions in the world. You have probably heard of Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Jujitsu, and even Aikido, but there are still numerous styles and offshoots of the Major styles.So what Style is the Best and what style should I choose?In reality, it is this author’s opinion that the style of Martial Arts your child will learn is not that important. What is important is the method of teaching and training that your child will undergo. With Martial Arts training your child should learn self-discipline, self-respect, and self-esteem, along with the confidence and ability to defend themselves.The Instructor, (or Sensei) is the key. I suggest that all parents visit several locations with their children to observe the Instructor at work. Make sure you visit a beginner’s class as well as an upper level class. The beginner’s class is where your child will start.Does the instructor’s personality and philosophy match your morals and ideals? Does the class participate in any “Eastern Religious” practice that doesn’t match your faith? Do you want your child viewing this instructor as a role model? Most children will look up to their Martial Arts & Self Defense Instructors as role models and will be in awe of their skills and abilities. Make sure that this person who will be dealing with your children matches your values.It is also important to view an upper level class. The beginner classes are usually very tame, and the teaching philosophy is tailored to a younger audience. However, the older the student is, the “real” teaching and training methods are put into effect. You may feel comfortable with how the instructor “teaches” the younger beginning students, but may not be comfortable with how they handle the older students.CostThe majority of Martial Arts & Self Defense Locations (or Dojo’s) run their business on a membership basis. Customers must sign contracts, where they are obligated to pay for a certain time period to participate. The locations are run like a gym membership, you pay for a certain length of time and may participate as often as you desire.Unfortunately, rarely are the “hidden costs” discussed when signing up for a class or membership. What are the hidden costs? The most over looked cost is the “testing fee”. In Martial Arts there are numerous skill levels that are equated to a belt rank. After a certain period of time and training, the student is ready to advance to a new level or belt in their martial arts style, and a “belt test” will be performed. This “belt test” almost always required the student to pay a “belt-testing fee”. I have seen fees from $50 up to $500 depending on the belt rank. Parents, make sure you inquire about these fees and are comfortable with them before you sign any contract.Another hidden cost is required items to purchase. Some locations require that you purchase a uniform with the schools logo. The average cost of these uniforms range from $30-$50. As the child advances in rank, protective sparring gear is required. Now this is normally mandatory for the child’s protection and safety, but can be expensive. Normal safety gear for Martial Arts consists of Foot Pads, Hand Pads, Head Gear, Mouth Piece, Groin Cup, and optional Spar Vest. Depending on the style and sizes all this gear together cost about $150 retail or higher.So Parents, factor in the total cost of classes, testing fees, and required equipment when making your decisions.AgeAt what age should my child begin Martial Arts or Self Defense? Now this is an often-debated issue. I have seen children as young as 4 years old participate in Martial Arts or Self Defense training. Some have been successful while others it was just to young. The age of which a child should start Martial Arts or Self Defense classes should be judged on an individual basis and be determined by the parents. Some key points to consider. Does the child have a good attention span? Has the child participated and flourished in other group activities? Is the child comfortable in larger group settings?If the child is currently enrolled in grade school and has no problem adapting to those settings or conditions then they should be considered old enough to participate and benefit from Martial Arts or Self Defense instruction.
Can Arts and Crafts For Kids in the Preschool Classroom Damage Self Esteem in Children?
Are Traditional Arts and Crafts for Kids that are done in Preschools Damaging Kids Self Esteem?If you are a preschool teacher you must have loads of arts and crafts for kids already prepared for the upcoming school year. Have you ever stopped to think of how beneficial these art activities are for your preschool students?Children love arts and crafts, and as nursery, and kindergarten teachers do not have to cover as much ground as older elementary classes do, they often fill up of their time with arts and crafts for kids.All curriculum, however, in the preschool classroom needs to be planned with basic skills for the children in mind.Developmental preschool education bases its curriculum guidelines on famous psychologists like Jean Piaget and Erick Erickson. Based on what they have discovered about how children learn is how we should be basing our curriculum.One of the things Erick Erickson discovered is that children are struggling with basic concepts at different ages and need to successfully navigate those stages before going on to the next stage.One of the struggles that preschoolers are dealing with is self esteem, how much do they trust themselves and how good they feel about themselves will determine their success in schoolTraditional arts and crafts for kids unfortunately does not help foster a good self esteem. How good can kids feel about themselves when all of the projects in the classroom are all identical with no individuality. Even teachers that say the children do the arts and crafts themselves still have identical looking projects.I remember speaking to a cousin of mine many years ago who distinctly remembers her kindergarten teacher holding up a model of what they were going to make for that days project and thinking to herself “Oh mine will NEVER look like that”Wouldn’t it be better if the children were allowed to create at their own level, to make mistakes in a safe environment that are not really mistakes at their age. This way by using the wonderful medium of arts and crafts for kids it is an opportunity for children’s self esteem to develop which will allow them to safely take new risks. What an important prerequisite for elementary school.I think its high time that preschool teachers start learning how to develop their art curriculums in their classrooms to incorporate non crafts projects instead of the traditional arts and crafts for kids