Kiatsugi promotes a healthy lifestyle by teaching and facilitating overall wellness, good nutrition, and regular physical activity as part of the total learning environment. Kiatsugi supports healthy lifestyle practices, both at home and in the blended learning environment. Improved health optimizes student performance potential, increases self-esteem and motivation, and promotes happiness. For more detailed information about the framework utilized for re-balancing the overall health of participating members, please reference the ‘What is Kiatsugi?’ document.
Educate. Empower. Enlighten.
A little more from the founder…
After spending years working with kids and teens in a variety of different schools, camps, programs, and other environments, it was very apparent what today’s kids need. Yes, the academic content is important. Math, Reading, Writing, Science, and History… However, what I realized along the way of my professional and personal journey in life was that there is more we can do to support our kids. There was more of an education I could have gained from my childhood. A straight A student my entire life and a college graduate, there are so many life skills that I wish I would have learned sooner.
Some of these skills involve problem-solving and critical thinking which is absent in today’s schooling. Not to mention, the skills of organization, time management, and how to research from a nudge of curiosity instead of because you were told to. Our kids also need to know how to be kind humans and good citizens, how to connect with themselves and others on a deeper level, how to resolve conflicts and cooperate in preferred and non-preferred activities.
They need to know how to demonstrate self-advocacy . Our kids need to engage in experiences that allow them to develop their voice, to express their creativity, to ask questions, and to share their unique presence and ideas with the world.
Our kids need to know it’s okay to have feelings and how to emotionally self-regulate when the world get confusing or challenging. They need to be given ways to process their emotions so they can grow as humans and not carry the weight of emotions that are all bottled up inside for years. They need the reminder that it’s okay to lean on others for support as long as we are taking responsibility for ourselves, too.
Living in the 21st century, we need to develop and have a daily practice of gratitude, humility, and simplicity. We need to realize there is more purpose to our life than to be simply entertained and taken care of. We need to encourage our young ones to chase their dreams and believe in themselves. Kiatsugi’s mission and programs support kids, teens, and young adults (and all those who spend time with them) in developing all of these skills through finding themselves and creating balance in their life.
