The Golden Child

It is my belief that when a parent puts their child in an activity be it sports, dance, or martial arts, the unspoken request is “Treat my child like the Golden Child,” keep him/her safe, physically and emotionally, and put their wellbeing before the activity you are teaching. I am trusting you! “Treat my child like the Golden Child.”

As a father of four, and a professional educator for 35 years, I do treat every child in my martial arts program as if they are the Golden Child and I never accept less from any adult overseeing my children. There is a lot of money to be made teaching after-school activities to children and anyone can say anything about their motives, experience and ability to instruct children. It is every parent’s responsibility to clearly express their expectation to the coach or instructor, and actively monitor the program. I do believe that the majority of coaches and instructors are sincere in their efforts to be a positive influence on the children they teach. But we are the parents and it is our job to hold all adults involved in our children’s life to the highest standard.

As a children’s instructor, I expect to be held to that standard every day, every class. My proposition: If every parent, when signing their child up for an after-school program, would look the instructor in the eyes and say “Treat my child like the Golden Child” it would ultimately improve the quality of every program by reminding us all why we are there and what our true purpose is.

Mathew Bayley, Vail Academy of Martial Arts.