Rocks & Marshmallows: How to Raise Stronger Kids: From My 30+ Years of Teaching Martial Arts to Children

by James Kerr

The point of this book is to share some of the things I’ve learned from teaching students over the last three decades.  The intent is to help parents do an even better job of parenting.  Too often, we parents are unaware of the things we do to our kids – good and bad.  I hope the insight is useful.

The title of the book comes from my classes.  Some of my students are as young as age three.  When encouraging them to push themselves, to keep pressing on even when they are tired or struggling, I will often ask, “What are you?  A rock or a marshmallow?”

Rocks are strong.  We make buildings and rockets out of rocks.  It’s good to be a rock. But marshmallows?  We eat them! Superheroes are rocks.  Coach potatoes are marshmallows. The kids get it.

As I explain in the book, it’s okay for your child to suffer.  In fact, it’s a good thing.  And equally important, children must understand there’s a correlation between what they do today and who they will become tomorrow. They can choose what kind of life they want.  Taking no action has its own set of consequences, too.

Lastly, I need you to know I am no different or any better than anyone else.  My parenting skills are okay but could certainly use improvement.  So please don’t misconstrue my message. I'm not professing to have all the answers.  Just have an open mind.  Imagine that I am your child’s karate teacher and we have a few minutes to chat privately after class.  Here's what I want to say to you...

20 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 17, 2014

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