Staff
07-11-2005, 09:58 PM
Posted on Mon, Jul. 11, 2005
http://www.charlotte.com/images/charlotte/charlotte/12105/146534534450.jpg T.ORTEGA GAINES
Martina Benedikovicova, an assistant instructor at Universal Martial
Investing in your überchild
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Parents spending big on wee ones
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TONY MECIA
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Staff Writer
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The half-dozen 3- and 4-year olds in Vanessa Terán's class are growing restless, as she tries to demonstrate how they can draw eyes and mouths on the "horses" made of sticks and socks.
The children, it seems, would rather wave the sticks in the air and at each other. This scene of energetic tots wouldn't be unusual, except for this: Terán is teaching them Spanish.
Excerpt...
"Around here, parents tend to be a little more aggressive in getting children involved in activities at a younger age," says Butch McLaughlin, owner of Universal Martial Arts Academy of Charlotte, who moved here from upstate New York. This year, the academy began offering a "Lil' Warriorz" karate class for 3- and 4-year-olds in the University area.
About 10 students attend, at a cost of $50 for six 30-minute classes. The classes teach respect and discipline, as well as "basic block punches and kicks."
At least half of McLaughlin's students take other classes as well, he says.
The rise of classes for young would-be überchildren is a relatively recent phenomenon. Parents today recall far fewer choices when they were kids. The world was different then, they say.
Read more...
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/business/12103494.htm
http://www.charlotte.com/images/charlotte/charlotte/12105/146534534450.jpg T.ORTEGA GAINES
Martina Benedikovicova, an assistant instructor at Universal Martial
Investing in your überchild
http://www.charlotte.com/images/common/spacer.gif
Parents spending big on wee ones
http://www.charlotte.com/images/common/spacer.gif
TONY MECIA
http://www.charlotte.com/images/common/spacer.gif
Staff Writer
http://www.charlotte.com/images/common/spacer.gif
The half-dozen 3- and 4-year olds in Vanessa Terán's class are growing restless, as she tries to demonstrate how they can draw eyes and mouths on the "horses" made of sticks and socks.
The children, it seems, would rather wave the sticks in the air and at each other. This scene of energetic tots wouldn't be unusual, except for this: Terán is teaching them Spanish.
Excerpt...
"Around here, parents tend to be a little more aggressive in getting children involved in activities at a younger age," says Butch McLaughlin, owner of Universal Martial Arts Academy of Charlotte, who moved here from upstate New York. This year, the academy began offering a "Lil' Warriorz" karate class for 3- and 4-year-olds in the University area.
About 10 students attend, at a cost of $50 for six 30-minute classes. The classes teach respect and discipline, as well as "basic block punches and kicks."
At least half of McLaughlin's students take other classes as well, he says.
The rise of classes for young would-be überchildren is a relatively recent phenomenon. Parents today recall far fewer choices when they were kids. The world was different then, they say.
Read more...
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/business/12103494.htm