Tae Kwon Do, W.I.S.E. Up! and Bi Bim Bap: Korean Culture School's First Session for Fall 2015

Last Saturday, ASIA Families welcomed over 200 children, teens, parents, and volunteer staff to the first session of Korean Culture School for fall 2015. 

New for Fall 2015: Tae Kwon Do for Kids

The wonderful team from Selah Arts Group of Lancaster, PA returned to Culture School with a new program this fall: tae kwon do for ages 3-12. The enthusiastic shouts of TKD commands echoed through the halls all morning long as Selah Arts led the four children's classes in separate sessions.

W.I.S.E. Up! for Parents: Help Your Kids Handle Tough Questions

Children who are adopted often hear questions and comments from other children that are intrusive and sometimes wounding, and that make them feel uncomfortable. For children in transracial or transcultural families, these questions and comments may begin as early as age 3 (“Why don’t you look like your mom?” “That can’t be your dad.”). As children get older, the types of questions change, particularly as friends and classmates begin to be curious about adoption (“Why were you adopted?” “Where are your real parents?”).

To empower kids to handle comments and questions about adoption, the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) developed the W.I.S.E. Up! program. W.I.S.E. Up! gives children and teens (and parents, too!) the power to choose if, when and how to share their adoption story with others.

Ellen Singer, LCSW-C and senior adoption therapist and trainer at C.A.S.E., led the Saturday program for parents. She described the kinds of comments and questions that children typically encounter and how these change as children progress through the various developmental stages. Then, she described the W.I.S.E. UP! program and shared how to teach these proven techniques to your children:

  • W = Walk Away
  • I = It's Private
  • S = Share Something
  • E = Educate Others
Adult adoptees and teens serve bi bim bap for lunch

Teens Serve Bi Bim Bap for Lunch

After the parents' and children's sessions ended. families reunited for a delicious lunch of bi bim bap, served by members of the Teen Club and adult adoptee volunteers. 



ASIA Families