That's tough to say...I was a little boy once (hehehe), and I started TKD at age 6. Personally, I think Martial Arts helped with self-confidence and self-control, however I also believe that everyone is little different, and thus responds differently.

Also, Martial Arts alone cannot teach a student about self-confidence and self-control; the environment and situations also play a part in a student's growth. In any case, it may just be a phase or maybe the competitiveness with his old brothers.

I'm just throwing my thoughts out =)

I think that for children it is sooooo important for them to learn their forms and for your Master make sure they are paying attention while in class.

I know our Master makes sure that when we are standing at attention, that the little kids dont move around or swing their arms around. He makes them look him in the eyes while he is talking.

I help with one class and the kids in that class are 9 or younger and I dont know how he does it. But I guess that is why he is the Master of the school and I am not. LOL!!! 

GradeA makes a good point. The art in itself doesn't do it. It's about the instruction and environment. I am relatively new teacher with respect to teaching kids exclusively, and I am still wondering when some of my kids will get that self-control and others that confidence. One reason why I like this site is that I can ask questions like you are. It is definitely a process, and demands teachers who are aware of different children's needs.

Good topic. 

I would say just continue to be the best parent that you can be at home. I agree that the art does not teach those things alone. However, you can relate his experiences with dicipline at the dojang with self-control. Make sure he knows the boundaries at home, at school, and with others. For the self-confidence, try to be the encouraging parent too. I know, it is incredibly hard. I have a degree in Family Studies and I can't even begin to imagine how hard it is to be a parent. But those are just some things I learned

Hope this helps.

yeah that's a good point. Its the entire environment that needs to be taken into consideration. Like there might be a bully at school picking on one of your boys and he might not realize all the things that he can gain from TKD and he might not be taking it as seriously.

Yet another hard task for any parent. Trying to find a balance of pushing your kids to their best without making them feel like they are being forced to do activities they don't like to do. Either way, dicipline and self-control is always important even if the child feels like he's being forced. Somewhere down the road he will realize it was the for the better.