Diving in the Deep End
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Why do I want to have my kids in a martial arts class?
This is something I have had to justify to myself more than to friends or family. How important is it to have the kids enrolled in martial arts classes? Most friends are happy and interested when I tell them we’ve enrolled our oldest in a kids martial arts class. No one ever thinks “That’s the worst thing you can do!” To me there are many ideals that are inherent in a lot of kids martial arts classes: discipline, a work ethic, goal setting. Many think that getting your kids in martial arts classes is about self defense, and it is; however I would venture to say that there are many other reasons to enroll your child in a kids martial arts class. I would even go so far as to say “self-defense” goes beyond the physical defending of yourself in an altercation.
Kids are sponges – What kids martial arts can do
When I look at what kids can do and how fast they learn it’s amazing. As a parent I want my kids to have an experience that is multifaceted- something that can do many things at once. Let’s face it, there are many things we cannot protect our kids from and the best way to protect them is to give them the tools to deal with the situations that can be less than favorable. I’ve found that for myself and my family we enjoy our child’s enthusiasm to learn, and her engagement with the class. I think it’s important for her to learn the techniques but what we really like about something like kids martial arts classes is the discipline and respect she learns for her classmates and her coaches/teachers.
Kids martial arts for After school
With many schools limiting or even cutting Physical Education many parents are looking at alternatives for their kids in other activities. We enroll them in team sports like soccer, football, lacrosse, or volleyball outside of school. Kids martial arts classes are in the top 5 physical activities that families enroll their kids-probably outside of team sports I can’t think of another endeavor that families look to engage their children. We all have different activities we want our children to engage in because we are social beings, team sports are important because they teach our kids how to work with other children together. Kids martial arts classes teach kids to learn something new, how to respect each other, and to respect our teachers. We enroll our kids in things that we hope they think are fun.
As I continue to write this blog I will be focusing on different thoughts and influences I have had vis a vis parenting and engaging my daughter in martial arts classes.
In the end I hope the journey for my child is one that leads her to a more fulfilling life as she grows. For me, if she becomes proficient at a martial art she will understand the work and effort that it takes to be really good at something and can hopefully apply that ethic to many other things in her life as she grows. Of course, as a father when she’s 16, and if she has been practicing her martial art consistently, I’ll feel safer when she goes out on dates. I don’t want to overstate that personal benefit of peace of mind for me but it is a consideration.
Here are some qualities I hope my child learns and demonstrates in her life: Compassion,Competence, Confidence, Connection, and Character.There are many activities that can teach and nurture these qualities and these are qualities we are aware of in every facet of our lives-it’s not just on the soccer pitch, the reading class, or the kids martial arts class. These are attributes I think every parent wants to see their children experience and demonstrate in their lives.
Click here for more info on Kids Martial Arts at SBGi in Portland