| "How important is age?" | | | | child is screaming for attention. |
| | | | |
| In a nutshell, age is extremely important. A | | | | Within our Karate studio, in North |
| child who cannot handle being in | | | | Providence, we have a no pressure screening |
| kindergarten, or pre-school, will not be able | | | | process for young children, as a measure, to |
| to concentrate in a martial arts class. | | | | see if joining our kids Karate classes will |
| Before five years of age, any child who can | | | | be a good relationship for the parents, |
| focus in a martial arts class is exceptional. | | | | child, and the Karate studio. This is why we |
| | | | have a free 30-day trial membership, with no |
| We have successfully trained a few children | | | | obligations on either side. |
| who were, or are, four years of age. I don't | | | | |
| want to turn away the next Bruce Lee or | | | | As a parent, you want your child to get the |
| Mozart, when he or she comes along, but there | | | | optimum martial arts experience every time |
| are a few factors to consider when a child is | | | | they train. This can only happen if the |
| very young. | | | | martial arts school establishes clear |
| | | | guidelines for conduct and if all the |
| 1. Can he or she let go of a parent's hand | | | | children participating are "team players." |
| and work independently, in a classroom | | | | |
| setting? This is very important, unless you | | | | Otherwise, parents do not get their money's |
| can find a martial arts teacher that will | | | | worth and children waste time in a Karate |
| teach parent and child, together, in the same | | | | class, while the child who gets the most |
| classroom. | | | | attention is a discipline problem. |
| | | | |
| 2. What are your true goals? When a parent | | | | Within a child's mind, being responsible for |
| has a lot of patience, it is much easier to | | | | his or her actions is a matter of developing |
| accomplish realistic goals of focusing in a | | | | awareness, and everything is a new |
| classroom, improved motor skills, and | | | | experience. As adults, we know that this |
| enhanced athletic abilities. However, instant | | | | knowledge comes with age, but each individual |
| success and precision performance are not | | | | child grows at a different rate. Children are |
| likely. In many cases, young karate students | | | | not "little adults," and we cannot place |
| tend to "shine" around seven years of age or | | | | adult expectations upon them. |
| older, so why put your child under pressure? | | | | |
| | | | If you put children into extremely |
| 3. How much of a distraction is a young child | | | | high-pressure situations, they will not |
| going to be in a karate class? If your child | | | | continue to enjoy the activity. Whether it is |
| is used to being the center of attention, | | | | martial arts, academic school, or little |
| this won't work in a martial arts class. Time | | | | league baseball, it is healthy for parents |
| is shared with other students, and the | | | | and children to have goals, but we all have |
| objective is to learn everything in the daily | | | | to learn to accept life's little setbacks |
| lesson plan. This cannot be accomplished if a | | | | without worry. |