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