If your kids are excited to try martial arts and start training, great! Once they get started and seem to enjoy it, you might wonder how you can support them in their efforts on the mats.
Here are some ways to encourage long-term participation in kids martial arts:
1. Reinforce that mistakes are okay.
One way to encourage long-term participation is to let your child know that mistakes are okay. Learning martial arts skills takes practice. And some skills kids pick up sooner than others. So rather than mistakes leading to frustration, reinforce with your kids that mistakes are just part of the learning process and a sign that you’re on the path to improving.
2. Emphasize learning over comparison.
Not only is it helpful to reinforce that mistakes are part of the learning process, but it’s also helpful to emphasize the learning process over comparison. For example, your child might come home one day and mention how they compare to someone else in their class. You can bring the focus back to individual improvement by saying you’ve noticed how hard they’ve been working or how much they’ve improved since last month.
3. Show your interest.
In addition to letting your kids know that you’ve noticed their hard work and effort, find other ways to let your kids know that you’re interested in their martial arts training. Stay and observe class. Afterward, ask your child what was fun or what they learned while training today. If you show you’re interested in their training, they might be more likely to continue in the future.
Martial arts changes lives and sets the path to becoming a successful adult. Discover the endless benefits your child experiences through martial arts training at Classic Fight Team in Fountain Valley. Contact us to learn more about how to get started.
