Why Parents Choose Martial Arts as an After-School Program

after-school program

An after-school program like sports and musicals can be beneficial in their own way, but martial arts for kids has really special advantages that other after-school activities just don’t offer. It’s about learning valuable skills like focus, discipline, perseverance, and making fitness fun. We gathered up our top 5 reasons why Greendale parents choose martial arts for kids, and some of them may surprise you! Read on to find out more.

 

Reason 1: Martial Arts for Kids Helps Kids Focus

after-school programStepping outside of the after-school program for a second, we can say with confidence that a lot of kids struggle with focus and concentration. Some of the issues here have to do with just being a kid, whose brain is still developing. Some of it has to do with shortened attention spans with increased screen time, and some of it is due to plain old genetics, if attention issues run in the family.

The good news is that we’ve found that a lot of students who have attention problems benefit greatly from consistent kids self-defense classes. Why? Well, martial arts for kids is actually about way more than just punches and kicks. It’s a tool that we use to develop character and build incredible life skills. Our instructors are like ninjas, sneaking in quick games and activities to build focus over time. But aside from games, the act of martial arts itself requires discipline too. To master the physical moves, kids need to be still, listen intently, and concentrate on what they’re doing.

Once they’re able to get the moves down, our instructors praise them, using positive reinforcement to create a reward connection between paying attention and being celebrated. Soon, the students understand the connection between receiving positive feedback and staying focusedand they start to see great results. This ultimately helps them achieve better grades and become more confident, which you’ll read about in Reasons 2 and 3.

 

Reason 2: Better Grades are Possible with Martial Arts for Kids

after-school programA lot of parents have no idea that an after-school program can help their children get better grades. How, you may ask? Here’s the breakdown. Through fun games in class and consistent practice of the martial arts moves, we teach them how to improve their focus and attention skills. With this improved focus, our students start to become more “indistractable”. They have better hand-eye coordination and sharper attention spans, meaning they squirm less in their seats in class and can focus on the tasks at hand.

Improved focus means improved listening, so the information is “sticking” better, and completing their assignments with a higher quality of concentration. And, because they’re retaining more information, they’re recalling that info on tests and quizzes, they’re scoring higher because of this heightened recall, and voila, better grades! Yep, it’s that simple and it does work!

 

Reason 3: Martial Arts is an After-School Program that Builds Confidence

after-school programBelieve it or not, sometimes your child’s after-school program can lead to a decrease in confidence because they’re comparing themselves to others on their sports team or in their debate club. If your child isn’t the most athleticor they’re somewhat shy, it may be difficult to find a program where they don’t have to worry about “letting the team down” or being self-conscious in front of others.

What’s so awesome about martial arts is that it’s an individual sport in a group setting, so our kids stay focused on their own progress and their growth. They learn how to compare themselves not necessarily to others, which can be a losing game, but to the previous versions of themselves in order to progress and achieve. In this way, our students can tangibly see how awesome it feels to set goals and meet goals, and they can understand the discipline and perseverance it takes to become successful. Those are skills they’ll take with them for life.

Additionally, your child can learn to support their fellow students and be a cheerleader for another person’s accomplishments. This is one of the best things about teaching martial arts to kids, seeing the way that our kids become friends and cheer each other on. For those who struggle with feeling confident inside and out, getting that support from both their instructors and their peers is a gratifying and even life-changing experience.

 

Reason 4: Our Martial Arts Instructors are Positive Role Models

after-school programMost after-school program is just about the result. The show in Drama Club, the games in sports. However, martial arts for kids is different. “Winning” the belt ranking is not our sole focus. Remember how martial arts is a tool for self-development? Pairing that with the individual nature of the sport in a group setting, our instructors can hone in on each student and help them progress along their unique journey. Our instructors then become positive role models to our students, bonding with the kids and encouraging them through positive reinforcement, positive self-talk, and a focus on progress, not perfection.

The beauty of martial arts is that every black belt was once a beginner, so every instructor teaches with integrity. They know what it’s like to be frustrated or upset, but they also know how valuable it is to keep going! We show our students how to get back up when they’ve been knocked down, always staying humble no matter how far they progress, and how valuable personal development and a commitment to growth can be. Those deeper lessons just aren’t as common, unlike our martial arts after-school program.

 

Reason 5: It’s Just Fun!

The fifth reason is that the Karate after-school program is just fun! Our awesome instructors make each lesson fun and engaging. Our classes are all about non-stop activity. We break each class into different sections to keep our kids engaged and learning, and we sprinkle fun games into the mix to add an element of surprise.

Fun activities and games also help our students connect fitness and positive emotion, a connection that they’ll carry with them for life. This big focus on fun is also how our instructors manage to sneak those life skills, like focus, confidence, and discipline, into each lesson. These are just some of the benefits of after-school program. The kids don’t even know they’re learning something, they’re too busy having a blast! Try out our kids martial arts classes in Greendale to see the difference!

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