An after-school program like sports, music, and video games are all beneficial after-school activities in their own way. But martial arts for kids is about so much more than just physical movement. It’s about fitness with a purpose and helping your child become the absolute best version of themselves, inside and out. We gathered up our top 5 reasons why McKinney parents choose martial arts for kids–and some of them may surprise you, like number 2! Read on to find out more.
Reason 1: Martial Arts for Kids Helps Kids Focus
With the rise of technology and screen time, it’s no secret that a lot of kids struggle with focus and concentration. Some of it’s just part of being a kid, some of it has to do with shortened attention spans with increased screen time, and some of it can be genetic for kids with attention issues.
The good news is that we’ve found that a lot of students who have attention problems benefit greatly from a consistent after-school program through kids martial arts 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.
Through fun and games in class, our instructors can sneak in quick activities that help build focus consistently over time. But aside from games, the act of martial arts itself requires discipline, too. To master the physical moves, kids need to sit still, listen to their instructor, and concentrate on how to coordinate their bodies and minds.
Reason 2: Better Grades are Possible with Martial Arts for Kids
A lot of parents have no idea that a martial arts 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 become more “indistractable”- they have better hand-eye coordination and sharper attention spans, meaning they squirm less in their seats in class and can concentrate on the tasks at hand.
Better focus leads to better listening, so they retain the information better than ever before, and they can sit down to complete their assignments with a higher quality of concentration.
And, because they’re retaining more information, they’re able to recall better 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
Every parent wants their child to be confident in themselves. But sometimes, group after-school activities can lead to kids comparing themselves to others. If your child isn’t especially athletic or they’re particularly shy, it may be challenging to find an after-school program that suits them, where they don’t have to worry about “letting the team down” in any way.
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 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 so they can become the best versions of themselves they can be.
In this way, our students can tangibly see how awesome it feels to set goals and achieve them, and they can understand the discipline and perseverance it takes to become successful. Those are skills they’ll take with them for the rest of their lives.
Another perk is that 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 can be very gratifying and even start a lifelong path of confidence and happiness.
Reason 4: Our Martial Arts Instructors are Positive Role Models for Kids
If you think about it, an after-school program is about a result–the show in Drama Club, the games in sports. This is where martial arts is the most different from other programs. “Winning” the belt ranking is not our sole focus. Because martial arts is an individual sport in a group setting, our instructors can take the time to hone in on each student and help them progress along their unique journey.
Our kids then start to see their instructors as positive role models, and our instructors are more than qualified to fill the role! They have dedicated their lives and careers to bonding with the kids and nurturing them through positive reinforcement, positive self-talk, and a focus on progress, not perfection.
Reason 5: It’s Just Fun!
This one’s a no-brainer that the karate after-school program is just plain fun! Our awesome instructors make each after-school 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.
Games and activities not only help the kids stay engaged with our lessons, but they also help our students make the connection that physical fitness and movement are sources of positive emotion, a connection that will reward them for the rest of their lives.
All of this focus on fun is also how our instructors manage to sneak those life skills, like focus, confidence, and discipline, into each martial arts lesson. These are just some of the benefits of an after-school program. The kids don’t even realize they’re learning something–they’re too busy having a blast!