How To Help Your Child Get Into the Swing of Karate Training
By Andy Mishkin In Insight
As adults, it is easy to forget that kids need to learn how to become intrinsically motivated. This is very apparent during the “back to school” season when we have to help our kids make the transition back into the structure of the school year, including their return to Karate class. They may be very enthusiastic about going to Karate…until it is time to stop playing, put on their uniform and drive over! Kids just aren’t good at changing their mindset and motivating themselves. Here are a few tips you can use to help them get motivated and have a good class.
- Try to avoid pulling them out of free play or downtime; no child wants to stop playing. Instead, transition them into a chore or something neutral before they head off to class, even something as simple as brushing their teeth or helping you bring the returnables out to the garage can help them look forward to class, instead of resenting the fact that they had to stop playing.
- Keep your mood positive with them before and after class. Kids feelings are closely aligned with their parent’s feelings. If you’re stressed about getting them to class, they’ll get stressed about being in class. If they think you’re unhappy with their performance during class, they may try to avoid that feeling in the future by trying to avoid class. Staying objective about our children is a tall order, but it helps them in the long run.
- Reach out to the instructors and teachers. Let them know about the challenges you’re facing getting to the studio, or share your concerns about their classroom performance. We can help motivate your child from the moment they enter until it is time to go home; being extra positive upon their arrival, building drills and activities into the class with them specifically in mind, and giving them a life skills badge or another reward after class is over. We want them to succeed as much as you do!
- A bit of well-timed extrinsic motivation can go a long way. Did they work hard in every class that week? Perhaps they get their favorite treat on the way home on Saturday. If you give them a positive reward for the right kind of performance, they’ll develop a roadmap that will help them learn how to motivate themselves as they mature.
I hope these ideas and suggestion are helpful. I know they’re simple and basic, but it is easy to overlook the basics when we’re working to get through the challenges of our daily lives. Thank you for reading, and I hope this article helps you keep your child focused, motivated and on track for success!