Every so often I get this question, “What if my child doesn’t want to keep going?”
Maybe you are up for renewal, thinking about upgrading or even just enrolling…
If your child is typical, there will come a time when they need you, as a great parent, to get them to class. I was a Brown belt when I wanted to quit. My dad saved my life by making sure I continued.
Let me ask you a question. Do you remember that toy or game that your child claimed they were going to die if you didn’t buy for them? Then three weeks later it was in a drawer and hasn’t been touched since. That’s how kids are with most things. They are constantly on the lookout for the next flashy, shiny thing that catches their interest. Unlike most activities, the benefits of martial arts training make it more than just a PE class, or fun activity. It shouldn’t be the child’s decision any more than eating their vegetables, going to school, brushing their teeth or learning to swim. Do we want it to be fun? Sure, for us and the students, whether they are kids or adults. We work very hard to keep classes fun and exciting. We also have our belt system to reward and motivate students to continue.
I have to be honest though, I do hope your child runs through a rough spot. Part of earning a Black belt is learning perseverance and self-discipline and there is no better way of learning that than hitting that rough spot and getting the help from parents, friends and instructor to get past it, then going on to that next belt and eventually to Black Belt, Second Degree Black Belt and beyond.
If you have concerns about their stick-to-it-iveness, then you are thinking of this training the wrong way. This is not a children’s amusement center. We change lives. This provides life-changing confidence, focus and inner strength that is difficult, if not impossible to get any other way.
Every day I meet people who say things like, “Yeah, I did martial arts as a kid, it was really good for me, but my parents let me quit.” They don’t blame themselves, they blame their parents. And you can hear in their voice how much they wish they had continued. I also know that no parent, or child ever regrets sticking to it and earning that Black belt.
If you have trouble getting them to class, let us know, we can help by doing a quick booster class with the child. We are so good at this, other schools come to us for help in keeping their students attending.
See you on the training floor, Grandmaster, Out!
P.S. if you want to read more about setting up a positive reinforcmeent reward system at home, so you don’t feel like “The Warden,” then read this blog post: https://awmaa.com/articles/children-commitment/