You may hear your child’s martial arts instructor talking about practice time at home fairly often. This is because practicing can have a huge impact on a child’s ability to perform in class which will lead to more confidence. With more confidence comes the ability to achieve faster and farther! 
Another great benefit to practicing at home is that this will allow YOU – the parent, an outlet to connect over something they are passionate about. This will become even more important when your little martial artist faces a challenge in training that they think is insurmountable. Often times parents feel like they have to go on extravagant outings and spend long periods of time to build that connection. But this can also lead to allowing perfectionism to stop us from finding opportunities. Maybe the location is booked, or the activities just aren’t good enough. “Better done than perfect.” Setting aside time to practice with your ninja can be just as fulfilling and allow you the ability to connect more often! Wouldn’t that be great!?
Here are a few tips to help you master practice time:
1) Don’t worry about consistency
Wait, What!? For real! Don’t worry about making it an everyday thing (at first). Whenever you have some free time and the opportunity is there, take it! This allows you to start off easy, start by practicing for a few minutes whenever they pop up and build from there. The goal would be to build to a set schedule, but the keyword is “build”. Focus on staying in the moment and grabbing them whenever possible.
2) Simplicity
Don’t over think it. You do want to practice what your ninja will be doing in class, but it does not need to be perfect. You do not have to correct everything. Focus on connection and not perfection. Keep the smiles coming and laughs loud as you give your child your undivided attention.
3) Take advantage of your surroundings
If you are in a park, do some jumping kicks. Find a tree (or maybe a bush!) with some low hanging leaves and see if you can kick that high. In a grocery store, how about a game of “Think Fast”, just don’t break anything! If you are in a waiting room, ask to see their form or ask them to show you’re their blocks and strikes while sitting.
4) Improvise
If your child has chores, take some time and do them together! You can easily turn sweeping the house, raking leaves, shoveling snow into an epic lightsaber battle! Improvise! Wax on Wax off, find a way to make it fun by including your martial arts and be creative!
These tips should help you find more ways to practice with your child. More importantly, remember that this is about connecting with your kids so have fun and smile!
Hopefully, you found this type of information useful.
Thank you ahead of time, for not giving up on your future Black Belt Leaders.
I know that they’ll really appreciate it later in life.
To learn more about the powerful Life Skill childhood development program that uses martial arts as the vehicle for growth, or to get your child started at our Millbury location, click the button below:
Life Skill Martial Arts
322 Millbury Avenue
Millbury, MA 01527
https://www.lifeskillma.com
Stan Tabor is a 6th-degree black belt and has been training in martial arts since 1972. He is the founder of the Life Skill curriculum and association. His goal is to build a future for the next generation of the Life Skill Instructors to use martial arts as a vehicle to teach life skills that develop children physically, mentally, emotionally and socially.
ABOUT LIFE SKILL
Life Skill Martial Arts is conveniently located in Millbury Massachusetts. Our academy provides high quality martial arts training classes to the residents of Millbury , Worcester , Grafton , Shrewsbury, Auburn and the surrounding areas, including Sutton , Uxbridge , and Northbridge.
We have a few simple goals here. However, we put 110% of our effort into achieving them. Life Skill Martial Arts Millbury helps children to build these good habits that extend to success at home and school everyday. In short, these goals have but one purpose: Provide classes that are results-driven, while at the same time fun!
Life Skill Martial Arts is NOT just another Karate School! We teach Personal Development to children using martial arts as a vehicle. Our goal is to instill the habits and skills of: Discipline – Belief – Communication – Respect – Self Esteem – Honesty.
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Join our parenting group to get tips: http://bit.ly/MAParents