Martial arts has a well-known benefit of helping children develop physical skills and improve in discipline. For this reason, parents often enrol their children in some type of martial arts in order to achieve goals such as these. And while attaining these goals are possible, parents often have unrealistic expectations of the time it actually takes for children to get there.
Most martial arts forms are rooted in tradition and have been taught the same way for years and while tradition is vital to keeping the art preserved, the way it is taught in today’s modern world isn’t as effective. As times change and as we become more educated, we must adjust to meet the needs of the people we serve. This is especially true when teaching children.
Children and teens are involved in a myriad of physical activities and sports. And whether they are at a competitive or recreational level, the basic physical requirements are the same. In order to achieve optimum training levels, it’s important that the exercises prepare the athlete for the best physical outcome. The safest way to begin higher levels of training is with a proper warmup, which is an important piece to preventing injuries.
The Benefits of Game-Based Learning for 3-4 year olds
Play is often overlooked as a learning tool for children. Dictionarey.com defines play as “engaging in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.” It is seen as a type of “free time” when nothing else important is happening. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. For 3 to 4-year old’s, play is vital to their overall development and learning.
The Benefits of Game-Based Learning for 5-6 year olds
When people generally think of “play” they think of fun and games…something simply for amusement and nothing more. However, there is a bigger, and more important, piece that is often overlooked…learning. As Kay Redfield Jamison said, “Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.”
The Benefits of Game-Based Learning for 7-9 year olds
When we hear the word “learn” we often think of children sitting in a classroom, at a desk, with a teacher educating students on a particular subject. We rarely ever imagine playing a game as a teaching and learning tool. However, the benefits of utilising this can span more developmental areas than learning about a single subject through lecture and worksheets. As O. Fred Donaldson said, “Children learn as they play. More importantly, in play, children learn how to learn.”
The Benefits of Game-Based Learning for 10-14 year olds
Every day children are faced with increased amounts of pressure to work harder, learn more quickly, and manage their emotions. This is especially true for 10 to 14 year olds due to their intellectual growth during this period. However, this pressure is unhealthy for them and can lead to anxiety and depression.
We live in a competitive world and most parents would jump at the chance to give their child every advantage imaginable. The world can also be unkind and as parents, we feel a need to protect our children from everything possible and yes, parents are supposed to help and protect their children but when does supporting children turn into over helping? The difference between the two is a very fine line and is often very difficult to decipher.
Healthy brain development is one of the most important aspects of childhood development. More specifically, the first few years of life are a significant time for this because synaptic connections are at a peak level. This is the time when positive and nurturing experiences are vital so that the brain can form strong networks that set the foundation for learning. By understanding the importance of early synaptic connections, parents realised that having their children participate in enriching programs, such as Mini SKILLZ, that assist in this development is worthwhile.
For years, martial arts has gotten a bad reputation because people feel that it encourages violence, especially in children. And yes, it sounds like a paradox that something that teaches “fighting” can actually make people less aggressive. However, what most people don’t know is that martial arts is rooted in nonviolent conflict resolution.
By Melody Johnson - SKILLZ CEO
Many children's sports and activities put together training programmes that are presumed universal for all ages and abilities. The problem is that children learn and grow in different stages and in order to maximise learning and growing, the training regiments need to follow these guidelines accordingly.
What to Expect from 18-36 Months
By Jennifer Salama, PHD in Child Psychology - SKILLZ HQ
Children between the ages of 18 and 36 months are at an exciting growth period in their lives. Parents and caregivers observe leaps and bounds in the development of these children and are excited to see all their skills progress. However, as with any growth, there are some behavioural changes that are not so positive. To help with this, it is important to understand what should be expected at this age and what the best approach to getting through it is.
What to Expect from 3- and 4-year old's
By Jennifer Salama, PHD in Child Psychology - SKILLZ HQ
Children between the ages of 3 and 4 are at a very unique growth period in their lives. They are growing at a rapid rate in all areas of development and are discovering new things daily, while also learning how to cope with new challenges. Additionally, they are in pursuit of autonomy, which can lead to behavioural issues that the adults in their lives often become frustrated with.
What to Expect from 5- and 6-year old's
By Jennifer Salama, PHD in Child Psychology - SKILLZ HQ
Children between the ages of five and six years old are no longer "little kids." They are in a very important transition in their lives. They have developed skills that make them appear to have things more together, so they are often approached by adults as an "older kid." However, they still do not have the basic skills necessary to keep up with the older children.
What to Expect from 7 to 9 year old's
By Jennifer Salama, PHD in Child Psychology - SKILLZ HQ
The golden years for children are between the ages of 7 and 9 years old. At this age, children can grasp new information quickly. They start seeing the world in a new and exciting way and, because of this, they are beginning to develop their morals and values. And while they are making leaps and bounds in maturity, they still need a lot of guidance from adults in their lives.
What to Expect from 10 to 14-year old’s
By Jennifer Salama, PHD in Child Psychology - SKILLZ HQ
The tween and teen years often feel to parents and teachers like they are back at the "terrible twos" stage. The challenges of working with children at this age can be frustrating. They are very smart but their emotions are all over the place. This can make it difficult for adults to be patient and allow them to work through this process. Knowing what to expect, though, it key in helping everyone get through this transition.
By Jennifer Salama, PHD in Child Psychology - SKILLZ HQ
All parents want the same thing...for their child to be a positive member of society and experience success. And while these are important things, they often come through a push to achieve and be the best in everything. Unfortunately, this is frequently done through comparing their children to others. This, however, often leads to stress and lower self-esteem in children. What is important to remember is that each child has different strengths and rates at which they develop.
By Jennifer Salama, PHD in Child Psychology - SKILLZ HQ
Children are not naturally self-motivated. When your child's mindset is not in the right place, even the most fun activities can be a struggle to get to. With that said, here are some strategies to help you work around lack of motivation when trying to get your child to class.
By Jennifer Salama, PHD in Child Psychology - SKILLZ HQ
When we think of human behaviour, we often first focus on the problems or deficits that people have and how this affects their achievements, or lack thereof. Rarely is the first thought of what motivates someone and how to utilise that to help them grow and develop. Abraham Maslow's development of the "Hierarchy of Needs" helped create a shift in psychology and how we view human behaviour.
By Jennifer Salama, PHD in Child Psychology - SKILLZ HQ
The learning process is vital to healthy development of a child's brain and their experiences and interactions largely influence how this happens. This process doesn't just take place in the classroom but in all areas of the child's life. Because of this, learning is better approached when it is an active process that triggers the appropriate areas of the brain. By utilising this method, learning becomes more exciting and therefore, more beneficial to brain development and ultimately increasing intelligence.
By Ninja Tots & Kids
As you know, Ninja Tots & Kids is committed to bringing you the BEST in Age Specific Martial Arts.
As times change it is important to recognise that what once worked in the "good 'ol days" isn’t what works today. As with any growing industry, the leaders must adapt and learn from new science and new technology for one main reason (in my opinion):
Although not new, virtual learning has increasingly become a more widely used approach, especially in the wake of the current pandemic. Nearly everyone has been directed to stay at home, which initially seemed like a vacation but quickly became an unwanted situation. With routines upended and everyone limited with access to activities, children are filled with an overabundance of pent up energy. The need for supportive, online resources is essential for parents and children. This is why engaging in SKILLZ virtual martial arts training is so beneficial.
By SKILLZ International
The term "age-specific" is used very often in education and healthcare. It has a very definite meaning and is used to describe things that are prepared specifically for the age of the child it is targeting. However, this term is often used more loosely, especially in the martial arts world, when referring to "age-specific classes."
Hi Ninja Parents and Carers.
Imagine your child on the field running quicker than ever before, out manoeuvring all opponents and having the confidence to overcome every obstacle!
Today I'd like to talk about the benefits of supplementing youth sports with martial arts training! Before we can, we must overcome the first challenge standing between your child and the achievements listed above.
By SKILLZ International
Goal setting is one of the most highly linked characteristics to the success that individuals have. Top athletes and successful people all use goal setting. While it is a trait that is most often associated with adolescents and adults, younger children can also benefit greatly from beginning this life skill at an early age.
Hi Ninja Tots and Kids Parents and Carers.
Did you know our classes are the internationally acclaimed SKILLZ curriculums?
SKILLZ provides us with the knowledge gained from many hours of childhood research and development in the martial arts. With this knowledge we are able to gauge our expectations for our students more precisely than ever before! This means we are constantly able to help them improve physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially by targeting their particular stages of development during the skill-building sections of our classes.
Have you ever had that friend that asked "Why is your son/daughter in martial arts?" I am sure you have. I am also sure that you were able to provide a great answer to that question. I was recently asked that question as well! Before I replied, I knew I really wanted to get to the heart of what we do, beyond the typical responses. So instead, I remembered a few hidden benefits that I hear most often from our parents!
By Melody Shuman, creator of SKILLZ Martial Arts.
When I started martial arts in 1987 as an 11-year old, things were very different. Children and adults trained side-by-side and everyone tested on the same material for their belt regardless of age. Needless to say, children usually didn’t make it very far before dropping out because the training became too challenging.