Today, it is more important than ever before that parents find ways to motivate their kids to engage in fitness activities. The childhood obesity epidemic that we are facing today is terrifying. One of the best ways for you to avoid your child becoming an obesity statistic is to encourage them to take up martial arts. A martial art will give children plenty of exercise to keep them in shape, and it will also teach them the values of discipline, honor and respect. To help parents motivate their children to take up taekwondo, karate or another martial discipline, here are some tips they can use to encourage kids to get interested in martial arts.
Get Them Amped with Videos
If children have never been exposed to videos featuring martial artists, they may have no idea what they are missing out on. Show them some clips of talented martial artists doing their thing, and you will be amazed at how quickly they get motivated to give it a try themselves. Don’t be surprised if they are doing some practice kicks and punches before the video is even over. Once you have shown them how cool the activity can be, they will be excited to attend their first class.
The More the Merrier
One of the biggest reasons that children decide to do anything is because their friends are doing it. Parents can use this fact to their advantage when it comes to encouraging their children to start a new martial art. First, ask your children if they have any friends who are already practicing taekwondo or karate. If they are, it will be easy for you to convince them to join their friends to have fun.
If your child doesn’t already have friends working out in a dojo, talk to the parents of their friends. Organize a meeting to get together and talk about encouraging the entire group of friends to start training in a martial art. When children have friends to be with in an activity, they will encourage and support each other. This makes it much more likely that they will stick with the activity they are enjoying together.
Go to a Tournament
One of the best ways parents can get their kids excited about something is to take them to an organized event. There are frequents martial art tournaments held all over the country. With a little research, you can find one that will soon be in your area. Take your kid to see some exciting live karate or taekwondo action, and you will likely find that they are asking to try the fun for themselves before you even make it home from the tournament.
Make It a Family Affair
The fitness benefits of practicing a martial art are not just limited to children. Parents will also benefit hugely from the better fitness and mental discipline they develop by practicing it. Therefore, it makes perfect sense for parents to take a jujitsu or karate class with their children. When families share the fun of the activity, it makes it a bonding tool that will bring the family closer together. Children look up to and want to emulate their folks. Take advantage of this by joining in a martial art with them.
As you can see, there are many options parents can use to encourage their children to take up a martial art. Sometimes, a combination of these tips will work best. The key is to keep trying until you find something that works. However, don’t press too hard or you risk pushing them away. Always let the child come to the decision to start without pressure.
