Thursday 7 July 2011
Can We Give Kids a Head Start on Learning?
There is no doubt that when children get a head start on learning there is a greater chance they will reach their potential at a younger age. Theories abound in relation to how we can improve a persons long term thinking powers by introducing them to a variety of educational activities or experiences earlier in life. Some educationalists go as far as saying we can actually increase someone’s IQ by exposing them to a higher level and greater variety of learning activities. These activities aim to develop academic, artistic or social skills. So how young is too young?
What We Do at F10
Many Martial Arts schools and academies refrain from introducing children to their age old moves arguing that children are not mature enough to be able to learn the techniques. At Factor10 Martial Arts we know that these techniques can be learned by younger children. In fact, children as young as 4 years of age can learn all the moves. The only difference between the curriculum taught to this age group and the moves taught to older children, teenagers and adults is that the pace of delivery should be slower. For example, instead of children learning a whole set of self defence moves for their next grading, they can learn just a few of the moves.
At our Brisbane Taekwondo centre we teach the children in our “Little Legends” program ages 3 to 6 years a self defence set called Basic Releases. This set teaches a child to release their hand from the tight grip of a bad guy. The “Junior” class students learn a set of 3 basic releases whereas the “Little Legends” learn the first one for their first grading, the second one for their second grading and so on. Likewise when learning “Poomse” (prearranged sequences of moves) the “Junior” students learn just one Poomse whereas the teenagers and adults learn 2 Poomse – the Taegeuk and the Palgwae Poomse.
So when then do the younger children catch up on the moves that the older children do at an earlier stage? Well, it’s really simple – it all catches up as they progress up the belt levels. For example, the moves are revisited at high belt levels when the children who started at an earlier age are older given they have been training for some time to progress up the belt levels. In fact, “Junior” students are required to cover all the Taegeuk and Palgwae Poomse for their black belt grading, making sure that all students have caught up.
So .. this covers the discussion about what the younger children learn, but how do parents know if their child is old enough to start training?
At Factor10 we use a very simple guide that works really well. That is, if a child can follow verbal instructions like “Michael, can you please come and stand here behind Harry?”. If Michael stands in the line behind Harry and stays there without running away or walking off into the way of another student doing their kicking or other training moves, then it is very likely that Michael is ready to start learning Martial Arts.
It may be that Michael is 3 years of age and might even have trouble concentrating for the full 30 minutes of the “Little Legends” class. It may be that he can only really last for 20 minutes before he gets too tired to continue, but that’s fine, as his concentration and stamina will gradually improve to a point when, down the track, he will be able to last the full 30 minutes.
And besides, imagine all the great learning that will be taking place even though Michael can do only part of a class. The sheer volume of knowledge and experiences will be priceless. What a great head start he will have over those who choose to wait for a couple of years before starting their child in Martial Arts.
Is My Child Concentrating As Well as the Other Kids?
It’s very common for mums and dads to comment that they think their child should be more mature and be able to cope with the full 30 minute class, or feel that their child should concentrate better like one or two of the other children in the class. As parents we always see so easily what our children are not doing well. This is because we have high expectations and want the best, and what’s best, for our children. Particularly if it is our first child, we really do not know exactly what it is that 3 year olds should be able to do. And of couse it can often be the case that one parent has higher expectations than the other, which seems to bring even less clarity to the situation.
Above all, trust the instructors and in particular the Master Instructor’s advice at Factor 10 Martial Arts. With so many experiences running Martial Arts classes for children since 1989 and teaching children since 1980, you’re in safe and knowledgeable hands. Enjoy the excellence that Martial Arts will deliver for you, your child and your family.
