Arn't you tired of all the parent who sign their 3-4 year old up for karate?

Question

This bugs me. Right now my school is just developing. We don't have a special class for 5 and under and no one wants to teach it. The kids are too young. They don't find it fun, can't stay still and are just pests. Also they are completly lost If I determined the age for class it would be 8 and up. I started when I was 7 and was completly lost until I started private lessons. I guess I feel really strongly about this because I always get dumped with them (5 and under). What do you think?

Answer 1

DIE BI**CH YOUR ONLY JEALOUS BECAUSE THEY IS BETTER THAN YOU.

Answer 2

well kids of the age 5 and under learn while playing and not while forcing them to learn kicks and other movements. In the club i train we have a separate class once a week were only children from 4-6 are. this makes it more fun for them. they learn while playing games for example "Hollywood Kumite" (although not recommended with a silly group only with a group of "serious people"). In Hollywood kumite, every action has a reaction this means that if someone hits someone for example in the head the person hit fly away backwards depending on how you hit. this is a fun games that not on ly kids enjoy. (works best for a warm up and with a group that is serious but still acts like monkey while playing)

Answer 3

You have to run a special program designed for such young children and if you don't have one then why is your dojo taking money from people to teach their kids. Check out this place, they have a program for young kids which is more about tumbling and confidence building than learning kata. Click on the "Gecko class" link on the left for 4-7 year olds. http://www.fivedragons.com/

Answer 4

I think you need to find another instructor for that class.  There is a 4 and up class at my Dojo, and there are only two instructors who can teach that class.  Don't take it personal, it's not them, it's you.  Some people can control a class of 30 kids, some can't, I can't.  If you know a kindergarten teacher or someone like that, I'm sure he or she can give you some pointers till you find a more experienced instructor for them.  

If all they want to do is tumble, teach them to tumble, set up a balance beam and teach them balance, play catch and teach them hand eye coordination.  Use different color somethings and have teams set things up.  They don't have to learn kicks yet, it's ok.

Answer 5

Lol, despite some 'get off your high horse' comments from others, I agree with you. It's a pain in the butt. It's more difficult to teach little kids, who've got no attention span, than teenagers or adults.

Even more so, if I recall from your other answers, you're like 16 or something? It's perfectly within your right to not want to deal with teaching tottlers. Considering the difficulty, that should be the job of an older, more experienced instructor.

Answer 6

I start when 4 year old in Japan. I respect parents, respect sensei, I not pest, I stay still, I enjoy it. Americans need more discipline, we Japanese have it, so we 4 years old kids learn well.

Answer 7

First off, it bothers you because of your ego, which has no place in martial arts. Lose the ego. "Get dumped with them"? You should feel privileged that you're trusted to instruct them. If you can't bring yourself to feel like that, you need to grow up.

Second, you need to learn how to approach that class properly. You're going to do the best you can with what you've got. You've got 5-and-under kids, so they aren't going to have a long attention span. Classes should only be about 30 minutes. An hour is too long at that age. You should teach tumbling, running away (to the parent if they're nearby), basic punching and kicking, respect, discipline, and self-worth. Sounds to me like you shouldn't have any trouble with the first three. The last three you'll need to learn yourself.

Respect: Everyone is worthy of respect, no matter what their age.

Discipline: Control your ego and your emotions.

Self-worth: You've a chance to be a rolemodel to these kids, but you'll never be it if you can't stop showing disdain for them and pity for yourself.

Answer 8

I teach kids as well.  In my case, Aikido, but no matter - the kids are important to the discussion rather than the art studied.

That said, I know what you mean - the 4-6 year olds are exactly like that in my class... most of the time.

Here's what I've found works pretty well:

1.) Call them on their behavior, never them personally.  Rather than 'you are being disruptive' or 'you need to calm down and concentrate', its 'it's important to pay attention - nobody is going to learn if we don't all pay attention' or 'we need to be calm and we need to concentrate'  While you say this, you look right in the eyes of the trouble makers.  If they look away, call them out and clap, say 'HEY!' and get their attention, then lock eyes with the trouble makers.

2.) try to match more advanced students with each other at least part of the time.  Make sure they help out with the young kids but don't short them by limiting their practice.

3.) concentrate on etiquette.  The situation you are in now is exactly why formal etiquette is important.  Formal bows when leaving the dojo and mat space.  Formal bows between training partners and to Sensei...  You don't demand they respect you, but you do demand they respect the dojo and everyone in it which includes you as the teacher.

If they don't follow that simple rule, they get a timeout.  Yep, let me repeat that - they get a timeout.  There is a point where a mild emotional sting can help.  On the otherhand, don't get vindictive with the worst offenders and just time them out as a reaction to the slightest thing.

The timeout isn't for punishment, its meant as a reminder to develop discipline.  It a fine line, but it works....  as long as its not abused - by you as the instructor.

4.) realize that they, regardless of your feelings, are your students.  You are there to teach the students, not PICK the students.

Things will likely be alot easier if you accept what IS rather than spend your time wishing for the perfection of what COULD BE.  You don't get to determine that nor should you.

Right now, you are learning as much (or as little) as the kids are.  Regardless if they learn anything martial or not isn't the issue...  Rather its you learning how to teach period.

You are also a student right?  In this case, you are a student OF teaching.  So try different things and learn from the experience.

I know 20 year olds that are better with kids than 60 year olds, I know people that don't have kids that are better teachers OF kids than those who have their own.

5.) Think of the future:  if you learn to explain things in simple terms a kid can understand, instructing adults becomes a cakewalk by comparison.

6.) That said, think about what you are saying - can you expect little kids to understand words that may seem second nature to you?  Were the words you use always second nature?  Seriously think about that.....  Part of the reason kids go nuts in a dojo situation is because they are confused - when confused, they say '***** it, might as well goof off and have fun.'

How much of the unrulinesses is the kids and how much of it is you as the instructor?

You cannot choose the kids but you CAN choose how you deal with them so if its not working, change - the same thing isn't going to start working and since you can't change the kids, change yourself instead.

Answer 9

well if the kids want to do it thats your problem. i just dont like it when the parents sign their kids up for random things the kid doesnt even want to do

Answer 10

This is perhaps the greatest challenge of all, some kids have intense will and motivation and some kids appear to be adhd.  Look, use humor, get what you can and be happy with it.

I enjoy teaching little kids, they are a bit more inquisitive and it is hard to get really coordinated movement out of most of them, but this is ok, I just break it down for them and get what I can from them, and I find I learn in the process as well.

Don't let it bother you, just enjoy it each facet of a diamond has it's own shine.

Answer 11

Your school sucks, find a judo or boxing school.

Answer 12

I know what you mean, But sometimes starting so young gives them motivation to continue it when they're older.

My brother who is 8 now won't start karate because hes afriad of the kids making fun of him =/ but with a 3 year old they don't care, and they're probably more likely to continue it when they're older because they've already been through it for a couple of years.

However, I do think it is pretty young and doubt the childern will learn anything, but you never know, the brain learns the fastest at a younger age.

Answer 13

I understand that it is frustrating, But my friend, when a child is young they NEED something to grab and hold on to and get used to it so it becomes natural in the future.  I know that Kids seem all crazy running around, not listing, etc.  But, when they get older they will think back and remember who was there helping them along the way.  It's going to be your teacher and you !

I'd say I know its frustrating BUT, your making the World a better place helping the Kids understand Martial Arts, and not just putting them on the street :)

Good luck, stay strong !

Answer 14

Yeah man I hate the little kids in karate. I used to be in it and there were like 10 4 year olds just kinda dancing and walking around when everybody else is training. Way too annoying. But, as for the real question, I have no answer.