How do children learn best from their sifu / sensei?

Question

I have been teaching adults in martial arts for some years. I now am in the position, priveleged I feel, to be approached by some schools in the area to teach groups of children. I would like the lessons to be fun, varied and gt the kids really into it, however children also need discipline. Generally I am a strict teacher. So what's the best way to do this? Make it fun, with music, stories and so on? Or should I make it serious from the off? I would like an instructor to instill a sense of respect and discipline in me if I was a kid, but not all children are the same. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

joke around with them a little, but show major discipline.

let them know its ok to make mistakes, but make them learn from them.

that worked for me.

Answer 2

Do fun things at the end of class like duck, duck, goose, or stand like a flamengo as long as you can, etc.

Children learn better from positive reinforcement.  If you are too critical of them they will not respond.

As far as discipline, when they, as a group, are being too loud, not listening, not kiaping loud enough, etc, make them do push ups.

Parents want you to wear them out, spend the first half of class wearing them out, then work on technique at the end, they will be much more receptive when they are tired.

James

Answer 3

All of student can be best learn from teacher that all of it how is the teacher can do the better for them and then he knows about student pshycology what is the better for them everybody

Answer 4

Make it serious from the off, they have to learn that you are their teacher not their friend, even so learning can still be fun so incorporate games into their program, let them train to music. Organise social days, so the students can build friendships etc. Good luck.

Answer 5

Jamesf and Sifu Frank have both answered well to your inquiry. I have also taught kids, and those are statements I would say.

Good Luck

Answer 6

I teach martial arts to children and anything "fun" should have a purpose to it, like exercises that are fun. Don't do things simply because they will have fun while doing it. I don't know what martial art you teach but I usually begin with greeting the class and having them greet/bow me as well, obviously for the first class you have to explain to them how to do it and why, but after that they usually get it. With this "greet" method you would have them say something like "good afternoon sensei" or whatever, and the first time they do it they are always too quiet so you say, "did you all say something cause I didn't hear anything?" and then they scream it. Things like that lets them know you're not a mieser. In my classes we sometimes play dodgeball, or tag ball after class is over, so the less interested students stick it out through the class to play the game afterwards, but if the class doesn't go well we don't play it. It also depends on the age range of the kids, if they are 10 and up you can run a more serious and less "fun" class. Also I don't recommend teaching more than 10 kids by yourself, and for your first time even that is a lot. When you do things like drills, or have the kids make separate lines, if they are young you kind of have to "herd" them into the lines while telling them what to do, and if there are too many kids and you don't have help then the other kids who aren't being herded will fool around and play. One thing you have to accept with children is that not all of them has independently decided to be there, many of them are put into a class by their parents, so these kids are going to be less cooperative and you will need to be both nicer and stricter with them at the same time. You need to really praise the uncooperative kids when they follow the rules and perform correctly, but keep a constant eye on them and try to keep them from goofing off. Also, you will have to do a lot of hands on teaching with kids, literally. When I teach adults it's almost a relief to not have to physically move their bodies to the right positions for a technique, with kids you constantly have to move them to show them how to correctly perform. If you tend to be a strict teacher then go with that, but make sure you are positive and rewarding when the kids do well, this will help encourage them.

Happy Training

Answer 7

Any classes with children must be high energy. The attention span is very much related to age and is almost  equal to the age expressed in minuets. For a 6 year old about 5 to 6 min. for a 10 year old about 10 min. and so on.  So do not spend more than several min. on one technique or drill. Keep the class moving along. Don't spend to much time in class on the slowest student you will lose the rest. Take the slow one and pay attention at the end of class. Reward the class with a fun exercise or game the last 10 to 15 min. of class. Get creative and design the game to be instructive or develop eye hand coordination.

Discipline must be maintained however too strong of a come on will shut a child down to learning. Keep it in balance. Always start with a vigorous warm up. this helps calm the students down after a boring school day. During the school year you will be the children's' only outlet, let them burn it up. We use always P. C. P. that is praise correct praise. With little ones this is like a miracle, Through the age of 90 it still works. Discipline must be consistent and fair. It needn't be too severe if it is consistent.

Answer 8

www.turtlepress.com ...sang h kim has some books specifically to teach kids...there are others as well showing fun drills for kids.

terrence webster doyle also has some good books out for kids.