instructing small children

[younwhagrl]

Here is some stuff that might help..tell them if they are good the WHOLE CLASS, and that you have time..tell them you guys will play a game, martial arts related of course..that seems to work in our class, and also what works is, if you guys do meditation before class, do meditation for 30 seconds, that is quite a long time for kids, and that will clear thier minds and make them calm..but..i'm just telling you what works in our class.

[Aodhan]

Squawman is right, 5-10 year olds is a very wide range of ages for that young. Out Tiny Tigers are from 4-6, then it's 7-12, and even that can get trying.

The class should be no more than 30 minutes. That's about all you're going to get from the younger ones (5 and 6). Also, instead of trying to make it a martial arts class, it's more of an activity class with a martial arts theme.

Here's an example of one of our segments we use a lot in our TT class:

"Okay, everyone, we were taking a plane trip! Make two laps flying around the class and come back! (They run around like mad with their arms out making buzzing noises....cute as anything).....OH NO!! We've crashed in the jungle!!! We've got to run out of here! Everyone start running in place!"

"LOOK OUT! THERES A MONKEY IN THE TREE! We've got to block him! Ok, everyone HIGH BLOCK!......Another one! Block with the other hand!!...OH NO....Theres a LION! Everyone get ready to kick him! Ok, front kick! Great, there he goes! OH NO! A SNAKE! Everyone get ready to low block!"

Cheetahs run fast, herds of rhinocerosososososos, etc, etc, etc.

Lots of movement, very little time to get distracted. If you stop and say "Uhm" for more than 5 or so seconds....you've lost them.

Aodhan