New to teaching need drills for 4,5,&6 year olds

[Scott_LIFE180]

With young children having fun is very important! I dare say with 4-6 year olds the emphisis that the instructor places on fun is primary. You can teach kids 15 step katas/forms and have them retain them if they have a blast doing it. If these kids can remember every line of Kung Fu Panda, trust me they can memorize just about anything as long as they are having fun.

Sensei Says is a great game and is fun to play with older (teen age/young adult) students in the group as well. Nothing brightens a young childs smile more than seeing a "big kid" get busted in Sensei Says when they don't, or even when they get busted as well. (Even if you have to tell your older students to screw up every once in a while)

[bushido_man96]

Yes, kids learn through play, so incorporating play into the session drills is of utmost importance, especially when it comes to retaining their attention.

[blackbeltbabe348]

I've been teaching our 4,5 & 6 year olds for quite a while now. First of all, don't underestimate what they can do. However, you have to keep your class fast paced and with a high energy level. I never spend more than 4 minutes on a particular drill or section of class because they have attention spans the size of a gnat. Who cares if you didn't get all the kicks in, go to something else and then come back to it. Also disguised repetition or adding something fun to your normal drill will keep them tuned in to your class. You as an instructor have to be animated and vary up your pitch and voice level. Make class fun and exciting not only for the kids, but the parents as well (they are a very important audience as well!!!) One last thing to end off with it: I often see that too many instructors get too focused on the technical aspect of the karate class. First of all, this age group doesn't quite have the motor skills and are still developing. Second of all, more than likely Mom and Dad want their kid to develop focus, respect, self-discipline, etc. The martial arts is merely just the way to teach all those qualities in a fun way. So what if they don't know the difference between a front kick and roundhouse or when they try to do a form ithey looks like a cat in a bathtub, but if they used self-control- stayed on their feet and showed self-discipline for keeping their hands up then it's a successful day. Have fun with it, even though this group demands a lot of energy and wears me out they are one of my favorite and most rewarding groups to teach

[sensei8]

Say...BEACH BALLS! Now, go get some BEACH BALLS! Get, as many as you want, the more the merry.

I use BEACH BALLS for these age groups and here's some of the drills we do:

1) Line up the kids and then throw the BEACH BALLS at them, kind of like dodge ball, but with BEACH BALLS.

>>This drill teaches "awareness"

2) Bounce the BEACH BALL at them and have the kids execute a punch, strike, kick, or block.

>>This drill teaches "focus" and "accuracy"

3) Place the BEACH BALL directly in front of you, then, have the kids execute a kick over the BEACH BALL.

>>This teaches "balance" and "knee up high"

4) Place the BEACH BALL directly in front of the kids. Place the kids in any stance. Tell the kids to move the BEACH BALL forward WITHOUT kicking the BEACH BALL until they get to the wall on the other side.

>>This teaches stance "transition" and "posture"

5) Have the kids line YOU up at the wall and then have them take turns throwing BEACH BALLS at you...reverse dodge ball.

>>This teaches...well...who cares what it teaches....but it's FUN! Kids love it when they get a shot at you instead of you at them.

Besides, BEACH BALLS don't hurt!

[bushido_man96]

Very nice, Bob. I like those drills. I'll have to keep them in mind.

[isshinryu5toforever]

The beach ball idea is great. Thanks!

[Okami]

I would highly recommend some old reruns of grandmaster Capt Kangaro, Sensie Mr. Rogers from the Pine Tree School of Romper Room Dojo. I mean really they are good...learned alot from them myself.