Whether your child is in kindergarten or entering high school, starting a new hobby inevitably comes with challenges. For activities that come with significant learning curves, like martial arts, one of the biggest obstacles can be keeping kids motivated. If your child or teen is asking to stay home or head to the playground instead of going to class, try incorporating these three tips to aid and encourage them to continue pursuing this pastime.

How to Encourage a Child to Keep Up With Their Martial Arts Journey

1. Emphasize the Importance of Effort

If your son or daughter is only praised when they win a challenge or get something right, they’re more likely to get frustrated and want to give up when they’re not successful. However, by emphasizing the importance of simply trying, you can keep your child motivated at every stage of their martial arts classes.

Let your little one know that you’ve noticed them practicing or that you admire their repeated attempts to tackle a certain move in class. This way, they’ll learn to be proud of the journey, not just the destination.

2. Show Your Support

When you can, stick around for your child's martial arts class to show support in person. They may look back after each exercise to see if you're still watching and if you caught their last move. In this situation, your body language will speak volumes.

To keep your son or daughter motivated, make an effort to put away your phone or tablet so you’re ready to meet their gaze. Occasionally give them a smile or a thumbs up to let them know you’re proud. These gestures will keep them excited and eager to gain more positive feedback.

3. Encourage Their In-Class Friendships

If you notice your child bonding with one of their martial arts classmates, ask them about their friend after class. If they didn’t catch the person's name, encourage them to find out next time. Eventually, kids may also develop friendships and ask you to plan playdates or sleepovers. 

Fostering your child's in-class relationships can give them another reason to show up to the following class. Even when they’re feeling tired after a long day at school, they’ll know that their new buddy will be waiting for them, which can motivate them to get excited about attending the session.

If you’ve been looking for a martial arts class that your child can get excited about, turn to Alpha Omega Martial Arts in Parker, CO. This school serves residents throughout Douglas, Elbert, and Arapahoe counties and is run by two black belts, so you can rest assured your child will learn from the best. They combine multiple martial arts styles to keep kids well-rounded and engaged and improve their overall health. Connect on Facebook to learn more about their affordable, family-friendly classes. Call (720) 480-2950 to chat with a friendly staff member and discuss a free trial.