If you have a spirited 5 or 6-year-old at home, you know they’re bursting with energy, creativity, and curiosity. They’re at an age where they’re eager to learn and explore, making them perfect candidates for Martial Arts. However, it’s crucial to understand that their development is unique, and they need a program tailored specifically to their stage of growth. That’s where Okami Kai’s Lil’ Dragons Program comes in!
Understanding the Developmental Stages:
Let’s take a closer look at the typical developmental stages of children aged 5 and 6:
– Physical Development: At this age, they’re still learning to control their muscles. They may be wobbly when in constant motion and lack significant strength.
– Intellectual Development: They can find it challenging to remember more than three commands and might struggle with left and right distinctions.
– Emotional Development: Happiness tends to be their focus, and they may have difficulty controlling their excitement.
– Social Development: While they love playing with others, they can be quite competitive and may not exhibit strong sportsmanship initially.
The 8 Age-Appropriate Skills in Okami Kai’s Lil’ Dragons Program:
To address these developmental stages effectively, our Lil’ Dragons Program focuses on eight key skills:
1. FOCUS
2. TEAMWORK
3. CONTROL
4. MEMORY
5. BALANCE
6. DISCIPLINE
7. FITNESS
8. COORDINATION
In each class, one of these skills is emphasized, with a warmup that encourages the skill and skill-building drills. To progress these skills are encouraged within an age appropriate curriculum.
Example of Skill Requirements for White Belts:
For instance, our Lil’ Dragons must demonstrate the following skills to earn their next belt while we increase the difficulty for each belt level:
– FOCUS: Punch and kick a pad held by an instructor or their parents while standing one step away, achieving consecutive hits.
– TEAMWORK: Hold a kicking target for a partner or parent, counting their partner’s kicks loudly and securely.
– CONTROL: Stop at an attention position after running forward within a certain amount of steps after being asked.
– MEMORY: Demonstrate techniques and skills after being listed by the instructor…without forgetting.
– BALANCE: Execute kicks without putting their foot down between reps while maintaining proper form.
– DISCIPLINE: Perform various seated and standing positions without moving.
– FITNESS: Hold static leg, arm, abdominal, and core exercises for a specific time without losing technique.
– COORDINATION: Execute blocks or punches with a designated hand while taking steps with the correct foot (eg: Our Yellow stripe students are asked to block over a lead leg while walking and then punch over their back leg).
Okami Kai’s Lil’ Dragon Program offers a martial arts curriculum tailored to the needs of 5 and 6-year-olds. It ensures they learn and grow at an appropriate pace, building skills that will benefit them in all aspects of life.
So, if you’re looking to channel your child’s energy and curiosity while equipping them with valuable life skills, Okami Kai’s Lil’ Dragons Program is the perfect choice and it’s right here in Uxbridge, Ontario!