Krav Maga is a Boon for Kids of All Ages and Abilities.
I’m helping coach a little league baseball team – 6-8 year olds. And after coaching a YMCA flag football team last year, I can say from experience that we’re raising a generation of clumsy, weak-spirited, daisy pickers. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying these kids are at fault.
The blame lies squarely with the parents. And, as a parent, I understand how difficult finding the right extra-curricular activity can be. The days of playing outside and roaming the neighborhoods looking for pick-up football games or empty lot baseball games are over.
But, something happens when kids cannot experience the direct result of their choices on a daily basis, when competition gives way to unearned achievement, and when adversity is actively avoided. It seems kids don’t have any grit anymore. It seems the lack of these once common, everyday activities is stunting the emotional and mental growth our kids desperately need. It’s not the kid. It’s the risk-afraid, overly protective social framework that refuses to allow a child to fail on his or her own merits. But without failure, how will any kid ever find the strength to overcome? (Hint: They won’t, they’ll end up self-medicated, depressed, or worse).
That’s why I’m so high on our Krav Maga kids program. There’s a healthy balance of exercise, competition, personal challenge, and earned accolades. The program illustratrates the value of hard work, perseverance, goal setting, and the link each virtue has to individual achievement. These kids generally display better behavior, earn higher grades, and ultimately will be better prepared to handle life’s many challenges.
Parents, if you’ve seen the things I’m describing – you know I’m right. So, make it a point to get your child involved in an activity that pushes them well outside their comfort zone, challenges, mentors, and rewards the fruits of their labor. You’ll be happy you did, and in the end, so will your child.
