Q: I can see my child is not listening to the instructor, should I pull him/her out of the program?
A: All children, at one time or another, may not pay attention to the instructor. Little Tigers provides many opportunities for the children to practice and learn the skill of self-control.
Q: The instructor has had to speak to my child several times and has put my child in a “time out”; do I need to be concerned?
A: When a child is in a new environment asked to do new things a lot can be going through his mind. Sometimes he may react by becoming excited, not listening, or trying something he can do. We may use a “time outs” to give the child a minute to regain his or her focus.
Q: My child is not paying attention in class, should I enter the class area or call out across the room to correct her?
A: One of the important life building skills we teach at Korean Martial Arts is “respect”. The child develops respect as the student learns to trust the instructor and understand what they are teaching. Parents are encouraged to allow the instructor to address issues during the class. Your instructor will ask for your help, if he or she needs assistance.
Q: My child has been attending classes for six months and she frequently announces she’s tired just when we’re about to step into the martial arts studio. What should I do?
A: Your pre-school child may indeed be tired and you may double check that she has time to have a healthy snack and a rest before coming to class. Also, is there a possibility she is coming down with a cold or other illness? See if she can articulate what it is that is making her tired. Remember that perseverance will lead to continued success; encourage the student to focus on a particular skll that day, such as making her ki-hap the loudest in the class.
Q: My child does not own sparring gear. Can he attend sparring class?
A: We encourage all children to attend sparring class. Your child may borrow a chest protector for several weeks while starting this new activity. In a few months you may want to purchase a complete set of gear for your child, but it is not necessary right away. Children are paired with others of approximately their own size and weight. More experienced children are able to control their kicks and hold back when working with younger children. Children are taught to use controlled kicks when working together.
Q: How does my child address adults?
A: All black belts, whether adult or child, are addressed as, “Sir” or “Ma’am”, followed by their first name. Children may also address any adult as “Sir” or “Ma’am” since this is a sign of respectful behavior.