Screen time is an issue in almost every household. It’s getting harder and harder to get kids off their phones and out the door. There isn’t a parent out there who doesn’t know the struggle. And as our world becomes more and more reliant on technology, it becomes equally as important that we help our kids learn to navigate it wisely. Life is all about balance, but for most working families, striking a balance between school, homework, screen time, and extracurricular activities is tough. For some families, it’s the source of a lot of heartache and worry.
Rather than just restricting screen time, give your child a reason to put down the phone. Find something fun for them, something different and cool. Martial arts are a top choice for building social skills and strong bodies. The typical martial arts class setting is also much less intimidating than team sports—no one gets benched in martial arts. Plus, it’s diverse, with everything from Muay Thai to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu; there’s an outlet for every child to thrive.
Martial arts take a holistic approach to training that focuses on mindfulness, respect, and self-awareness—all of which are highly important to building confidence and strong social skills in children. Most classes will allocate a lot of time to partner work, promoting social interaction and communication. Partner work often feels less intimidating than team sports. Many kids are better able to open up in small groups, and partner work is perfect for that.
The great thing about martial arts is that you still get to be part of a team. The martial arts community is strong; it’s all about lifting up one another. Kids will travel as a team to competitions while competing individually within their own level, age group, and weight class. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, blue belts, for example, only compete against fellow blue belts. Providing a fair, level playing field ensures kids have the best chance to succeed. It also grants them their time to shine; again, no one gets benched in martial arts.
In addition to gaining better social skills, martial arts will make your kids strong! Being strong and feeling strong is key to building confidence—and confident kids have better social skills. As with most sports, consistent training improves strength, endurance, and coordination. Martial arts often focuses on perfecting the basics, where a single move is repeated over and over again. This type of training is key to developing muscle memory, which is important for faster reaction time and accuracy, both of which are essential for success in martial arts.
Giving your kids a foundation to flourish in a structured, inclusive environment where they get to socialize, get stronger, and gain invaluable life skills is one of the greatest gifts you can give a child. Martial arts can do this.
While in Phuket, check out Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA. Our Kids BJJ classes are designed to empower young warriors with the skills and mindset they need to succeed both on and off the mats. Check out our class schedule here.