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When children enter the world, they are 100% dependent on the relationships with their immediate family for all their needs. As they age, they begin to expand their relationships to others. This is a natural occurrence as humans are social creatures, biologically designed to interact in groups. A child’s ability to master many forms of affiliation is crucial to character development and ultimately security in the adult world. Martial Arts can provide a pivotal advantage for any young child during this critical developmental stage.

According to Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D., an internationally recognized authority on children in crisis,  “Affiliation has its roots in attachment (the ability to form and maintain healthy emotional relation- ships) and in the capacity to control one’s frustration and anxiety. Without these two strengths, no child can begin to form and regulate the relationships with others necessary to develop affiliation skills.” The primary benefit of Martial Arts training for young people is geared around the emotional and mental development of the child. By the time your child has mastered even the most basic physical skills, he or she has most likely also mastered many forms of class etiquette and group interaction. Perry also states, “Children must learn how to join in, to communicate, listen, negotiate, compromise, and share.” While these skills might seem simple enough from our perspective, for children they are not always easy to master.

Martial Arts classes can help children make the transition from interacting primarily with adults to socializing with other children. As children grow, opportunities to participate directly and indirectly with other children greatly increase. Perry states, “Problems arise when there is a mismatch between the child’s social skills and the demands of a game or task.” An example he uses is when five year olds play soccer, you quite often see all nine kids chasing the ball because at that age, children do not fully understand how to work together.

Martial Arts classes not only give children the ability to progress as individuals, but also allow for frequent interaction with classmates so that they learn to train together. These group interactions in class allow children to experience sharing, cooperating and sometimes simply waiting until it’s their turn.

Children who do not develop social skills properly are at higher risk to either promote violence or be the victim of it. According to Perry, when children fail to properly respond in group settings, they may become the subject of teasing or isolation. This may lead to feelings of sadness or the opposite, aggressiveness. Martial Arts training provides a structured environment that helps children develop strong social skills for positive character development. Your child’s participation in a Martial Arts program can be a key educational experience that provides the basic groundwork for a lifetime of success working with others.