Team Tiny Tiger

Children between the ages of 3 & 4-years old are in a very distinct growing stage. They are embarking on new discoveries everyday and learning how to cope with all of the challenges. Their intellect, emotions, physical capabilities, and social competence all are growing at a rapid rate. So fast, that they often overlook what's important and can hardly tell the difference between right and wrong.

That's where our Team Tiny Tiger Program comes into play. Our program is based on the Future Kidz program. Future Kidz is the creation of Melody Shuman, a leading expert in the field of martial arts for children. The program is specially designed for the stages of development of 3 & 4-year olds. Melody collected scientific and psychological resources regarding this age group, and used that information to ensure that the program works with the characteristics and capabilities of children in this age group.

In the Future Kidz Prep Course Program, each child will experience training that targets the skills that they are all currently developing; skills such as large and gross motor skills, behavior development, and character development. These skills have been broken down into age-specific exercises, games, activities, and drills that compliment their stage of development.

We use the martial arts approach to building their skills through these drills. The approach includes reinforcing good discipline, displaying confidence, and maintaining a positive attitude. Technical martial arts training is very limited when it comes to traditional moves and techniques. We reserve that portion of development for the older children who have set a clear foundation of what we consider the preliminary requirements to martial arts training.

With this in mind, we want to reinforce that martial arts training extends way beyond kicking and punching. That's why it may appear that your child is not learning enough martial arts in class, but the fact is they really are. The customary discipline protocol is martial arts. This includes standing at attention when commanded, responding with respect by saying "yes sir" and "yes ma'am", bowing to the instructors and each other, and maintaining a positive attitude. With professional Martial Artists as the role-model instructors, and the mixture of fun games and activities with basic kicks, strikes, and blocks during class, your child's first exposure to martial arts training will generate results!

Here is a brief list of what your child will learn:

Motor skill development

Running

Jumping

Balancing

Rolling

Behavior development

Learning how to take turns

Learn how to manage frustration

Learn how to be respectful when others are speaking

Character development

Learn how to make friends

Learn how to tell the truth

Learn how to share

Learn how to maintain good manners

How the Team Tiny Tiger Program works

Sometimes parent's question why all their children seem to do is play. To a child, play is their work. It is essential to teach children how to learn though play. In the Pre-Tigers Program, we use activities that they play in class as our way to teach them and build skill. The children learn important social skills and will begin to recognize their own emotions as well as others. They also learn how to think through play, and come out with better physical capabilities in the process.

Through play, your child will learn how to master the skills incorporated in the age-appropriate activities. While participating in these activities, they will discover things that normally would not make sense to them. Participating in these activities, or playing, will help them make the adjustments necessary in their skill development and bring them to a higher level of thinking, making play very educational and beneficial.

About our Team Tiny Tiger Instructors

Learning is a process. Our instructors understand the importance of the steps involved in learning and are capable to encourage and instruct a child while reinforcing the benefits to learning. Our instructors are trained to meet the needs of each individual, and how to reinforce proper development and behavior with little or no disciplinary action. We have established a positive learning atmosphere that makes learning and growing fun.

Where will the Team Tiny Tiger Course take my child's training
 

The Team Tiny Tiger Program provides consistency in each child's developmental process. Through consistency in their training, they will properly develop the skills mentioned in this outline and prepare them for the next program: Team Tiger (ages 5 & 6). The foundation set through the Team Tiny Tiger program will enable them to successfully transfer to the next program with the proper abilities and mindset they need. Once they enter the Team Tiger program, you will notice that they enter a new stage of development, which is the next phase of their growing process.

Your role as a parent

Self-esteem is very important in a child's everyday life. Self-esteem refers to how a person feels about themselves. To a 3 & 4-year old, self-esteem is something that they personally do not understand, but experience crossroads with everyday. As a child, self-esteem plays an important role in how well they learn and grow. Studies have shown that children who think very little of themselves may do inadequately socially, emotionally, at school, and in extracurricular activities. At the same token, those children who truly believe in themselves can really excel.

With this in mind, your role as a parent is to consistently encourage your child to stay focused, never give up, and always look for positive solutions. Now this may seem like a difficult task to do with a 3 & 4-year old, especially with their limited vocabulary. But self-esteem is a learned attitude, and the sooner you begin to teach your child about self-esteem, the better chance you have of it sticking with them.

Here are 3 easy steps to help your child "learn" self-esteem:

1.    Avoid using the word "can't". When a child uses the word can't, he or she is expressing that they "don't know how to" or "they don't want to". Once they say the word "I can't" they usually do not put any effort into the task at hand. Showing the child how to work through challenge's, or showing the positive out of doing something will prove to be a very important lesson that they will need throughout their life.

2.    Always have positive expectations for your child. If you express to your child that you believe they can do something, then they will probably think so too. Keep in mind that your positive expectations need to be age-appropriate and attainable. You must also back up your support by working with them to achieve their goals. Avoid giving up on your encouragement and efforts to help them. By showing consistency in your support, you will create consistency in their effort and attitude.

3.    Teach your child how to see the positive side of his or her inadequacy. When your child is unsuccessful, help him or her discover from errors. Ask thought provoking questions such as "what would you do differently next time?" or "what do you think you need to work on to do even better?" Also let them know that you are proud of their efforts by saying things such as "you are already successful because you are showing courage by trying". Reinforcement like this can make a big difference in how your child perceives challenges.

With these steps in action, you will teach your child how to have high self-esteem, and reinforce the value that the Team Tiny Tiger program provides.

For more information on this program, please give us a call at (865) 475-8510 or send an e-mail to mrshendricks@rdkarate.com.