The question is not “if” your child wants to quit but “when”.
You may hear phrases like “I don’t want to go to class”, “can’t I just stay at home and play?” and “can’t I take a little break? We understand this can be very frustrating, especially when everyone is busy and making arrangements to take them to class! Plus, we know training is not free.
It is no wonder that people ask,”Should I keep paying for this when my kids are not enjoying it?” or the ever popular, “I don’t want to force my kids to take class.” We agree no one should be forced to take class, it is an absolute gift that children take martial arts! We just need to figure out how to navigate around the inevitable slumps that occurs in training (and life) so that your child remains enthusiastic about getting to class so that they can make real progress.
1) Do you Value the program?
First evaluate why you enrolled your child in the first place. If you value the program and the leadership then have a conversation with the instructor and express your concerns. Let them help you. Wanting to quit is a necessary part of developing a non-quitting spirit.
All things get repetitious but it may be that your child doesn’t like the progress that they are making. Perhaps, they feel like they are behind everyone else, or better than everyone else? Instructors understand the nuances of the class dynamics and often an adjustment of partners can make a big difference.
2) Reinforce their Progress / Benefits.
Reminding our children how far they have come since they started, goes a long way. If you have the time, stay and watch their class and praise the things that they have done well. Avoid saying negative things about their training.
3) Remind them of the friendships they have made at the Dojo.
Another way to remind your child the value of the program is to reflect on the friendships that they have made. Martial arts is great for making new friends.
4) Switch Class Days/Times.
If possible, switch class days and times. By switching classes your child can try class with different students and perhaps make new friends or participate in class with friends they don’t normally get to participate with.
5) Get on the Mat
There is no better way to encourage your child than to train yourself. That way you can really understand the challenges that they face on the mat. Let’s face it, Jiu Jitsu is challenging which is why it is so incredibly valuable.
Regardless of which of these you try to do, it comes down to the value you place on the program. If you value the program and express that to your child, they will see the benefit of training through the inevitable valleys on their martial arts journey.