When Is Your Child Ready for. . . SPORTS?

Whether your child likes to run, jump or make a splash, there’s an athletic activity that’s right for him. Sports is not only fun, but fosters the healthy development of young bodies. Numerous studies reveal the importance of regular exercise to promote fitness and help build motor and coordination skills. Participation in sports also provides a welcome antidote for the sedentary American lifestyle, which too often includes an overdose of video games and fast food. “An early athletic program introduces children to physical activity in a positive way, and makes it an essential part of their life as they grow older,” says Alex Rabinovich, owner of Lana’s Gymnastics in Flushing. But when is a child physically and psychologically ready to undertake a sports program? While infants will benefit from some sports programs, others require higher levels of maturity. Experts point out that not all children will catch on at the same rate. Starting a child before they are coordinated enough for an activity can result in feelings of frustration. Sometimes it helps for the child to spend time on the sidelines to observe. Don’t push too hard. Remember a child’s enthusiasm may not always match your own. While fantasies of your little pro playing at Wimbledon may dance through your head, parents shouldn’t put too much pressure on their kids to perform. Forcing them to play when they are reluctant can backfire and create negative feelings. Team sports builds a sense of belonging and cooperation, but parents should take care to keep winning and losing in perspective. Young children find it difficult to grasp the concept that they will not always be on the winning side. It’s important to applaud a child’s efforts and make each player feel like a winner, regardless of the outcome of a competition. Children remind us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine. We as parents and caregivers need to provide them with the opportunity to learn and grow through sports such as swimming, martial arts, gymnastics, and soccer. These activities teach children socialization, teamwork, and the importance of being the best they can be.

Here are some guidelines from the pros:

SWIMMING When getting into the swim of things, it’s important to know crucial points such as at what age it is best to learn to swim before heading to the pool. Sally Petrone, director of Aquatics at Asphalt Green, finds that getting kids into the water as babies is useful. “Kids who are comfortable in the water as babies really make the actual teaching of swimming quite easy. That way, when they are between the ages of 3-5, learning to swim in a group works quite well. It varies quite a bit from student to student, but if they have the fear, or can overcome the fear and put their faces in the water, learning to swim is not too hard,” she says. As to the best approach to teaching children how to swim, Petrone says, “Learning in a group is the best way for most children. That way they can look to other children for inspiration.” Asphalt Green does not use flotation devices that are attached to the body; instead they use kick boards and other devices to isolate parts of the body. Classes are kept to a ratio of about five children to one teacher for children under 5, and around seven children to one teacher for children over 5. “Having the pool warm is helpful and we keep the pool shallow to begin and get it deeper as they progress,” Petrone says. “We teach the actual strokes right at the beginning. We do not teach the ‘doggie paddle.’” To actually learn the strokes, Petrone recommends that children be about 3 years old. “To have the motor coordination to swim on top of the water using the crawl arm motion, we feel that this can be done at 18 months,” she says. “But we like them to start getting used to the water even as early as 4 months. They have to be able to hold up their heads themselves before we will take them into the water for a class.” The instructors at Asphalt Green must have special training to teach swimming to young children. While a Water Safety Instructor’s certificate from the American Red Cross (ARC) is preferred, Asphalt Green does not teach the exact Red Cross levels. Instead, they combine ARC with the American Swim Coaches Association curriculum. “We do quite a bit of in-house training so that everyone will teach the curriculum in the most efficient and knowledgeable way possible,” Petrone says. How often a child should take swimming lessons is a question many parents ponder. Asphalt Green recommends that children take swim lessons until they know the five basic swim strokes (freestyle, backstroke, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly). This way they will be able to use swimming as a lifelong sport and exercise, Petrone explains. “But we do caution parents not to be surprised if it takes their child up to at least two sessions of 10 weeks each to pass from one level to the next. Learning to swim is a slow process,” she says. “We find that if they can have access to a pool for lessons or practice two to three times per week, they advance much more quickly than they would having only one lesson per week.” ___________________

At the 92nd Street Y, Ellis Peters, coach of the 92nd Street Y Flying Dolphins swimming team, recommend that children should start learning how to swim as early as 6 months old. “Don’t wait too long to get your child in the water,” Peters suggests. “Babies are natural swimmers, and older children have a more difficult time getting over their fear of water. There are many different views on what age is safe to start. At the Y, we follow the Red Cross guidelines and start children at 6 months old. Babies and toddlers should always be accompanied by a parent or caretaker in the pool.” All of the instructors at the 92nd Street Y have Water Safety Instruction (WSI) certification from the Red Cross and CPR for Professional Rescuers from the Red Cross. According to Peters, there are two standard approaches to teaching children how to swim. “Group classes and private lessons are the approaches used at the Y — and both have advantages,” she says. In private lessons, kids get personalized attention and form a bond with the teacher. In group lessons, kids get the benefit of socialization; they also make friends and learn to associate the water with fun, she says. “I tell parents to think about how their kids learn, when they are deciding between the two approaches. No matter who is teaching the child, the basics of learning to swim are blowing bubbles, putting their face in the water, and floating on the front and back,” Peters says. As to how often children should come for swimming lessons, Peters says, “It depends on the age of the child and the child’s level of interest. Once a week is fine for very young children. Kids start on our team, doing two or three practices a week, at about age 6. A competitive swimmer should practice several times a week.”

MARTIAL ARTS Martial arts expert Bruce Lee paved the way for many to express themselves beautifully through the sport. Mario Guerrero, of Manhattan Tae Kwon Do, says the initial start of learning martial arts depends on the child, as well as the parent. Managing the parent’s expectations is the hardest part. “Can a 4-year-old learn to kick and punch? Yes. Does he understand when to kick and punch and have self-control in situations? Probably not,” Guerrero points out. At Manhattan Tae Kwon Do, kids are taught based on their age and maturity level. Kids begin at age 4 in the Little Warriors program, which is geared toward teaching basic life skills, such as teamwork, leadership, self-control, impulse control, listening and social skills. The program also aims to build flexibility, coordination, strength, and stamina. At age 6, kids can join more rigorous Tae Kwon Do classes, where the basics of martial arts are stressed in a more structured environment. “This program is where the kids begin to really learn how to kick and punch, and the body self-awareness that is required,” Guerrero says. “We stress the self-defense aspects of martial arts as well as the self-control, discipline, and perseverance needed to succeed.” As for one of the key aspects of the programs, Guerrero says, “We relate these skills to their lives — school and home.” Before any child is allowed a promotion to the next level, the student’s schoolteacher, parent, and martial arts instructor must sign a form stating that the student is “acting appropriately.” Many teachers and parents have begun to use these forms to help influence their child’s behavior at home and school, he says. Instructors at Manhattan Tae Kwon Do are required to have a black belt in martial arts from an accredited program such as the World or International Tae Kwon Do Federations. Instructors also need previous experience teaching both kids and adults, completion of their in-house training program, and “a true love for teaching,” Guerrero says. How often should children take martial arts lessons? According to Guerrero, two to three times per week is plenty. “We teach in a fun, friendly community environment,” he says. “We are not the traditional martial arts school of the past. We want every kid to succeed in a positive atmosphere. We want to make the world a better place, one kid at a time. We do this through teachings about courtesy, integrity, self-control, and perseverance.” ______________

Tiger Schulmann’s Karate schools, well known throughout the country, has its flagship school in downtown Manhattan. Sensei Rapoport, its senior instructor, says he sees children as young as 3 who want to be a part of the Karate Cubs. The program, for children ages 3-5, focuses mainly on motor skills such as balance and coordination. Sharing, taking turns, and dealing with parent separation are some of the elements the program aims to instill. “Children at this age level are more able to take turns with equipment in a class than a child who is 2 years old. Karate Cubs learn martial arts through stories, which, in turn spark imaginations and make it a fun experience,” Rapoport says. Children ages 3-5 should take lessons once a week, he says, while older children should strive for two or three times a week for consistency. At Tiger Schulmann’s, children ages 6 and up participate in the regular martial arts programs, learning basic karate techniques. Basic blocks, punches and kicks are the cornerstone of this program. Basic blocks are used to protect the head. Punches such as jab, cross, uppercut, and hook, and kicks such as axe, knee, snap-front and power-front are all incorporated into classes. “Through these moves, children are also learning self-defense,” Sensei Rapoport explains. Each child is looked at individually as they progress from level to level. “A hybrid style of martial arts is the school’s focus while keeping everything fun and exciting. The children enjoy themselves in a fast-paced environment that is also quite disciplined. Through discipline children learn self-discipline.” The training for all Tiger Schulmann Karate instructors is intense and demanding. Instructors must have a black belt and undergo in-house training for many years to perfect techniques and learn how to instruct both children and adults “I myself trained for 15 years under Tiger Schulmann, founder of Tiger Schulmann Karate,” Sensei Rapoport says.

—————————————— Sensei John Mirrione at Harmony by Karate began learning karate at age 2 under the supervision of his father. Now John leads classes for children, who are also as young as 2, at his studios. “A 2-year-old can learn karate in the most simple fashion,” Sensei Mirrione says. “Learning how to stand still with hands at his/her side is an accomplishment within itself. A child learns discipline, focus, and respect.” Mirrione says his philosophy of teaching karate to children “is based on slow motion movement. It is important to stretch and breathe and learn all moves slowly in order to perform the movements at a faster pace. Through these slow moves, a child is more likely to imitate the movements of an instructor, and make a connection with the instructor, which will allow the child to make a connection with him/herself.” What basic skills should a child possess in order to begin karate classes? Basic walking skills and some ability to follow instructions, Mirrione says. Prior to enrollment, he adds, parents must also write letters of consent on behalf of their children, describing the character and goals of the child. Once a child enrolls in classes, he or she can expect to work in a class of children of various ages. For instance, 2-year-olds are placed in classes with children up to the age of 5. A 6-year-old child may be placed in a class with children up to the age of 12. “Maturity and mastery of karate are also taken into consideration,” Mirrione says. “An older child who is mature and advanced may move on to adult classes. In any of the classes, we use cross-age teaching, in which the older children help the younger ones under the supervision of the instructor.” All instructors must train with Sensei Mirrione for 50-100 hours. “Techniques are unique to Harmony, so it is important that the instructors work with me prior to leading their own classes,” he explains. As for how often children should take classes, Mirrione says twice a week is sufficient but once a week is the bare minimum. Private lessons, good for technique development, are also available. But any child who receives private instruction must also attend group lessons to make the social connections with other children. “Overall, children need to find balance in their lives. Overconsumption of one thing may impact learning. It is important to diversify and have two different activities, such as karate and music or karate and ballet,” Sensei Mirrione says.

Gymnastics Jodi Levine, owner of Jodi’s Gym in Manhattan and Mt. Kisco, says they strive to provide a nurturing and fun environment for children of all ages. “A child as young as one can start in a Mommy and Me class,” Levine says. At a very young age, their focus is on encouraging movement and allowing the children to become comfortable with their bodies. At age 3, children learn pre-gymnastic skills such as balance, body strengthening and coordination to help lead them to the next level, Levine says. By age 5, they are ready to learn real gymnastic skills such as cartwheels, handstands, bridges, and pullovers on the bars. Equipment in any class needs to be suitable for the age group partaking in lessons, she stresses. “Basically, children can start at any age as long as the classes are age appropriate.” The gym employs over 45 instructors between its two locations; all instructors are safety certified by USA Gymnastics and have first aid and CPR training. Levine herself has degrees in both physical education and psychology, and was a gymnastics competitor at the national level. “All trainers must have an understanding of child development — knowing what a 2-year-old can do and what a 5-year-old can do,” Levine says. “Most importantly, our instructors need to be able to really relate to children and parents. Other skills can be taught; this one can not.” How often a child should take gymnastic lessons depends on the age level and interest of each child, she says. “A child who is 3 years old should be coming once a week. A child who is 5 years old may want to come more than once a week if they truly want to be here.” _____________________

From golf to roller-skating, Chelsea Piers has something for every age level. Peter Kormann, director of gymnastics, oversees a gymnastics program in which children as young as a year-and-a-half old can participate. “Once a child is fairly comfortable walking, a child can start creative movement,” Kormann says. “A child as young as 17 months participates in a class with a caretaker.” Classes for this age group prepare the children for actual gymnastic moves, Kormann explains. They work on anything from spatial awareness to such movements as jumping and landing, hanging from a bar, and using a trampoline. “At 3 years old, children are in class by themselves and begin to work on actual gymnastic moves. We work on balance, strength, and flexibility. The children get the added practice of learning to follow directions and learning how to socialize in a group.” As to what teaching approach is best for children, Korman replies: “While each teacher has a different teaching style, all of the instructors know that the classes have to be fun. That is the most important thing: the children have to have fun. Teachers also need to be creative, motivated, enjoy teaching, and take the sport of gymnastics seriously.” Most of the teachers at Chelsea Piers have previous gymnastics coaching experience and many were gymnasts; they also need to have certification from USA Gymnastics. Kormann was a U.S. Olympic gymnast. In 1976 he was the first American to win a medal for the floor event. How often should children take gymnastic lessons? “If a child is between the ages of 3 and 4, once a week is fine,” he says. “The children look forward to coming each week and the one class is challenging enough for beginner gymnasts.” If older children demonstrate the aptitude and desire for gymnastics, he recommends they take lessons twice a week. But he stresses, “We look at each child individually. It really depends on the child.” Classes usually have anywhere from five to seven children and one instructor. Clinics are taught, and beginner instructors are shadowed by more experienced instructors.