Foster child and Martial art sports!

[MJ1995]

This is a bit random for this forum but has anyone put their foster child into any martial art type classes? My FD has had a session at school today and would really like to do it regularly. My husband thinks it would be a good idea as he did Karate as a child and said it taught him discipline and self control. He mentioned it when our FD moved in to our SSW who said 100% not a good idea as it is giving the child the tools to hurt other people. I have never done anything like this and have no idea what it intails but am concerned as our FD has a history of hitting/nipping and even choking other children so thats a real concern. At the same time its the first time shes asked for something after school everything else has been things we have put her into so I dont want to just rule it out and discourage her from asking for things that she has an interest in.

So i was wondering if anyone has had experience in this before and how it turned out?

How old is she? Will she have the discipline it takes to not use her new skills if she gets angry? I thought about it for my DSS because he could really benefit from the discipline and structure, but I came to the same conclusion as your SW, that I would basically just be making him a more effective bully, so didn't.

Aikido might be a good compromise - it's very much focussed on the defensive side.

Its not your SWs decision, its the SW/IRO or team managers decision

Have you presented the idea to the SW (not your SW)

My son is not adopted or fostered. But he really enjoys kick boxing and it has given him some self discipline.

Op I chose a non combat martial arts - judo. It’s defensive and involves throws/ more defensive moves as well as discipline.

how old is fd?

Thanks everyone.

@AndSoFinallyat the moment im not sure she does have the discipline not to use it when shes angry. Shes very angry at her family atm and when things like family are brought up at school we see a her targeting other kids more.

@UnaOfStormhold Ive never heard of that will have to have a look!

@bellac11 our SSW is very experienced so that's why shes commented but my FD social worker doesnt ever really say no to anything we suggest but I can ask what she thinks!

@Crocsandshocks my husband was the same with karate and thats why he thought it would be a good thing for her!

@Ilovethewild its actually Judo she asked to go to as the school had a judo thing today and she really enjoyed it!

Thanks everyone. FD is 9 years old but hasnt been with us very long so I think we might wait until after the summer to see how she is with us a bit longer and see if theres less hitting of other kids!

She may be experienced but the care plan is that which is agreed and set out by the SW team as the corporate parent, its not for your worker to agree or disagree to,, she is part of the network yes but not the decision maker.

Have to agree with bellac11
Decisions over sports that could be dangerous need written permission from the child SW.
You need to cover yourself if god forbid anything goes wrong.
If your child suffered any injury they could be down on you like a ton of bricks.
We got written permission for horse riding. Our child had been with us 6 years at the time.
As for wether it would be good for the child you won’t know until you try, you can always stop if it’s not working out.