Tell Get Into Martial Arts about your DCs hobbies – £200 of high street shopping vouchers prize draw NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

Get Into Martial Arts have asked us to find out what hobbies your DCs have and how it’s helped them in everyday life.

Here’s what Get Into Martial Arts say, "With so much choice and influence around it can be a real challenge for Parents to decide on, and organise out of school hobbies and activities for their child. Where to start looking?! What will the activity involve? is this purely for fun, or could the children get more out of it – maybe making friends or learning new skills?

“Martial Arts is packed full of benefits for children, and so we’ve made it easy for parents to start the journey towards getting their child involved. On getintomartialarts.com parents can find the Martial Arts school nearest to their home, and better still book a free trial lesson – allowing the child to try it out before deciding to join!"

So, do your DCs have any hobbies? Do you think they also help your DCs in everyday life, or not? Perhaps they have an unusual collection of comic books which you think has helped teach them how to take care of their belongings? Maybe they have taken an interest in building robots which has aided their concentration with certain subjects at school? Or are they taking martial arts lessons which has helped them gain confidence? Whatever it is, we’d love to hear it!

Everyone who leaves their comments below will be entered into a prize draw to win £200 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

DS1 (8yo) does cubs, swimming, football and judo and DS2 (5yo) does swimming, beavers and football.

Both the boys have gotten a lot from cubs/beavers (teamwork; community; being helpful; confidence in talking to people; looking out for others) and they have also completed a lot of badges too.

DS1 really enjoys judo. This has helped with his confidence and balance.

I did various martial arts for around 10 years and think that it is a very good thing to do. I am keen for both my boys to do some sort of martial art.

My dcs don't do any extracurricular activities as there are none close by that dp could take them to (apart from one martial arts class, but ds has AS and wouldn't be able to cope in that class and dd1 isn't interested).
Neither of us drive and the public transport to our house finishes too early to be able to go to any classes after school. The cost is prohibitive as well.

They do, however, fill their time at home with their own "hobbies" when they aren't out playing. Ds is into lego and computer games and dd1 sings and dances around the house

Dd2 does what most nearly 2 years olds do, particularly likes anything that can be pushed along or drawn on

All 3 like to watch films and go to the cinema.

I used to feel guilty about the lack of clubs etc, but honestly, they are not bothered so now neither am I

DD1: Drama, singing.
DD2: Football, horseriding.

While my 2 aren't keen to take up a Martial Art at the moment, I know a few who have and it's been brilliant for their behaviour, self discipline and self esteem!
:)

I am inclined to say my children do activities rather than have hobbies at present. They do a sporting activity and beavers and a musical instrument, but these are activities I have offered or introduced, although they continue them because they are interested.

My oldest is into lego, which I would consider to be a hobby, and computer games, which he would and I wouldn't. Lego has helped with his concentration and his dexterity.

I hadn't particularly considered martial arts. I can see the benefit in terms of teaching discipline and control as well as being a physical activity. Locally it seems to be marketed more as a boys sport, which is disappointing.

DS is only 2 and no hobbies have developed yet although he loves being outdoors so I assume something outside will be his thing. I am not sure about martial arts although DH did it as a boy and assures me it doesn't encourage violence. I wouldn't stop DS from doing it but probably wouldn't encourage it either.

DS only did swimming until we moved here last year when he was 8. He tried a few different things (football, basketball, rugby, tennis, dance and skating) and has discovered a (hitherto completely unexpected passion) for figure skating and dance so they are the hobbies he has stuck to. He now skates 4/5 times a week (about 12 hours), does 2 'Off Ice' conditioning classes (2 1/2 hours) and does jazz/ballet 3 times a week (about 2 hours total). I insist on keeping up swimming which he likes but has no desire to compete. As a result he is becoming very fit and toned with huge amounts of stamina. It is also very sociable and he is completely at ease in the company of large groups of girls which is nice. Finding a sport he loves has increased his confidence and has made him a lot more focused and disciplined. Fitting things in can sometimes be a challenge and I am becoming grateful that we only had one child (financially as well as logistically!) but mostly I love to see him happy and energised!

DS1 (7yo) does karate and swimming. He has done karate for a year and loves it - otherwise he is totally unsporty! His teachers are amazing and it has helped a great deal with his confidence and maturity.

DS2 (5yo) has just started swimming lessons. He had a trial karate lesson but just clowned around and didn't take it seriously at all! I would like to find another activity for him but not sure what yet.

I would love them both to start learning an instrument but just don't have the time or money for lessons :(

I booked DS1 and 2 into a local Judo class following some horrible incidents at pre-school where they were being repeatedly pushed and pulled around by some much more boisterous boys. DS1 in particular lacks a lot of confidence and had no ability to tell them to stop - he just took the horrible behaviour.

We started Judo during the summer term and, at first, they struggled with the concept, but slowly and surely they have progressed and they love it! I've been told they will be ready to start grading at Christmas, which is a huge achievement for them.

They have total and utter respect for their Sensei and their confidence has flourished. My ultimate aim aside from building confidence was to help them learn boundaries - both of others and their own and how to stand up for themselves in a controlled way (knowing when to start and stop). Obviously it's also physical, which is great for them too! I couldn't recommend Judo more highly and we do that along with swimming. All excellent for helping their confidence!

Dd loves slacklining.

Dd has done dancing since she was 3. I think it's been great for her confidence and attention span and she thoroughly enjoyed getting up on stage during her show.

She's met lots of kids she wouldn't have otherwise and as a result started school knowing a good number of kids fairly well and had an instant group of friends.

It's been invaluable but I do wish it wasn't at 9am on a Saturday!

after school gymnastics. helps to improve core strength and stability and saves me a physio session.... for the children's hypermobility.

dd loves reading
ds loves playing on the computer and digging holes in the vegetable patch.

Ds started karate a couple of years ago, and loved it. He dropped it after a year as the sensei was being unpleasant to me because I would not make sacrifices (the sensei's words!). He expected me to drop the family's established commitments so that I could take ds to extra karate sessions.

I would like ds to get back into a martial art, but this has put him off badly.

All my dc do a regular out-of-school sport activity and a Scoutiing-type activity. And a lot of playing.

I do Tae Kwon Do. My DCs are interested in the occasional ad hoc lesson, but so far have not wanted to commit. Not all clubs have the right ethos IMO and I'd avoid anything that seemed to be exclusively about profit making rather than focusing on the art and discipline side.

Their hobbies are piano, minecraft, programming, inventing huge, long running, imaginary worlds - which involve a heap of rules, written documents, and a lot of running around.

DD does piano, ukelele and guitar and has been involved in a local club making a film. Also likes canoeing in the summer. I would be Interested in her exploring martial arts courses for her safety, well being and confidence as a teenager.

DS has an amazing karate teacher, who has really boosted his confidence, and helped his sense of the importance of concentration. He also encourages them to make the most of spare moments to exercise - so ds now does crunches whilst waiting for his cereal to warm up in the microwave! BUT I think it is massively down to a good instructor (ours is huge and imposing, but infinitely patient, caring and has a great understanding of the individuals in his care. Other than that, the club my two have got most out of is scouts/beavers/cubs - lots of opportunities for responsibility, leadership, adventure, and learning new skills. But again, down to some fantastic leaders/groups.
(They also do: gymnastics - both; football - dd; choir - ds. Choir has been another brilliant one for confidence)

Or are they taking martial arts lessons which has helped them gain confidence? Whatever it is, we’d love to hear it!

DS has been doing karate since the age of 4 and absolutely loves it. In fact he is two belts away from a black belt at the age of 11. DD was very much into ballet but decided she wanted to do karate like her brother so she has also been doing it for 3 years, since the age of 6.

They have found it fantastic for concentration, discipline and focus, which I have found has reflected in other aspects of life such as school and homework. DS also plays golf, badminton and football. DD is less into physical activities but enjoys reading and getting out for a ride on her bike.

Our local dojo has a pre-schoolers programme that DS(3.11) has been doing for a year. The programme is really well designed IMO, they do exercises that are to improve balance and co-ordination, talking about very simple personal safety stuff ('safe adults' etc), and teach the all important art of listening.

DS has been diagnosed with speech and motor delay, but I really think the class is helping him, you can see him improving each week. And he can count to ten in Japanese which is entertaining, if not the most useful life skill!

DD aged 4 has just started reception and is exhausted so her hobbies have tailed off for the moment. Up until now though she's been doing weekly ballet classes and French lessons. DS age 2 goes swimming but otherwise trails after his big sister!

Ds1 and 2 do martial arts. We changed school a year ago and was the best move. At the previous school they were ignored and I was constantly asked for thousands of pounds to continue their tuition.
The new school is amazing and both boys are really enjoying it. They have learnt loads and own nunchucks and a bostaff
Dd is only 16 months but stands at the side of the junior class copying the blocks and their fab instructor lets her jab the pads. Can't wait until she can join too

DS does Tumble Tots and swimming - both active sessions which help him keep fit as well as have lots of fun.
I see swimming as a vital life skill too and the things he learns at Tumble Tots such as climbing, balancing, etc are a big help for his major motor skills as well as his confidence. He's also learning to share, take turns, interact with others, improve coordination etc., so all good really!

I expect, as a tyoical boy (and with influence form us as a sporty family!) he will eventually get into football, tennis and his bike / scooter.
We will obviously let him choose and take it from there...

Ds (just turned 14) has dual hobbies of cycling and rugby. Both are teaching him the value of team work and the fact that effort results in reward - plus providing him with was he (and we) hope will be life long friends.

He is also very soon going to have to learn how to choose: if he wants to be as successful as he claims to want to be, he's going to have to focus on one spprt and continue the other on a social basis.

DS started doing Tae Kwondo, unfortunately they moved the venue from our local sports centre to one village hall and then another too far away, just after they cashed my years insurance cheque as well.

DD 8 does badminton and occasional swimming lessons, she has just been diagnosed with autism and struggles with team sports but has tried cricket and hockey. We are waiting for her to be old enough to have a go at archery, she would like to try golf and next summer will be doing sailing lessons.

DS 6 does badminton, rugby and occasional swimming lessons. He enjoyed doing cricket sessions in the summer.

We both work so try to find stuff that happens later in the evening or at the weekend. We have not given into the pressure of football as in our area it tends to be training on a Saturday and games on a Sunday and that seems to be all the sports you can do.

Also consideration has to be taken for travel, at the moment we travel a minimum of a 15 mile trip to do any of the above but feel it's important to give the children skills and to be able to enjoy sports when they are older.

do your DCs have any hobbies? Do you think they also help your DCs in everyday life, or not? Perhaps they have an unusual collection of comic books which you think has helped teach them how to take care of their belongings? Maybe they have taken an interest in building robots which has aided their concentration with certain subjects at school? Or are they taking martial arts lessons which has helped them gain confidence?

dd loves climbing. she also likes dancing and music. i think they give her more confidence. i would love her to do some martial arts some day, i really believe its important to know a little self defence these days, and can see other benefits that it would have.

Three- year- old DS started capoeira a few weeks ago and absolutely loves it. Apart from the physical stuff, he's also learning to play the traditional musical instruments involved. He does it three times a week ( wants to do more), and the main thing it seems be doing so far is making him begin to realize that he can control his own body