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

224 replies

MichelleMumsnet · 22/09/2014 10:36

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

OP posts:
lorka · 03/10/2014 16:24

My son really enjoys running. He goes to a running club and enters competitions as well as doing local parkruns. He always strives to beat his personal bests and this gives him great confidence as well as keeping him fit and healthy. :)

Kathderoet · 03/10/2014 16:59

My eldest 2 did Tae Kwon doe for a while but after I paid the subscriptions for them and outfits and everything the instructor stopped turning up some weeks and the classes fell apart, that put me off martial arts. My youngest goes to youth club and gymnastics, she used to go to brownies. My second youngest went to drama for a while, now he does football once a week, my second eldest used to be a Guide but she doesn't really like clubs. My eldest is an Explorer Scout. I think all these things are great for learning to socialise, get into a routine, keep fit and taking responsibility. Who doesn't want their kids to learn as many skills as they can.

marshgirl · 04/10/2014 16:54

Swimming is the only thing local for my DD as we do not drive. That limits what we can do. Although she does enjoy this and gives us peace of mind when on holiday and spending the summer holidays with her friends at the beach.

Kandboys · 04/10/2014 17:02

My oldest plays a lot of football and his overall fitness and health is great. My middle one is a Beaver and that has really helped him with teamwork and perseverence. My youngest is too young for hobbies at the moment!

myboycraig · 04/10/2014 17:21

DS loves kick boxing with Uncle Andy. Keeps him fit, confident, good posture and discipline

addictedtosugar · 04/10/2014 17:56

DS2 (3) loves jigsaws and getting out in the playground
DS1 (5) has done football for a term, just starting a second term of swimming lessons, and also goes for language lessons (DH's native language) on a Sunday. He loves the luggage, but frankly since both of us work FT, combined with homework, fitting in any more activities is a real headache and stress causer. He also just loves messing about in the garden or playground (and screen time!)

thewomaninwhite · 04/10/2014 19:26

DD2 is currently swimming and DD3 is keen. I am trying to sort lessons for DD3 as I am rubbish at taking her. Lessons make sure that she goes! We have not gone down the route of classes yet but I do wonder if DD2 will want to horseride (ouch). She is always asking!

courtney767 · 04/10/2014 19:45

Karate, scouting, music, gymnastics and theatre

sscrase · 04/10/2014 20:09

Joining the local football club, even at 6 is absolutely brilliant. My lad is really coming out of his shell with kids he's never met before and you can see his confidence growing every week.

akshay23 · 04/10/2014 22:12

Cross country running has helped my child become more fit and made him more motivated to become the best at it

matphil · 04/10/2014 23:22

My son loves most sports, he is enjoying swimming and skating at the moment. It helps him to make lots of new friends and to be more confident.

TrudieForde · 05/10/2014 00:05

Mine tried Martial Arts and started using it at home too much and then said he didn't want to go anymore which was relief, now he has hobbys like a hobby craft group once a week, plays guitar, and swimming!

Mandahul · 05/10/2014 08:52

Both my boys did Karate at the local swimming baths to help them with their confidence and discipline, they then switched to Thai boxing because their friends were doing it. My son's new hobby is his stunt scooter, he is forever out on the trampoline practicing jumps and flips and attends a huge indoor skate park when we get the chance to take him. Again it has built his confidence and he has a large circle of friends.

marymouse · 05/10/2014 13:37

Dd age 4 goes dancing once a week, it's already helped with her posture as we get random people commenting on it.
Ds aged 6 plays football once a week, this is great for keeping active and he really feels part of a team.
They both have swimming lessons once a week, which although they might not be keen on it, in my opinion it's a necessary skill to have

JWalker23 · 05/10/2014 15:59

They enjoy dancing :)

Maddaddam · 05/10/2014 16:08

dd1 (14) does judo, she's done it for 3 years and enjoys it a lot. She doesn't like school PE or team sports at all, none of my dc do, but judo appeals. She also sails, plays the saxophone and flute in the school band, and goes to about 3 art clubs, plus woodcraft folk. Those are her main hobbies, she has more which she would do more of if she had time. I think the one that gives her most confidence is probably woodcraft folk where she leads bushcraft activities and runs activities for younger children and goes on the national committee.

dd2 (13) used to do judo too but gave it up. She windsurfs, does woodcraft folk, craft/sewing club, amnesty international, various book clubs and library clubs, school council, sometimes robot club, and she wants to start fencing but we're resisting taking her cos it's not at a convenient time. This dd is plenty confident enough without any more hobbies really.

billy100 · 05/10/2014 19:27

My son swims and attends cubs each week...he also comes fishing with me every weekend!

cluckyhen · 05/10/2014 20:07

My DS is ASD and used to go to beavers and then cubs - until a young helper (also ASD and Akelas son) had a go at my son. He didn't understand what he had done wrong and the next thing we knew he was kicked out as they felt they couldn't have 2 asd kids in the pack (the young leader was actually a scout therefore could have been removed from the pack) - even though the Beaver leader wanted to keep him in Beavers. Scouting really helped in his social skills until this happened as now he is too afraid to be in large groups - and as someone who grew up in Scouting I am distraught that he was penalised this way.

daisyduck123 · 05/10/2014 21:55

Cubs and Scouts definitely helped my son with teamwork and confidence

09babisham · 05/10/2014 23:01

My twin boys attend Martial arts class. One of my boys has a chromosone deletion which affects among other things focus and attention. We have found martial arts has helped with this and is improving his muscle tone. Great activity for children

embabes7 · 06/10/2014 05:10

Only swimming for my little one at the moment, although i'm sure as he gets older he will do more and more. I want him to enjoy his hobbies and learn skills too. I wish i'd have kept up a lot of my hobbies, it's very difficult to switch off in our world and I'd love my son to have something that he is passionate about.

sarah3875 · 06/10/2014 09:20

My eldest son has been a fan of trains ever since he owned his first thomas the tank book. He's now 7 and still has a huge interest in them and how they work. I saw a competition for a 'ultimate weekend' and instantly thought of him. Imagine the shock and excitement when we actually won a trip to Italy and a ride on the Bernina Express through the Swiss Alps. We made some memories that will last a lifetime and my little man is still in love with trains.

Tell Get Into Martial Arts about your DCs hobbies – £200 of high street shopping vouchers prize draw NOW CLOSED
jennywren7 · 06/10/2014 09:25

My boys started with lego and have now progressed to putting together my flatpacks. I do hope that they progress into engineering in the future!!

cootuk · 06/10/2014 09:50

DD swims as it helps her keep fit, but the diving boards also provide a challenge. I'm scared of heights so we both dare and double dare each other for the middle board and should show her how to stand up to extreme emotions.
She also plays football as goalie - very popular as most kids don't want to be a goalie. This is more about team building and organisation of her defense.

krnries · 06/10/2014 10:10

My dd has been doing a beginners course in Martial Arts at School as an after school activity. She seems to really enjoy it, so I'm inclined to let her continue.

She also does tennis and swimming and enjoys being active.