Taekwondo for Tiny Tots Program: "Frequently Asked Questions"
Q. "Is my child too young to learn Taekwondo?"
A. If your child is not comfortable in a structured environment or has difficulty being separated from you for even a short period of time, most likely he or she is too young for Taekwondo. Other indicators are his or her emotional and physical development, and his or her ability to interact with others. Although some children may indicate maturity in their overall development, they may not necessarily have the maturity required to learn martial arts. If you are unsure if your child is ready for our program, you may call and schedule an appointment. We can usually gauge and evaluate your child’s capability through brief interaction or possibly a trial class.
Q. "May I stay and watch my child in the class?
A. Parents and siblings are welcome to observe the class. However, I highly recommend that you wait out in the lobby. Young children look to their parents first for approval or confirmation, and having you present may create a distraction or an authority issue. If you insist on being present, please be as quiet as possible--sometimes the parents and siblings "watching" end up distracting the children. If you feel that your child needs you to be present, then it may be another indication that he or she may not be ready for this class.
Q. "Should I get my child a Taekwondo uniform?"
A. We recommend that you wait until your child has completed at least one Tiny Tots course and has expressed the desire to continue in the program before purchasing a uniform. In the meantime, have your child wear loose, comfortable clothing such as sweatpants or leggings with a tee-shirt (it's usually very warm in the gym). Should you desire to purchase one anyway, it may be purchased through our school at discounted prices.
Q. "Once my child has completed the Taekwondo for Tiny Tots course, will he or she be able to go to a regular Karate school?"
A. This depends on the child's development and maturity, and especially his or her ability to learn and retain knowledge. We will give you an evaluation of your child's progress at the end of the Tiny Tots Program (usually after completion of two sessions). At that time, we will give you our recommendations, and we will then determine (together) if your child is ready to continue training. Once that determination is made, you may want to enroll your child in one of our other Taekwondo programs; either our one-day Beginner/Novice Program for students ages 4-7 or our regular two-day Beginner/Novice Program for students ages 6 and up.
Please keep in mind that we are just like a "regular" Karate school. We offer the same belt rank advancement training as other schools, including forms, sparring and self-defense; the only differences being that we don't have a private, costly studio location and we actually expect our students to earn their various belts. Furthermore, we are contracted by the Fair Lawn Board of Education and must maintain a higher degree of distinction.
Also take into account, that if you wish to invest in another Karate school, you may need to find one of a similar style to ours (WTF Taekwondo) and that each Karate school has different methods or styles of training. Another school's system might be confusing to your child, and he or she would most likely have to start all over again.
Q. "Do you offer Karate birthday parties?"
A. Yes, we do. We have excellent parties and we offer student discounts! Our parties are usually held in the host’s home, office or club; if your space is too small we may be able to help you locate an inexpensive rental facility for as low as $50-$100. We make the parties enjoyable for children of all ages, with full guest participation, and the birthday child (age 4 to 64) is always the star of the show! Be sure to check our Parties page for the various parties we offer and check out our Student Party Specials!
For more information, see the various other pages on our website, or contact us at your convenience. Thank you for your interest in our school.