For the past year, children have mostly been stuck inside, in front of a computer for school, and on a device during free time. And as much as parents have tried to keep their children active, it’s been a struggle with the limitations of many activities. But now, as communities begin opening back up in a fuller capacity, we must get children moving again. The summer is a perfect time for this. The key, however, is to find activities that focus on the developmental needs of children so they can rebuild any lost physical progress quicker while also developing a higher skill set. This will lay the groundwork for all other areas of development to also be expanded.
The development of fundamental motor skills such as hand-eye and foot-eye coordination, balance, strength, and agility are necessary for a child’s physical development. The vestibular and proprioceptive senses need to be exercised, although they are often overlooked because “safety first” is typically the priority. But children’s activity level is critical not only for their physical development but also for their intellectual, social, and emotional development. It also helps to maintain good health and encourages a healthy lifestyle. These things combined give children the most excellent chance for optimal development.
To give children the physical boost they need for reigniting essential development, participation in activities that build age-appropriate motor skills is vital. Providing opportunities for children to have playtime outside, on playgrounds, or in an organized activity will allow them to exert extra energy, build strength and agility, and engage their proprioceptive and vestibular senses. These things will elevate a child’s physical skills and improve their mood, which contributes to better cognitive growth and produces more positive social interactions. This makes physical activity an essential foundational element for a whole-child development approach.
One of the best ways to maximize the summertime is by engaging children in organized activities that simultaneously improve all development areas. The SKILLZ Child Development Program does just that. The program’s foundation is based on martial arts, but the methodology was founded on cutting-edge research in the areas of science and psychology. Classes and camps target all areas of a child’s development by engaging children in fun, age-appropriate activities. By doing this, the Certified Pediatric Ninja Specialists create an engaging environment and allows for the most significant opportunities for growth in each child.
Author: Jennifer Salama of Skillz Worldwide. Jennifer is a 4th-degree black belt and has been training in martial arts since 2001. She has a Masters’s Degree in Child Psychology. She has embraced the SKILLZ curriculum because of its focus on child development and using martial arts as a vehicle to develop the child as a whole.
About our Martial Arts programs
Superhero toddler program, martial arts for kids 3 to 4 years old! Our Early SKILLZ program hones in motor skills while keeping them laughing and smiling.
The perfect blend of focus drills and fun! Basic SKILLZ is like a mini life hack in martial arts for kids 5 to 6 years old.
Turn Up the Grit! Core SKILLZ, martial arts for kids 7 to 9 years old, isn’t just kicks & punches. It fills your child with discipline, focus, respect, and a can-do attitude.
Tackle teen & pre-teen challenges with Extreme SKILLZ! Here in our martial arts for kids 10 to 14 years old, we get them strong, active, & full of focus, confidence, and good decision-making skills.
Just the right blend of self-defense and education. Our kids Hyper Pro/Fight club program in Passaic County gives your child the tools they need to protect themselves with self-defense, but it also equips them with incredible life skills like focus, discipline, respect, and more! Watch them improve in school, too- it’s really awesome.
Birthday Parties in Passaic County
Stop trying to reinvent the wheel. Birthday parties should be fun, not a ton of work! Enjoy watching your kids have fun!
Accessibility Tools
