PRO Martial Arts Naperville’s Little Rhinos program was carefully thought out with the assistance of early child specialist and is specifically tailored for children ages 3-5. Nominally, This martial arts program serves as an introduction to martial arts training, however we think there is so much more to teach young children. The Little Rhino program helps children develop gross and fine motor skills, listening skills, expanded attention spans, social and emotional development, environmental awareness to promote safety and core martial arts abilities.
This martial arts program is structured with the child’s development in mind. The karate segments are short and constantly changing to keep kids motivated and excited to learn. In addition to karate, during each class kids receive a safety lesson as well as an introduction into our antibullying program, Armor. Children in our program will be taught our five core values: PRO Martial Arts Naperville’s classes will instill discipline, improve confidence, foster respect, develop manners and develop positive attitudes all in a safe, fun and educational environment.
One of the key features of this program is the ability for every kid to earn a sticker at the end of each class. For the child to earn the sticker they must stay focused during class and demonstrate good behavior. Furthermore, our kids will have a “Job’s List” to take home every week. The jobs list will help kids perform basic chores at home such as brushing their teeth and putting their toys away. Kids return their jobs lists to an instructor and receive positive praise for what they accomplished as well as encouragement to achieve more. Research shows that additional authority figures, in addition to parents, help children develop a sense of respect for the community in which they live and nurture the child’s innate ability to be kind and tolerant.
You may be thinking is my 3-year-old too young for martial arts. Research shows that kids as young as three can benefit from Karate. According to a study in The Sport Journal, martial arts can help kids as young as three years old improve their physical fitness, including coordination, flexibility, and strength. More importantly, the practice can also help reinforce some of life's valuable lessons, such as perseverance and self-control.
