With the fast-changing trends characterized by the digital technology and the ubiquity of the Internet and mobile devices, it is ostensibly obvious that parenting has become a quagmire. For a long time, guardians have always relied on orthodox parenting styles to guide their children but due to the increasingly mutating trends, these approaches have been rendered obsolete. With schools closed, the gym, through programs such as Karate, Taekwondo, and dance, provides an extra social space, apart from the school and religious institutions, where children can be mentored and shaped to acquire constructive demeanors. Besides, these programs also provide a good environment to foster and enhance the competency-based-curriculum, which emphasizes on practicality.
Undoubtedly, the parental institution is wobbling due to the advancement of technology and influx of young parents who are still trying to strike a balance between raising their kids and realizing themselves. One of the fundamental reasons why guardians should take their kids to the gym during school holidays and weekends is to reduce sedentary lives spend mostly on smart technologies. During free time, most children are usually glued on smart TVs and phones, watching uncensored content that might gravitate them towards violence and sexual addiction at an inchoate stage. While Karate and other mixed martial arts programs instill obedience, respect, perseverance among children in a practical, yet not harsh and forceful, dance programs enhance talent in convivial way.
Mixed martial arts can also help to tame children, whose exposure to the toxic house environment makes them go rogue at a nascent stage. Post-modern parenting has become a dilemma because of the reduced gap between the young parents and their children. Most young couples expose their children to uncensored parental arguments, alcohol taking, and recording provocative videos to seek for approval and fulfill their self-esteem needs through social media. Spending a few moments in the gym can help digress children’s minds away from their digital normalcies and stale house environment to positive hands-on activities. While doing things such as taekwondo, karate and judo, these children will also be trained to become obedient, disciplined and focused. It will also increase their social and teamwork skills as they interact with other youngies. This is lacking at home where they spend time isolated.
The gym can also provide the ideal real-life environment for the children to observe and learn. By discerning what people do, children can absorb in a number of lessons. This is augmented by the fact that contemporary children always grow and learn fast. The gym environment is characterized by courteousness, politeness, and apologetic language when the gym goers interact on a daily basis. They can also learn how to argue constructively and accommodate others’ opinions as these are also found in the gym when people engage in various discussions as they work out.
The Columnist is a Research Consultant, Policy Analyst & Strategist