| Does your child complain and resist going to | | | | activity. Build an image in their minds about how much |
| extracurricular activities only to have fun once you | | | | fun they have at the activity. |
| get them there? Once they are at a fun activity, | | | | 3. Build excitement. |
| does your child resist leaving? As a Martial Arts | | | | Practice before leaving for the activity at home (play |
| School Owner, I talk to parents about this common | | | | catch with a baseball, dribble a basketball, or kick |
| problem all the time. They say that their child is | | | | around a soccer ball). This helps get your child excited |
| difficult to get to class, but love it once they are | | | | about going and puts them in the right mindset. |
| there. As parents, we worry that our child may be | | | | 4. Limit highly stimulating activities. |
| losing interest in the activity. The good news is that | | | | Don't let your child play their favorite video game or |
| this behavior does not necessarily mean that the child | | | | other activities that cause resistance to leaving right |
| doesn't like the activity. Instead the child is | | | | before the extracurricular activity. Have your child |
| demonstrating a behavior known as "present focus". | | | | perform less stimulating activities like eating dinner or |
| What is present focus? | | | | finishing homework instead. |
| Present focus is a child becoming focused on a | | | | 5. Change at the extracurricular activity. |
| current activity and not wanting to stop in order to | | | | For kids, getting ready for extracurricular activity |
| start another activity even if they enjoy it. Younger | | | | becomes a major sticking point. Make the barrier low |
| children have difficulty thinking into the future and | | | | to get into the car by grabbing their uniform and |
| tend to seek instant gratification. For example, if you | | | | changing at the extracurricular activity, if possible. |
| offer them a piece of their favorite candy now or a | | | | 6. Get a Friend involved. |
| bag of the same candy a week from now. The child | | | | Children love hanging out with friends. If their friends |
| will most likely choose the piece now. Children lack | | | | are in the same activities, they are more likely to |
| the impulse control of adults, therefore, an important | | | | stay committed too. |
| part of parenting is becoming the child's impulse | | | | 7. Be involved yourself. |
| control until they create good habits and make good | | | | Volunteer time by coaching or in the case of karate |
| decisions. Remember that the child may love their | | | | join the classes too and lead by example. Children |
| extracurricular activity, but still display the present | | | | model their parent's behavior. We always say that |
| focused behavior. Over my years of teaching, I | | | | "Families who workout together, stay together." |
| discovered many effective techniques to help | | | | 8. Take Earlier Classes. |
| parents refocus children, in order to get them into | | | | Look for an extracurricular activity that has classes |
| class. | | | | right after school. Instead of settling in at home and |
| Tips to Combat Present Focus | | | | attempting to uproot your child, opt for an earlier |
| 1. Remind them. | | | | class or activity, if available. |
| Remind them about their extracurricular activity early | | | | By applying these tips, you can combat the present |
| in the day. Children easily forget their activity | | | | focus behavior in your child so that getting them to |
| schedule and resist activities that they are not | | | | extracurricular activities is easier and less stressful, |
| mentally prepared for. | | | | and you're guaranteed to reap all the benefits that |
| 2. Talk positively. | | | | these activities have to offer your child. |
| Talk to them positively about the extracurricular | | | | |