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Expert Q&A
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| By Mindy Hudon Speech and Language Pathologist | ||
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My twins have motor skill delays. What sport or activity would be good for them?
Last September after receiving my first-degree black belt, I enrolled my 5-year-old fraternal twin boys in karate classes at Eclectic Karate. Prior to enrolling them in karate, they were receiving physical and occupational therapy for gross motor delays, sensory integration dysfunction and motor planning issues. At the time, they were attending therapy twice a week, which meant a lot of running around on my part. I knew that I would eventually start them in karate, but at that time therapy was the priority to ensure that they would have age-appropriate motor skills. As an adult student, I knew how karate had helped to build my mind, body and spirit, but I didn't realize how valuable it would be for my twins. When my twins had completed therapy, I realized that karate was more motivating and equally as beneficial as therapy and helped them to develop important life-skills.
My twin's gross motor delays have significantly improved since karate. Karate training is an excellent follow-up to therapy, because it reinforces many developmental gross motor skills. Boys and girls will benefit from karate with or without developmental delays. During the warm-up portion of class, the children work on strength, endurance, balance and flexibility. They then work in small groups on the "basics" of karate including stances, blocks, strikes and kicks. I have seen physical improvements in how my boys move. My twins love karate because they're having fun with friends while learning new skills.
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