Boxing is good for SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN : What a Teacher wants you to know
Jun 21, 2022
KIDS AND BOXING – what a teacher wants you to know!
Boxing is not something you might think of as being supportive to the developmental skills of children, but it most definitely is!
CROSSING THE MIDLINE is an important developmental skill – if a child isnt supported in developing this skill it can have impacts on their ability to read and write.
If a child avoids crossing the mid-line, then both hands tend to get equal practice at developing skills and the child’s true handedness may be delayed.
This means that once a child starts school, learning to write is much more difficult when they have two less skilled hands rather than one stronger, more skilled (dominant) hand.
Difficulty crossing the mid-line also makes it difficult to visually track a moving object from one side to the other or track from left to right when reading, meaning reading can also be delayed.
What are the building blocks necessary to develop the ability to cross the body’s mid-line?
Bilateral integration skills (using both sides of the body at the same time).
Core stability and trunk rotation: The muscles of the trunk that helps to stabilizing the body so the arms and legs can be moved with control.
Hand dominance: The consistent use of one hand or foot most often that allows refine movement control to develop.
Planning and sequencing: The ability to follow multi-step instructions to achieve a defined outcome or end point.
Body awareness: The information that muscles and joints send to our brain that tells us about our body position.
ALL OF THIS TAKES PLACE AS CHILDREN ARE LEARNING HOW TO BOX!
Boxing is fun, engaging and an exciting activity for children that they enjoy.
We offer 1:1 sessions for children to be supported in developing boxing skills (which encourage crossing of the midline consistently)
To find out more about our 1:1 sessions for children, please send us a message and let us know how old your child is and we can have a conversation around whether we might be able to support them in learning some boxing – which will in turn support their skill development in other areas!
