Hello, I help teach a children's taekwondo class every Friday and I usually take a group of about 10 white to yellow belts of students, ranging from 5 to 10 years old (some of the little dots are really cute, but don't let anyone think I'm getting soft!)

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of games/routines or methods to keep my munchkins amused, whilst also teaching them taekwondo as well?

G'day! I also assist in training young students and know how hard it can be to keep their attention for an hour. I find just getting them to 'do' without going into to much explanation works. Break it up with fun exercises like hopping around the room, piggy back races, or even a game of stuck in the mud. All these help develop balance, build strength and develop sratagie.
Hope this helps.

Sure do:

1) Obstacle course - This is a fun way to get the kids doing many things. You can set up mats for the to climb/jump over, put some small targets on the ground that they must use like stones to cross a river. Different kick drills too.

2) "Sabonim says!" - This is the martial equivalent of Simon says. Have them practice their TKD using this formula.

3) Tae Kwon Dodge - Dodge ball with an added twist. Once being knocked out of the game they can "buy" their way back in by performing repetitions of a kick, completing a form, or anything else you want like standing in a cat stance for 30 seconds.

4) Attention Game - Make everyone go to attention, and then try to get them "out" but moving or laughing. Be creative and fun, but also somewhat serious as this can be a fun way to teach them to be able to stand at attention no matter what.


Also, you might want to break them up by age group. The development stage of a 5yr old vs a 10yr old is quite different. If at all possible put 5 - 7 together and 8 - 10 together.

There was a game that me and reilly once helped keith do.
4 helpers stand in each corner of a room and it's a race.

The kids run arounfd the room and at each corner have to do something differant.
For example.

Corner 1: Sitting stance, five punches.
Corner 2: Walking stance, five kicks.
Corner 3: Shout the name of your pattern at the helper.
Corner 4: Drop down and do 5 press ups.

This can obviously be altered for the ages and how hard you want them to work.

Thanks for that guys, there's some really useful stuff I can take to my classes this week.