I've been attending the same Dojo for years and enjoy the high quality training it provides. However; there are several adult students that feel it's appropriate to bring their kids(ages 1-8) to class. It's not a kids class, thus they don't participate. They run around, slam equipment on the mats and are overall a major distraction. I was doing a pad work drill with one of the instructors the other day, and the child just walks over and stands between me and the pad. I look over at the Mother who's a fellow student waiting for her to interject, but she just apathetically stares back at me. I eventually had the tell the child to move. It breaks your concentration and throws your training off. The head instructor/owner usually isn't there when they bring their kids. Thus I was going to inform him of how distracting they are. Has anyone else experienced this problem?
I have 4 and 6 year old daughters. I've brought my 6 year old with my several times (she was a few months shy of 5 the first time). She sat and either colored or played games on her iPad/iPod touch. One time the volume got a little loud on her iPad; not too loud, but just loud enough for us to hear it. I quickly and quitely went over to her and turned it down. That was the only time anyone noticed her there. My 4 year old? I wouldn't bring her because I know she'd get bored and do something.
If kids can't sit quietly, they shouldn't be there. It's not fair to anyone - people training nor the kids. Very, very few kids can sit there for an hour and be ok. I guess I got lucky with my 6 year old.
I think you should bring it to the CI's attention. What ks-learning to fly said is definitely true. If they walk into a kick or punch, they're going to get seriously hurt. And they could break something or hurt themselves playing with stuff.
If the kids can't follow the rules, they shouldn't be there. And I'm not bashing the kids with that, I'm bashing the parents. If my kids were interrupting class in any way, I wouldn't bring them back. No one else should have to watch my kids, reprimand my kids, etc. No one else should have their training compromised because of my kids. That would just be selfish on my part. If I couldn't get to class because I didn't have someone to watch my kids, then I'd miss class that night. That comes along with parenting, and should be common sense. But for so many reasons, I question why it's called common sense when it's not very common.
Rant over
Speak to your CI. It's his/her job to address this IMO. If it's a common issue due to many people doing it, it should be a policy thing. If I was running a dojo and this was occurring, I'd have a rule of no unattended children. That's not an unfair rule, it's a common sense rule for so many reasons.
Make it more about safety, as in the kid got in your way and almost got hit while the parent (who should remain nameless unless explicitly asked) didn't make an attempt to stop the child, and you'll probably be taken more seriously than if you say the kids are annoying you. If others aren't happy about it either, let him m know you and several others are having a difficult time hearing instruction and concentrating too. Just don't make it sound like a personal thing against a few people.
