Why Archery Is Part of Our Kids School Holiday Program

Archery on a martial arts program? It is a fair question

If you are looking at a school holiday program for your child, archery is probably not the first thing you expect to see on the week. Most parents ask the same thing: why bows and arrows at a martial arts club?

The short answer is that archery is a key pillar of Kummooyeh, one of the programs we teach at our Woden club. On our school holiday program, Tuesday is archery day, so children get a small taste of it alongside the rest of the week.

Why we put it in front of kids

Archery is not something most children get to try before high school, if ever. We figure there is no good reason to wait.

Each school holidays, the program gives kids a little taste of lots of different things. Archery is one of those tastes. It is a chance to try something new in a setting where nobody is expecting them to be good at it yet.

A child does not need to be good at something on day one. They need a safe place to have a go.

The worries parents tell us about

These are the questions that come up most when a parent is deciding whether a child should join in.

"My child has never done anything like this."

That is the point of the day. Nobody is expected to arrive with experience. Our school holiday program is for children aged 5 to 14, and beginners are welcome.

"What if they are not good at it?"

Most children are not good at archery the first time, and that is fine. The idea is to let them figure it out without needing to be perfect. When a child sees that having a go is enough, they usually relax and try harder, not less.

"Is it safe?"

This is the right question to ask of any activity, and you are welcome to ask us how the day is run before you book. What we can tell you is that safety and etiquette come before anything else in our Kummooyeh classes.

Our Junior Instructors and Junior Leaders help run the week alongside our coaching team.

"Will they actually enjoy it?"

On our most recent program, the children did not want to stop for the lunch break. We would never promise that every child will feel the same way, but it is a good sign that a new activity can hold their attention that well.

What children can take from a day like this

We are careful not to oversell it. One day of archery will not change a child's life. But there are small things worth noticing when a child tries something unfamiliar.

• Patience. Archery rewards slowing down and trying again.
• Focus. It is hard to think about anything else when you are lining up a shot.
• Resilience. A miss is not a failure. It is information for the next try.
• Willingness to try. A child who has a go at archery is a little more likely to have a go at the next new thing.

These are the same habits we hope to build in every class at the club, from a first lesson on the mats to a grading years later.

It is one day in a bigger week

Archery is only one part of the program. Each day has its own focus, and the week mixes martial arts with games, activities and a trip to the movies. If you would like to know what a full day looks like, from drop-off to pick-up, we have written a separate parent's guide to a school holiday program day.

The program runs for one week every school holidays at Woden. Dates, times and bookings are on our holiday programs page. If cost is on your mind, you will find it on our pricing page.

If your child loves it

Some children go home talking about archery for days. If that is yours, you may want to look at Kummooyeh, where archery is one of the key pillars. You can read how the program works on our Kummooyeh page, and see the full range of options on our kids programs page.

Class times for the term are on the timetable.

Not sure where to start?

If you would like to see how we work before you commit to anything, come and try a class. Your first class is on us! Our getting started page explains what happens when you book, and you are welcome to message us with any questions first.

Feeling a bit nervous before something new is normal for children, and for their parents too. A short message to us is a good way to start.