*ALSO AVAILABLE as Online Streaming Video: Visit Dr Paul Lam Online Tai Chi Lessons (www.onlinetaichilessons.com)
A fun activity to develop children"s concentration and coordination.
Duration: 62 mins.
Why Tai Chi for Children?
Tai Chi has an almost magical effect in health improvement. Kids love to learn and they learn very fast especially when engaged in a fun activity. This specially designed tai chi program emphasizes the fun element while developing their mind and body. It is designed in several small building blocks to capture their attention, incorporating imagery and games to add appeal to kids. We have found that kids really enjoy learning it. Teachers and parents have also found improvement in their children"s sport and academic studies after doing tai chi.
Team sports like football are wonderful for children but not all children like them.
Many children stop team sport after leaving school. Individual sport likes tai chi is more likely to continue for a life time. Starting tai chi could lead your child on a lifelong path to a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle. To quote Professor Shona Bass, Professor of Population Health, Deakin University, Australia:
"The other aspect of Tai Chi is the intrinsic reward they get from seeing themselves progress and develop, and it is with themselves rather than in competition with other children."
The Creators
Dr Paul Lam, a family physician in Sydney, Australia for 30 years, is a world leader in the field of Tai Chi for health improvement. Cheryl Lee Player, a dance and tai chi teacher, has enjoyed teaching children tai chi for 40 years. They have combined their experience and love for children to create this program to help them learn quicker and bring better balance and harmony to their lives.
How to Use this DVD
We recommend that parents and teachers learn this program with the kids. Firstly, view the entire DVD to gain an overview and how to create a fun and active setting for teaching. Use the program as a way to share quality time with children. You will find children learn better in a non demanding and inter-active environment. Utilize imagery and games to add appeal. Most importantly: frequently praise the kids; focus on the flow and principles of Tai Chi. Place less importance on the exactness.
Below are some good methods you can apply:
- Introduce the "salute", children love the ritual greeting. Begin and end each class with this greeting.
- Smile and make it fun, children will reflect your attitude and sincerity.
- Learn the essential principles of Tai Chi and express them through the movements; the children will follow your lead.
- Be flexible. When the children get restless, introduce a game, go for a group run or tell a story to keep their attention.
Contents
An introductory section for teachers and parents provides information on Tai Chi and how to teach the program effectively. Starting with a fun gathering in the park, Dr Lam and Cheryl teach the entire program including warming up and cooling down exercises. To conclude, Dr Lam demonstrates the entire set from the front on and back on positions.
Warm Up Exercises:
- Neck - open door and looking straight ahead
- Shoulder - Invisible circles and gathering sun beams
- Spine - bear stretches and turning ball
- Hips - feel the pebbles and side kick
- Knees - Kicks and punches
The Tai Chi Set:
- Form 1 - Commencing
- Form 2 - Open and Close
- Form 3 - Brush Knee x 3
- Form 4 - Kicks
- Form 5 - Wave Hands
- Form 6 - Stroking Bird"s Tail
- Form 7 - Closing
The set is made up of several small building blocks to capture children"s attention; each block is like a small tai chi set itself. You can teach each block independently and join any two or more blocks together, this design enable you to tune your teaching to the children’s needs. When you reach the end of the recording, you can practice with Dr Lam by following him as he demonstrates the entire set with his back to you.
If you wish to learn more from Dr Lam"s instructional DVDs, Tai Chi for Beginners is the next step, followed by the Combined 42 Forms.
From the Kidz
"Tai chi is a way to exercise your limbs and make you concentrate on your work."
Dan, age 10
"Tai Chi cleanses my body and helps me with my work."
Katiana, age 9
7 Reviews
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great video for children with special needs
This fun form of tai chi is great for older children with learning disabilities. I had 3 groups visit my class recently and they responded very well to this form. They love the reference to animals and found it easy to follow. The teachers loved it so much they asked for 5 copies to do as activities at school.
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grandkids love doing taichi
Great video recommend for kids of all ages ☺️
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Great even for kindergarten kids!
I was approached by a kinder teacher to take a group of 28 4 year olds for 4 1/2 hr sessions of tai chi. I thought this will be fun but I’m used to teaching retired people. So I thought I’ll get Paul’s DVD and see what I need to change to adapt the tai chi lesson. The DVD was simple to learn and fun to teach. The kinder kids were much younger so I reduced the exercises even further and broke it up with some butterflies and bears around the room. They loved it and tried very hard to follow. The teacher said they were all so calm when they returned to kinder.
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Good introduction for young children
I have two young sons, 3 and 6 years old, who at first thought their mum was a bit mad for buying this dvd. We just started doing the warm up and cool down exercises to see if we could get the boys interested. We now do our Tai Chi as a family every Sunday morning. As the boys become more confident in the moves we are hoping we can extend this to a daily exercise. My youngest loves being the butterfly and the panda, while the older one enjoys his kicks and punches. My husband and I viewed the video first to see what we would be up against. The video is well set out with ample opportunity to practice the moves. We did find some of the moves harder than expected, but know that this is something we will all be working towards over time. The use of visualisations I think is important with children and seeing other children participate is also key. A good introduction for children.
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Kids love it!!
Well introduced with good background and understanding for parents. For kids great exercises that challenge them and reward them.
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This is a great way for kids to learn Tai Chi!
Tai Chi is a great way to get kids to focus and teach them to relax. This is a great way for kids to learn Tai Chi! The dvd is easy to follow and my kids really like it.
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Tai Chi for Kidz
I've always been interested in a Tai Chi program for children. I'm very excited about Dr. Lam's Tai Chi 4 Kidz, I watched it and was thrilled to see such a wonderful program geared to children and the ways of effectively teaching,but in a fun and imaginative way.I'll be teaching to kids camps this sumer, ages 8-12 wish me well. I'll let you know how it went.