As a parent, you strive to teach your kids to stick with their commitments, build resilience, and develop valuable life skills.
But what happens when they come to you and say, “I want to quit”? Whether it’s martial arts, a team sport, or another extracurricular activity, it can be tough to know how to respond.
Before making any final decisions, here are some important steps to take when your child wants to quit.
1. Find Out Why They Want to Quit
Before jumping to conclusions, take time to understand why your child wants to quit. Ask open-ended questions and listen without judgment.
Are they feeling:
- Unmotivated or bored?
- Frustrated by lack of progress?
- Overwhelmed or burnt out?
- Feeling left out socially?
- Interested in another activity?
This is a great opportunity to build trust with your child by making the effort to listen without judging and truly understand why they feel this way. Identifying the root cause then helps you determine whether they need a break, encouragement, or a new approach.
2. Encourage Them to Finish a Commitment
Teaching kids to follow through is a valuable life lesson in persevering through discomfort. Encourage them to complete a set milestone—whether that’s a belt rank or specific amount of time spent in martial arts training, the end of a curriculum cycle, or the conclusion of a sports season.
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Not only does this teach your child the importance of following through on their commitments, but removing the pressure often allows them to enjoy the activity again.
We’ve found time and time again that Kids Martial Arts and Teen Krav Maga students who stick it out toward a smaller milestone often find a renewed sense of motivation and end up wanting to continue training after all!
3. Talk to Their Instructors or Coaches
Our Kids Martial Arts instructors do so much more than just teach your child to punch, kick, and memorize forms; they’re partners in your child’s growth.
Our system of providing personalized instruction in a group class setting ensures our instructors are in tune with the needs of each individual student.
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If your child is struggling, their instructor may be able to adjust training, offer extra support, pair them with training partners who lift them up in class, or simply give them a pep talk to help them overcome challenges.
Sometimes kids want to quit because they’re struggling with a skill or feeling disconnected from their peers. A simple conversation with their instructor can go a long way in turning things around!
4. Make a Pros and Cons List Together
If your child has been doing martial arts or another activity for a long time and suddenly wants to quit, it’s important to make sure they’re quitting for the right reasons. A pros and cons list is a great tool to not only help them verbalize their pain points, but it can also remind them of what they enjoy about the activity.
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Once they’ve completed the list, encourage them to step away from it and revisit it with fresh eyes. Plan to have a follow-up conversation in a few days to discuss the list and work together to reach a final decision.
They might realize they still love what they’re doing, even if they’re facing challenges.
5. Allow for a Short Break
Burnout is real—even for kids! If your child has been training non-stop for months or years and suddenly expresses a desire to quit, they may just need a little break to reset their mindset.
Allow to step away for a set period of time, then check back in to see if they want to return. Many kids realize how much they miss their training community and come back more motivated than ever.
6. Respect Their Wishes
At the end of the day, the best activity for your child is one they want to do. If they’ve genuinely lost interest and forcing them to continue only leads to frustration, it may be time to let them move on.
Quitting doesn’t always mean failure—it can mean making room for something new that they’re truly passionate about, which is always something to be celebrated!
Kids Martial Arts Helps Build Lifelong Resilience
At America’s Best Defense, we believe that martial arts is more than just an activity—it’s a tool for building confidence, perseverance, and resilience. Challenges are a natural part of growth, and learning how to push through them is a skill that benefits kids for life.
If your child is struggling with motivation, we’re here to help. Our Kids Martial Arts program is designed to keep students engaged, supported, and excited to train. Whether they need a confidence boost, a fresh challenge, or just a little extra encouragement, we’re committed to helping them succeed—on and off the mat.
Ready to see the difference martial arts can make for your child? Book their free introductory class today!
