| If your martial arts school is primarily for children and | | | | Kids love parties! Letting them show their natural |
| you know anything about martial arts marketing, you | | | | exuberance in a more accommodating situation |
| know that the retention of your current students is | | | | shows that you respect their inclinations as children. |
| just as important as recruiting new ones. Your dojo | | | | Holiday parties, a summer barbecue, and Halloween |
| won't stay in business for long if more kids are | | | | costume contests are popular. Having special events |
| leaving than are coming in. Many instructors don't | | | | is also a great way to make parents part of the dojo |
| even notice that a student has dropped out until the | | | | community. |
| child hasn't attended a class for a while. A martial arts | | | | 4. Remember Their Birthday |
| marketing plan will include several methods for | | | | Birthdays are a big deal to kids. Noting everyone's |
| keeping your students coming back. | | | | birthday on the monthly calendar and calling attention |
| There are strategies you can use to retain students, | | | | to the birthday kid in class helps reinforce the idea |
| but the over-arching key is this: the students need to | | | | that you notice them as individuals. |
| believe that their teacher cares about them, that | | | | 5. Stay Personally In Contact With Your Students |
| their teacher recognizes their value as a person and | | | | Take the time to note each one, asking about |
| not just as another student. This idea must be part | | | | school, vacation plans, or family. Let the students |
| of any martial arts marketing strategy. | | | | know that you ask their parents about them, how |
| Six of the Best Strategies to Show Your Concern for | | | | they are doing in school and if there are any |
| Your Students | | | | concerns. If one of your students experiences |
| 1. Your Students are Kids First and Students Second | | | | something traumatic, check in with that child through |
| If you can recognize that children have higher energy | | | | a personal conversation or a note. |
| levels, higher noise volumes, and lower concentration | | | | 6. Make Adjustments When Needed |
| thresholds than your average adult, you will go a long | | | | Note that as your students get older, and are |
| way toward easing your own frustration and | | | | hopefully staying with you and your dojo, you will |
| respecting the kid in your student. Kids can tell the | | | | need to adjust your interactions with them. Their |
| difference between adults who tolerate them and | | | | concerns about the world and their future will |
| adults who enjoy and value them. | | | | become more serious and your contact with them |
| 2. Remember Who They Are | | | | will also need to become more serious. This shows |
| Remember their first name, last name, grade in | | | | the kid, who is now becoming an adolescent, that |
| school, and favorite topics, whether that is your | | | | you respect their maturity and independence. |
| martial arts program or Pokémon. What is | | | | Children are not just small adults. Fostering a personal |
| important to a child may not always seem so to | | | | connection between you and them is imperative if |
| adults, but to the child who is learning to explore and | | | | you want them to remain with your school. Special |
| prioritize interests, these things are very important. | | | | plans for students as children should be part of your |
| 3. Have a Party | | | | overall martial arts marketing strategy. |