Sneaky lessons through ninja training

RINGMASTER Vern Hardie will return to Hargreaves Mall on 19 May and this time he’s teaching kids his ninja tricks!

But among the dragonstaffs and pois is an important lesson for young ones about movement and connectedness.

“The idea is to get students learning how to use these different props while also practicing what we see as the important ninja skills of agility, strength, accuracy and balance,” Mr Hardie said.

“The children are in there thinking ‘ninja’ but at the core of it we want to teach them how to move better. So, by talking about armed throwing that’s about accuracy, it’s about being able to move quickly across the ground [and] the strength in that, being able to balance.

“These are all really important movement skills for children which a lot of kids nowadays who spend time on screens probably don’t do enough of, so ninja training is a way for us to engage them in this activity.”

Mr Hardie said his workshops also allow children to develop important physical skills like hand-eye coordination and body awareness, especially if they aren’t suited to competitive sports like football or cricket.

Children are also encouraged to work on communication and emotional skills like resilience and confidence in a fun, active setting.

“If something’s not engaging enough then they’re more likely to give up. If they’re engaged in it then they’ll push through that barrier of discomfort, they’ll be more determined, they’ll persist.

“The core of what I do is about wellbeing. It’s finding a way to feel better about ourselves in the world through creative movement.” Mr Hardie said.

“What I believe is one of the best things about these sort of workshops is it gives kids an opportunity to have fun together. They’re actually communicating and connecting and playing with other children.”

More information on the upcoming ninja workshop can be found on The Connected Circus Facebook page.