Why Kids Should Practice Aikido Adults may practice Aikido for inner peace, relaxation, or self-defense. But these are concepts that most children don't even think about. Aikido is a non-aggressive martial art. Basically, that you can't really start a fight with Aikido - you can only finish one. Aikido doesn't encourage kids to have Power Rangers Syndrome, in which they go around punching and kicking their friends, siblings, dogs, and cats.
Aikido teaches kids to be calm.
Of course, kids shouldn't be calm all the time. But Aikido gives them the choice. If they need to sit still at school, or concentrate on homework, or focus during sports, Aikido shows them exactly how to do that. The techniques and ki testing we do teach them correct calmness. This is entirely different from keeping their emotions bottled up.