Many studios not only encourage parents to watch class but they provide chairs and bleachers to make it easy for them. Watching is a very passive state, it serves very little useful function for them or you. They don’t gain any benefits other than seeing their child have fun and you do not gain from having them as a student.
Now I am not saying that you should ban parents from watching class. However, I encourage them to stop in for a FEW minutes each class and see how their child is doing. Those who choose to stay longer get swallowed up in the class. Instead of watching a passive event, that over time may result in one or two parents signing up, get them doing!
Next pee wee class, move the class over toward the bleachers or chairs, and pick on a parent to come into class and help you hold a kicking shield. If there are a lot of parents, pick two. Have the kids line up in two rows and take turn kicking the shields while the parents are holding them. Before you start, say something like, “Who thinks they can knock over Mike’s dad?”
All the kids will yell and want to try.
“Who thinks they can knock over Jane’s mom?”
They all yell again.
Once everyone has gone round several times, say “OK, now Mike’s dad and Jane’s mom get a chance to knock some of you over. ” Pick several kids to hold the bag at once and show both of the parents how to do a proper front kick. Now without either parent knowing, you have started to give them a lesson. You have turned him from a passive father content to just watch, into an active participant in your class.
Once you have succeeded in breaking that mental barrier that exists between watching and doing, you have a far greater chance of him wanting to take lessons.
