The Power of Wrestling

When you think of the wide range of physical activities that preschoolers enjoy at preschool, wrestling may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, this activity offers a range of developmental benefits that can help young children thrive.

When we told the children that All Seasons allows wrestling, they were thrilled and excited to see what that looks like at school. We began by introducing wrestling as a way to have fun with a friend. We also told the children that wrestling at school looks different than it does at home with siblings, or traditional wrestling they might have seen on TV or elsewhere. The first guideline children learn is that they must ask their peers if they would like to wrestle before it can begin.

Most of the time while the children wrestle, they are giggling, smiling, and checking in with each other. When children wrestle, they must be aware of their own strength and body size as well as those of their partners. If they are larger, older, or stronger than their partner, they must be more intentional about how they move their bodies.

Wrestling is developmentally appropriate and beneficial for preschoolers because it promotes body awareness, social skills, social cues, listening to others, and getting consent. While wrestling, the kids have to pay extra attention to each other's faces and make sure that both parties are still in agreement to participate throughout the entire “match.”

One of my favorite things I saw when we introduced wrestling was the encouragement offered by peers: “You can do it! You can get up. Just roll the other way!” The sense of joy and pride children showed when being asked to wrestle by a new friend, and the willingness of all the children to give it a try were also apparent. “I’ve never tried this before, but it looks fun. I’ll just try it!”

While wrestling offers numerous benefits for preschoolers, we realize that it’s also important to provide boundaries and appropriate equipment. Teachers are always near the two children who are wrestling on the mat. Not only are the children looking at and listening to their peers' facial expressions and words, but the teachers are, too. Wrestling at All Seasons is an activity that is meant to be fun rather than competitive and brings children closer.