Why Some Kids Need Physical Outlets to Stay Calm
Some children seem constantly on the go.
They fidget, bounce, struggle to sit still, and become emotionally reactive when they’ve been inactive for too long. For parents, it can feel like they’re always managing energy levels.
At Absolute Martial Arts, working with families across Carshalton, Caterham, Ewell, North Cheam, and Redhill, we regularly see how the right physical outlet can completely change a child’s emotional state.
High Energy Isn’t Bad Behaviour
High energy is often misunderstood.
Children with lots of energy are often:
• Physically driven
• Sensory-seeking
• Emotionally expressive
• Quick to react
When that energy has nowhere to go, it can spill out as frustration, impulsivity, or emotional outbursts.
The issue isn’t the energy — it’s the lack of an outlet.
Why Physical Outlets Support Calmness
Physical activity helps children:
• Release built-up tension
• Regulate their nervous system
• Improve focus
• Feel more grounded
Without regular physical outlets, energy builds up and emotional regulation becomes harder.
Not All Activity Has the Same Effect
Free play is great — but for some children, it isn’t enough.
Structured physical activity adds:
• Clear boundaries
• Predictable routines
• Purposeful movement
• Focus and control
This combination helps children not just burn energy, but learn how to manage it.
How Martial Arts Provides the Right Outlet
In our children’s martial arts classes across Surrey, children experience:
• Controlled, purposeful movement
• Start-and-stop discipline
• Focus alongside activity
• Physical challenge with structure
Children learn to:
• Channel energy
• Slow themselves down
• Reset when emotions rise
Over time, this leads to calmer behaviour.
What Parents Often Notice
Parents frequently report:
• Fewer meltdowns
• Improved focus
• Better sleep
• Greater emotional stability
Not because children are exhausted —
but because their energy is being used well.
Supporting Physical Regulation at Home
Parents can help by:
• Encouraging regular structured activity
• Not expecting long periods of stillness
• Using movement as a reset
• Recognising energy as a need, not a problem
Meeting physical needs often reduces behavioural struggles.
Supporting Children Across Surrey
At Absolute Martial Arts in Carshalton, Caterham, Ewell, North Cheam, and Redhill, we help children channel energy into control, confidence, and calmness.
Parents often see children become:
• More settled
• More focused
• More emotionally regulated
Because their bodies finally have what they need.
Final Thought for Parents
Some children don’t calm down by sitting still.
They calm down by moving — first.
When energy is respected and channelled properly, calmness follows naturally.