Alexander Technique Forums

1. • CommentAuthorMatty30
   • CommentTimeAug 20th 2009

    # 1
   Hi,
   For any parent wanting to give their child the best opportunity in life, I would like to hear what everybody thinks is the best/earliest age for them to start learning? (i.e paying for private lessons for them)
   
   Also, although i am not a teacher, i would like to know do teachers teach their own children? One teacher said to me they dont know any that do because it's quite intrusive. Personally, i would have liked to have grown getting lessons from my mum or dad. my old teacher before i moved, used to give sessons to her grandkids after me, they loved it, they were about 7 years old and would run in saying 'can i get on the table, nanny?!' in excitement.
   
   thanks
2. • CommentAuthorMatty30
   • CommentTimeAug 22nd 2009

    # 2
   p.s when i say start learning, I mean learning the alexander technique.
3. • CommentAuthordod
   • CommentTimeAug 23rd 2009

    # 3
   Ah, I didn't realise that was what you meant.
   
   Paragraph nine of this article suggests the critical age is around 8.
   
   http://www.alexandertechnique.com/articles/develop/
   
   Here's another link:
   
   http://www.ed2k.org.uk/at_for_kids.htm
   
   I remember meeting Sue Merry and being impressed with her dedication to the subject. She felt very strongly that the Technique should be introduced into schools. My own view is simpler. The longer a delay in sending a child to school, the later misuse will start to appear. In fact, I would add 'school' to the list of things parents should avoid subjecting their children to, as listed here:
   
   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/familyadvice/3355719/Idle-parenting-means-happy-children.html
   
   To answer your question, I would say at any age, but only if they express an interest, and only for as long (in overall exposure and lesson length) as that interest lasts.
4. • CommentAuthorMatty30
   • CommentTimeAug 24th 2009

    # 4
   Thanks for that,
   
   just to clarify as well, the second part of the question was also about the alexander technique, whether the alexander technique teachers teach AT to their kids.