Source: helpwithbowling.com
There is just something about a bowling alley. The sights, sounds, and smells just seem to induce a sense of childlike enthusiasm and excitement in people of all ages, which is only heightened for children. And for the older, more experienced bowler, it just feels good to teach a child about bowling for that first time.
The first thing to think about before that child picks up a bowling ball, is what to wear to the alley. Make sure the child is wearing comfortable, loose fitting clothes, and socks. Tight clothes and shoes that do not fit hurt the bowling experience by hindering the movements of the child. Properly fitting clothes assures the full range of motion and flexibility that is necessary to bowl a good game. Also, try not to take a child to an alley during peak hours.
When small children enter a bowling alley for the first time, they can get scared. Bowling alleys are very noisy places and because there might be many people rolling their balls down the alleys at the same time, loud talking, and other noises . Once they are inside and look around the fear goes away.
The concession stand is a good place to start for kids to show that good things come from this loud, scary place. The bowling balls will be colorful and children will usually like watching them roll down the alley even if it is from a distance.
Something to remember when bringing small children to the bowling alley is to request a lane close to the restrooms. Older children may get a chance to wander about if there are other children in the group that require more attention. Most bowling alleys have an arcade that offers pinball and air hockey games and sometimes prizes for tickets or tokens. While children are playing in these safe areas, the parents have the chance to sign up for a lane and get all the shoes that the family will need in the correct sizes.
There are usually special bowling balls that even the smallest bowler can feel comfortable with. You may have to ask for them separately. The adults then explain the basic rules of bowling to the children. The children will not usually take these things very seriously in the beginning so be prepared. Bumper pads may be used for smaller children to be able to hit pins at all. The bumper can be raised and lifted very easily and will keep the ball from turning into the gutter when the youngster fails to throw it with enough strength. The bumper pads also make everybody a better bowler not just one bowler. Sometimes this makes the game a little more fun because there are no losers.
The youngster might not have to learn how to score when they bowl for the first few times. Many bowling alleys have personalized the use of automatic scoring programs to make the time at the bowling alley more enjoyable and easier to score. Most of the bowling alleys in this country are very willing to provide training on these automatic scoring systems. Families can take a part in the scoring system by typing each family member’s name in and even giving funny nicknames. Young children are delighted when they see their name light up on the screens. This is one of my favorite memories of bowling with my family as youngster.
A child will have to learn where to find a bowling ball and the right way to throw it. They will also have to learn the courtesies that are practiced by all bowlers, giving the player to the right of their lane the right of way on throwing their ball down the aisle. Don’t forget to tell them the courtesy will be passed on to them when another group is assigned the lane to the left of theirs. Usually the person that assigns the lane will do the courtesy of only placing other families and other children to lanes of the direct left and right of you. This practice cuts down on the children interfering with other bowlers and vice versa.
Children will also learn about wearing socks with their bowling shoes to prevent any blisters or sore spots and because there are many other people that use the shoes too. Children like we stated before will fall in love with the concession stands because they will find that pizza is made there. A slushy has always been a favorite treat out bowling along with nacho’s and pretzels. The treats will make the time out bowling more pleasurable for the children and most adults will love the night off from cooking dinner. Whenever you take the whole family or a few kids at a time always know about where the children will be and set a time for them to check back with you.
Try to get the child to use correct bowling form. Teach the kid about the arrows on the alley, and how to use them to help aim. After the child is bowling in correct form, gripping the ball right, and releasing correctly, you can focus on ball speed if you want.
Taking older children to a bowling alley is a good place that they can have some privacy away from the adults and all be in the same are at the same time. They enjoy the arcade more than the small children and will roam and visit the snack area casually. One thing to remember about older children is that they can cause a stir if not checked on regularly. They may wander into restricted areas and even leave the building if unattended. Overall if you follow these few simple rules for bowling with children you are going to have a great time. Smaller children are a little more to handle in any public area but bowling will keep them busy and entertained for hours.
We hope you and the kids you teach will enjoy your time bowling. If you or your kids are ready to step up your bowling game and improve your bowling technique, we recommend lots of practice and a good bowling guide. The Ultimate Bowling Guide is simply the best guide on the market today if you are looking to improve your game. It will show you how to throw the perfect hook, how to maximize your grip, and amazing strategies to improve each one of your shots. Happy Bowling!
