The 2020 Gap: Why Oak Creek Kids are Struggling with Coordination (And How to Fix It)

If you’ve noticed your 4-to-10-year-old struggling with balance, tripping often, or appearing a bit “clumsy,” I want to let you know: It is completely normal.

As we look at the landscape in 2026, we have to acknowledge the long-term impact of the lockdowns in 2020. For several years, critical developmental movement was replaced by 100% screen time. I recently spoke with a local Oak Creek daycare and preschool director who confirmed that the new wave of 4 and 5-year-olds are facing coordination challenges unlike anything they’ve ever seen.

The Lockdown Effect on Motor Skills

When schools and parks were shut down, the natural “rough and tumble” play that builds a child’s nervous system stopped. Instead of climbing, jumping, and running, kids were sitting. This lack of activity didn’t just affect their fitness; it affected their bilateral coordination—the ability to use both sides of the body together.

The Ambidextrous Solution

To bridge this gap, kids need movement that forces the brain to “re-wire” its connection to the body. While traditional youth clubs like the Scouts are fantastic for character building, they don’t always provide the high-intensity physical challenge needed to fix coordination.

At Championship Martial Arts – Oak Creek, we use Ambidextrous Training:

• Left vs. Right: Most sports favor a dominant side (like a throwing arm or a kicking foot). In karate, we train both sides equally. You must punch with both arms and kick with both legs.

• Switching Stances: We teach students to fight from a left-side forward stance, a right-side forward stance, and a neutral stance.

• Cross-Body Movement: Activities like swimming and karate are unique because they require all four limbs to work in unison. This forces the left and right hemispheres of the brain to talk to each other.

Getting Ahead of the Curve

The human body is resilient. By getting kids into activities that encourage “total body” awareness, we can help them overcome those lost years of movement. When a child learns to control their body on the mat, that balance and grace follow them to the soccer field, the Oak Creek classrooms, and everywhere else they go.

Visit Our Southeast Wisconsin Locations

Help your child find their balance again. Visit us in Oak Creek or check out our sister schools in Kenosha and Racine:

• Oak Creek: Championship Martial Arts – Oak Creek | 📞 (414) 250-7615

• Kenosha: Championship Martial Arts – Kenosha | 📞 (262) 288-9919

• Racine: Championship Martial Arts – Racine | 📞 (262) 205-5929