Preschoolers Fall Down a Lot. Little Ninjas Turns It Into a Game.

Preschoolers fall a lot, and that is a normal part of learning how their bodies move. At Flow Academy BJJ Riverside, our Little Ninjas class for ages 3 to 5 turns balance and falling safely into games, Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:45 to 4:30 PM, at 10081 Indiana Ave, Suite A-1 once our new home opens in mid-November 2026.

Cooler afternoons mean more running, more climbing and more tumbling at the park, which makes this a good moment to talk about falling down.

Why Little Kids Fall So Much

Think about what a four-year-old is working with: short legs, a head that is big for the body, and a lot of enthusiasm. They run before they can stop, spin until the room tilts and climb things that are taller than they are. Falls come with the territory, and most of them end in a giggle or a quick rub of the knee.

What we can add is practice. A child who has tipped over on purpose, on a soft mat, in a game, has already felt what it is like to land and get back up.

How We Practice Falling as a Game

Nobody in Little Ninjas is told to “fall properly.” Our coaches make it silly instead. Kids walk along a line of foam markers with their arms out like airplanes. They freeze like a statue on one foot and see how long the statue lasts. They turn into a “melting snowman,” sinking slowly down to the mat, then pop back up. They roll sideways like a log, tuck their chins and make a round shape like a turtle.

Each game is short, because the whole class is only 45 minutes. A child who wobbles gets to try again, and a child who isn’t sure about the mat can watch first and join when ready. We don’t push, and we don’t score.

A Word on Development

We’re a martial arts school, not therapists, and we never assess a child. If you have questions about how your child is moving or growing, the CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program offers free milestone checklists for parents, and its guidance is to talk with your child’s doctor about any concerns. Your pediatrician is the right person to ask.

Try This at Home in Ten Minutes

• Lay a rolled towel or a line of tape on the floor and walk it heel to toe with arms out, then try it backwards.
• Play statue: freeze on one foot for a slow count of five, then switch feet.
• On a rug or bed, be a melting snowman: sink slowly down, lie flat, then pop up.

Stay close, keep it silly and stop when it stops being fun.

Questions Parents Ask

Why do preschoolers fall down so often?

Three-, four- and five-year-olds are still getting used to their growing bodies, and they love to run, spin and climb. Falls are a normal part of play at this age, and practicing them in a safe, padded setting can make them feel less surprising.

Does Little Ninjas at Flow Academy BJJ Riverside practice falling?

Yes, as play. Our coaches use balance lines, statue games and gentle rolls for ages 3 to 5, Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:45 to 4:30 PM, starting when our new home opens in mid-November 2026.

What does Little Ninjas cost, and is the first class free?

The first class is free. Membership is $165 a month on a 12-month agreement, $185 on a 6-month agreement or $200 month-to-month. The uniform is not included.

Our new Riverside home at 10081 Indiana Ave, Suite A-1 opens in mid-November 2026. Classes are paused during the remodel. Call or text (951) 337-3781, or join the Riverside interest list to hear from us first. If your family can’t wait, our Indio academy is running classes normally.