Martial arts are one of the few activities you can do with the WHOLE family! We have classes designed so that families can train together at the same time. Besides the convenience of coming to class simultaneously, it's an excellent way for moms and dads to be involved and hands-on in their children's activities. We find that with most kids (and people in general), trying something new can initially be intimidating. With the support of mom and dad, the transition is much smoother for the child. It makes a world of difference when the parents are involved but also understand what their child is going through in class.
After the first few classes, we found that parents realized this was just as important for them as their kids. Parents are often concerned with working with other kids, which is totally understandable. We usually do a group activity for the whole class before separating the class to age-appropriate activities for children and adults. That way, parents aren't stuck with other kids and can work together with other adults. We also have later classes in the evening, which are predominately all adults.