Bataka

Batakas – Experience fairness & handle aggression safely

Soft foam

Our Batakas have a high-quality foam core. This runs through the entire striking surface. That makes our Batakas so safe. A hit with the Bataka club is injury-free and soft.

Tear-resistant fabric cover

The hard-wearing red fabric cover withstands a lot! With it, children, adolescents and adults can engage in the wildest duels and enjoy the high quality of our Batakas for a long time.

High-quality wooden handle securely wrapped

Our Bataka clubs are thought through down to the last detail. The pleasant wooden handle fits comfortably in children’s and adults’ hands. To provide the necessary safety, our Batakas are equipped with a protective shell made of high-quality plastic. This protects the hands and is securely enclosed by the soft fabric.

Possible uses – Games & exercises for Batakas:

Dexterity exercise obstacle course

Place soft balls on heights, such as on stacked soft building blocks. The task is to strike the soft balls down with the Batakas as quickly as possible and reach the finish line.

Variant: stop the time or play in a race against the hourglass.

Balance exercise individual

A playful duel on solid ground is one thing; on a bench or a balance cushion it becomes more difficult. The children try to keep their balance. Whoever manages to stay on longer wins. Time can also be measured.

Balance exercise teamwork

Here the children are divided into pairs. Two children stand on a balance rocker opposite two other children on another balance rocker. The pairs try to stay on their own balance rocker and push the opposing pair off their balance rocker with the Batakas.

Variant: Place the balance rocker flat on the floor. Children sit on the balance rocker and try to push each other off with the Batakas.

Movement game dragon guardian

One child is the guardian, the other the thief. The guardian guards two soft balls (dragon eggs). These lie several metres apart in a hula hoop (nest). The thief crawls hidden behind a screen. For this, for example, the foam arches of our rocking arch set are suitable. The guardian tries to hear from which side of the screen the thief will emerge in order to protect the nearby egg in time. The thief gets the egg if he manages to knock it out of the nest (hula hoop) with the Bataka. The guardian wins if he touches the thief beforehand with his Bataka.

Circle game treasure guardian

A willing child is the brave treasure guardian. He sits in the centre of the circle and wears a blindfold. His task is to guard the treasure (bell/key, …). A child plays the thief and tries to steal the treasure as quietly as possible without being hit by the treasure guardian’s Bataka. If the thief succeeds, he sits down again. All children hide their hands behind their backs. The treasure guardian gets the chance to guess the thief. After three wrong guesses the thief gives an audible signal with the treasure and the treasure guardian locates the sound.

Role plays

The children choose the roles themselves. For example, they can slip into the role of a knight. The knightly duel naturally takes place under honourable knightly rules (see below: Rules for Batakas).

Letting off steam

After the Bataka anger clubs have been introduced (see below: How to introduce the Batakas), they can be quickly accessed by the children as a daily option via an adult caregiver. The child receives the anger club and can choose to apply it to a specific object (tree trunk, wall, column, …) or to enter a supervised duel with the adult.

Mindfulness & verbal expression of feelings

While the child (see above: Letting off steam) receives a channel for the arisen anger, it can give the frustration room through verbal accompaniment. Accompanying questions from the adult: What is making you so angry right now? Where do you feel the anger most (stomach, head, …)? Do you already feel the anger going away?

Introduction & rules for Batakas

Provide space for questions

Situations in which the children are relaxed are best suited. Small groups can also be formed to provide a calm setting for arising questions. Feel free to ask the children which ideas they have that they would like to try out with the Batakas. Consider whether these also fit your intention. It is then important to jointly set rules to create a framework in which all children feel safe and comfortable.

Rules for Batakas:

To provide a safe framework, it is important to ensure fair behaviour. The rules are discussed together with the children. Children should also have the opportunity to express their own limits, which can lead to further rules. It is important to note the following:

• Do not wear sharp objects or jewellery
• Create fair conditions regarding age, size and strength. Deviations, e.g. by adult caregivers, adapt to the abilities of the weaker participant.
• A duel takes place between two people
• The duel partners are asked beforehand whether they want to participate
• Only start when both are ready
• A start word is agreed – tip: with a prior high five or handshake
• A “stop” is to be accepted & ends a duel immediately
• The Batakas should only meet each other or at most previously jointly agreed body areas
• Taboos: sensitive body areas such as face or genitals
• Define room limits
• No outsiders enter the room

Emotional & social learning goals with Batakas:

Release anger & irritation in a controlled way

With our anger clubs, children, adolescents and adults receive an appropriate channel to dissipate arising aggression. In a playful duel with adult caregivers or peers, anger can be released together. The Batakas help to avoid swallowing or suppressing anger. It is no longer necessary to let frustration uncontrollably turn into destructive aggression. With our anger clubs you create new paths – towards more balance and a healthy way of dealing with one’s own feelings.

Experience respect & fairness

With our anger clubs, children, adolescents and adults experience their own limits as well as those of their opponent. These should be expressed and respected. In the playful duel, a strengthening basis is thus formed from which one benefits in future conflict situations.