I also stayed away from head and arms when the kids are young. It is too easy for an athletic kid. Kids by definition have short arms, big heads, and are top heavy. That makes headlocks really cheap and easy. But, if they can learn to defend headlocks given all of those disadvantages then when they get older and a little more symetrical wrestling a head hunter is - while a little scary - almost a sure win.
Arm throws are good at any level but a harder technique to master and kids are not at such a physical disadvantage when defending them.
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I am 48, bald, ugly, and don't own a single cool thing. Kids like me though.
Personally, I don't see much need for a 4 year old to start wrestling. He should learn to ride the bicycle first, fishing, skiing, skating and playing soccer or basketball. He can start wrestling around 8 or 9 or later. He needs to build up his physical development first. Otherwise injuries and bad habits will likely happen in wrestling practices. Also, I don't think 4-5 year olds have the mental maturity to learn the complexities of wrestling.
I didn't learn spooning until I was in high school.
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I will smash your face into a car windshield and then take your mother, Dorothy Mantooth, out to a nice seafood dinner and never call her again!
Tell me about it, this morning, I woke up and I shit a squirrel, but what I can't get is the damn thing is still alive. So now, I've got a shit covered squirrel running around my office and I don't know what to name it.
The kids that truly burn out tend to have those over the top parents who berate the kids constantly, have them cut a lot of weight, and make the whole thing a pressure packed situation, instead of a trip with wrestling being just part of an entire trip experience.
Just like parents that have Olympic dreams for their kids right?
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I will smash your face into a car windshield and then take your mother, Dorothy Mantooth, out to a nice seafood dinner and never call her again!
Tell me about it, this morning, I woke up and I shit a squirrel, but what I can't get is the damn thing is still alive. So now, I've got a shit covered squirrel running around my office and I don't know what to name it.
Can your daughter do neck bridges and do flips back and forth doing front and back bridges? Can she circle her legs around the head while on back and front neck bridges? Can she reach back from standing position down to a neck bridge and then do a flip to a front bridge?
We have contests in our house who can do the most of these (back and forth flip bridges).
My youngest Jake(7) has the record of 22. Gage is not a happy guy.
BTW not 1 of the kids on the high school team can do these.
can your daughter do neck bridges and do flips back and forth doing front and back bridges? Can she circle her legs around the head while on back and front neck bridges? Can she reach back from standing position down to a neck bridge and then do a flip to a front bridge?
She can do all of this easily, along with front and back handsprings, hand and head stands, and headstand push ups. Various rolls and tumbling moves. Add in over 15 pull/chin ups. This is all stuff she does for fun.
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I am 48, bald, ugly, and don't own a single cool thing. Kids like me though.
I have coached youth for 7 years now. We used to let any age come and now we have moved it to 3rd grade. We have had a very select few that could pay attention long enough to make it through a practice. We even have 2 practice rooms and divided the one into 2 groups. Begineers, 2-3 year wrestlers then our varsity. They have their own room that we run at a very high level.
So to answer your question my opinion after 7 years is 3rd grade and that is if they have a good attention span.
I started at 7 and loved it. I had two older brothers that beat the crap out of me daily, so by the time practice rolled around I couldn't wait to dish it out..l
Re: what age? 
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