People often wonder what benefits there are to their child dancing. After all you are spending your hard earned money on an activity so it would be nice to know it has benefits.
Now I could go on about bio-mechanics and the benefits to the muscular skeletal system and cognitive development but I think I'll leave that for another day. Instead I have chosen some benefits which I feel develop life long skills.
Let's talk about Confidence, Creativity, Social development and Fitness.
Confidence - You want a happy confident child right? What parent doesn't.
Dance should build your children's confidence. They should be able to achieve new things in an environment where it is safe for them to make mistakes.
Children may be asked at the start of class if they have any "news". This is an opportunity for children to stand in front of their friends and tell them something. This builds confidence in public speaking, a life skill required through to adulthood and the world of employment.
Getting up and doing something infront of others is often difficult whatever your age. Within dance classes children are often asked to perform in small groups or individually, it may only be 4 steps but it gets them used to being in front of people, again this is something many of us as adults have to do in the workplace.
Rewards will be given for progress. Every child is different and will achieve at a different pace, we firmly believe that the individual achievements of each child should be celebrated.
Creativity - We live in a world full of structure and it is important to develop and enhance people's creativity and ability to think for themselves without being told "what to do and when to do it".
In class there will often be a time for Free Expressive Movement. During this section music will be put on and children will be given freedom to express themselves. Now I'm aware this might sound a bit wishy washy but how many times do you wonder "why can't that person think for themselves or just see what needs doing and do it" these are the skills we are trying to work on.
Children will initially want more guidance asking questions such as
Q"well can we skip"
A"yes if that's what you would like to do"
Q "can I use ribbons"
A "Yes of course"
Q "can we do bends"
A "yes anything you want to"
This part of the class takes some getting used to, but it is great to see childrens creativity develop and see them coming up with their own ideas.
Social Development - Making friends and learning about friendship groups is always a challenge. Dance gives children the chance to be within a social yet structured setting.
Children who aren't as confident can dance individually while remaining part of the group. They are still doing exactly what all of the other dancers are doing, but can do it on their own.
Gradually as their confidence grows they will mix more with the group. Children will work out the dynamics and create social circles within the class. They will learn to work out small disagreements and how to empathise with others. Perhaps they don't achieve the superstar award but they still praise the person that did. This shows great understanding of their emotions. Again these are all skills which we carry through life with us.
Fitness -Possibly the most obvious. As parents we keep being told our children aren't active enough and need to be doing more. Well here's a perfect opportunity for them to get some exercise.If your child enjoys their dance class they will be exercising without even realising.
Though there is the obvious - dance Is movement therefore exercise there is also the warmup, maybe races or a cardio circuit disguised as a competition.
Strength work hidden in games, crawling through tunnels and sliding along benches.
The entire class is exercise.
Many of these benefits all link together in developing skills required throughout life and the world of employment which is why I chose these for today's blog. However they are only some of the benefits of dance. I could go on forever!
Oh and here's another little benefit for the busy parents out there.... while your child is having a great time dancing, building their confidence and fitness in a creative social environment you can have some well deserved peace, even if it is only to do your food shop!
If you have found this useful please share and if your thinking of trying out a class why not get in touch with Charlotte at LDS [email protected] to book a totally Free trial!!
Now I could go on about bio-mechanics and the benefits to the muscular skeletal system and cognitive development but I think I'll leave that for another day. Instead I have chosen some benefits which I feel develop life long skills.
Let's talk about Confidence, Creativity, Social development and Fitness.
Confidence - You want a happy confident child right? What parent doesn't.
Dance should build your children's confidence. They should be able to achieve new things in an environment where it is safe for them to make mistakes.
Children may be asked at the start of class if they have any "news". This is an opportunity for children to stand in front of their friends and tell them something. This builds confidence in public speaking, a life skill required through to adulthood and the world of employment.
Getting up and doing something infront of others is often difficult whatever your age. Within dance classes children are often asked to perform in small groups or individually, it may only be 4 steps but it gets them used to being in front of people, again this is something many of us as adults have to do in the workplace.
Rewards will be given for progress. Every child is different and will achieve at a different pace, we firmly believe that the individual achievements of each child should be celebrated.
Creativity - We live in a world full of structure and it is important to develop and enhance people's creativity and ability to think for themselves without being told "what to do and when to do it".
In class there will often be a time for Free Expressive Movement. During this section music will be put on and children will be given freedom to express themselves. Now I'm aware this might sound a bit wishy washy but how many times do you wonder "why can't that person think for themselves or just see what needs doing and do it" these are the skills we are trying to work on.
Children will initially want more guidance asking questions such as
Q"well can we skip"
A"yes if that's what you would like to do"
Q "can I use ribbons"
A "Yes of course"
Q "can we do bends"
A "yes anything you want to"
This part of the class takes some getting used to, but it is great to see childrens creativity develop and see them coming up with their own ideas.
Social Development - Making friends and learning about friendship groups is always a challenge. Dance gives children the chance to be within a social yet structured setting.
Children who aren't as confident can dance individually while remaining part of the group. They are still doing exactly what all of the other dancers are doing, but can do it on their own.
Gradually as their confidence grows they will mix more with the group. Children will work out the dynamics and create social circles within the class. They will learn to work out small disagreements and how to empathise with others. Perhaps they don't achieve the superstar award but they still praise the person that did. This shows great understanding of their emotions. Again these are all skills which we carry through life with us.
Fitness -Possibly the most obvious. As parents we keep being told our children aren't active enough and need to be doing more. Well here's a perfect opportunity for them to get some exercise.If your child enjoys their dance class they will be exercising without even realising.
Though there is the obvious - dance Is movement therefore exercise there is also the warmup, maybe races or a cardio circuit disguised as a competition.
Strength work hidden in games, crawling through tunnels and sliding along benches.
The entire class is exercise.
Many of these benefits all link together in developing skills required throughout life and the world of employment which is why I chose these for today's blog. However they are only some of the benefits of dance. I could go on forever!
Oh and here's another little benefit for the busy parents out there.... while your child is having a great time dancing, building their confidence and fitness in a creative social environment you can have some well deserved peace, even if it is only to do your food shop!
If you have found this useful please share and if your thinking of trying out a class why not get in touch with Charlotte at LDS [email protected] to book a totally Free trial!!
