The juggle of hobbies and exams will always be something that is challenging. Everybody will have different ideas on how they should manage the situation and their priorities. There are only so many hours in the day and so much that we can all do and sometimes hobbies will have to take a back seat for a while, however there are some benefits to trying to maintain as much of your normal activity as possible during school exam periods.
1. Down Time - As adults when were feeling stressed or overwhelmed we try to make “me time” to recharge our batteries and were told that giving ourselves some “down time” will help us to do our best when we are working in stressful situations.
This is equally important for children. They need some time to do the things that they love and to have a release for the stresses and worries of their school exams. This will help to clear their minds and will help them to concentrate on their school work.
2. Learning life skills - Its a known fact that as adults we have to juggle what can sometimes feel like a million things. We have deadlines, workloads and households to run.
Children need to learn those life skills too.
For instance learning that if they have homework due on a Friday morning and they have dance on a Thursday to make sure they do the homework before hand.
Believe me I know this is much easier said than done - There were many times that I would be frantically trying to do homework in the morning before school because I had gone to dance and had forgotten that I had homework due.
If ever children need to bring some homework with them and concentrate on getting it done before they start their class we will always accommodate this.
3. Continuity - Often dancers leave class for a period of time in the run up to their exams or they miss several classes.
From my experience dancers who do this then struggle to return to dance classes because they have missed the choreography or steps which have been taught while they were off.
If a dancer feels like they are trying to play catch up this can really take the enjoyment out of dance and dancers can lose confidence, which can lead to dancers leaving all together. This is such a shame, particularly for dancers who have devoted so many years to classes and who have thoroughly enjoyed it.
4. Stress relief - We all know that we feel better after exercise, we are better able to concentrate, and our mood is generally lifted.
Also after spending time with our friends we feel better. There are times that dancers arrive at class feeling stressed and worried about things but after seeing their friends, talking through some of the things that are worrying them, exercising and having some down time they feel much better about things.
5. Confidence - We are not all the same! not everybody is academic and not everybody is creative. Some people may find school and exams difficult. Dance may be their space where they can express themselves and can do something which they are great at. Performing and dancing well may help to keep their confidence up and to see that everybody has different strengths.
Children need to see the things that they are good at to help keep their confidence. If they are struggling with their exams and comparing themselves to people at school who are all doing well in their exams then they may need their time at dance where they can do well and do their best.
There are a few things that we can do at class to help your dancer still attend during their exams.
1. If they come straight from school but need to spend a bit more time doing homework, we can get them to do this rather than joining in stretch squad.
2. If they do multiple days or additional classes, we would recommend that they reduce to their core classes and pick one day to attend class for that time - this will help with the continuity.
We will always help and support where we can and we totally respect your decisions on what to do during exam times. Some children will need the time out from dance to concentrate and you know what is best to do in your family.
If you wish to have a chat at dance about your dancers progress please don't hesitate to do so.
This is equally important for children. They need some time to do the things that they love and to have a release for the stresses and worries of their school exams. This will help to clear their minds and will help them to concentrate on their school work.
2. Learning life skills - Its a known fact that as adults we have to juggle what can sometimes feel like a million things. We have deadlines, workloads and households to run.
Children need to learn those life skills too.
For instance learning that if they have homework due on a Friday morning and they have dance on a Thursday to make sure they do the homework before hand.
Believe me I know this is much easier said than done - There were many times that I would be frantically trying to do homework in the morning before school because I had gone to dance and had forgotten that I had homework due.
If ever children need to bring some homework with them and concentrate on getting it done before they start their class we will always accommodate this.
3. Continuity - Often dancers leave class for a period of time in the run up to their exams or they miss several classes.
From my experience dancers who do this then struggle to return to dance classes because they have missed the choreography or steps which have been taught while they were off.
If a dancer feels like they are trying to play catch up this can really take the enjoyment out of dance and dancers can lose confidence, which can lead to dancers leaving all together. This is such a shame, particularly for dancers who have devoted so many years to classes and who have thoroughly enjoyed it.
4. Stress relief - We all know that we feel better after exercise, we are better able to concentrate, and our mood is generally lifted.
Also after spending time with our friends we feel better. There are times that dancers arrive at class feeling stressed and worried about things but after seeing their friends, talking through some of the things that are worrying them, exercising and having some down time they feel much better about things.
5. Confidence - We are not all the same! not everybody is academic and not everybody is creative. Some people may find school and exams difficult. Dance may be their space where they can express themselves and can do something which they are great at. Performing and dancing well may help to keep their confidence up and to see that everybody has different strengths.
Children need to see the things that they are good at to help keep their confidence. If they are struggling with their exams and comparing themselves to people at school who are all doing well in their exams then they may need their time at dance where they can do well and do their best.
There are a few things that we can do at class to help your dancer still attend during their exams.
1. If they come straight from school but need to spend a bit more time doing homework, we can get them to do this rather than joining in stretch squad.
2. If they do multiple days or additional classes, we would recommend that they reduce to their core classes and pick one day to attend class for that time - this will help with the continuity.
We will always help and support where we can and we totally respect your decisions on what to do during exam times. Some children will need the time out from dance to concentrate and you know what is best to do in your family.
If you wish to have a chat at dance about your dancers progress please don't hesitate to do so.
