|
Dance classes are an excellent way to encourage your child’s physical development, socialization, learning skills and self-expression. It isn’t just about ballet for little girls in tutus. Dance of all types, including ballet, tap, jazz and hip-hop, is an effective way to keep both boys and girls active and healthy. Following is a look at five key ways your young son or daughter can benefit from dance classes of any type. Physical Health and Balance Dance provides all-around conditioning – a true total body fitness regimen. Children develop flexibility, balance and coordination as they progress with classes. This is especially important for growing bodies. Dance also helps with stamina and range of motion. It serves as a form of functional fitness, helping your child perform myriad other physical tasks. If you question the benefit of dance for boys, consider the fact that 320-pound Steve McLendon of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team has taken ballet lessons since his senior year in college – and he does it to play better football. Mention that if your son balks at the idea or says that dance classes are girly stuff! Socialization Taking dance improves communication and social skills in young people of all ages. Learning in a group of their peers, children are often required to pair up and work together. It is easier for shy children to talk to others when they are all engaged in the same activity. Many children are insecure in groups, especially when it comes to using their bodies. Regular dancing helps them open up and relax in front of others and become more comfortable in their own bodies. When children perform routines together, it increases their level of trust. Self-Expression Even ballet and tap, with their set routines, offer the chance for youngsters to express themselves. This is even more pronounced in classes like hip-hop and jazz. Great dancers are masters of expression, which is what good dance teachers convey to children. Boys and girls can move their bodies in new ways, opening up their own physical potential. They experience the freedom to be themselves, moving easily to all types of music. Dance classes give children a chance to explore creativity and emotions as well. Movement offers physical release and a great way to reduce anxiety and tension. By putting pent-up feelings into their dance, they learn to release their emotions in a safe manner. Discipline and Learning In dance classes, children remember routines, often without even realizing it. Dance sequences help children’s brains process movement and learn to memorize – helpful skills for future areas of their lives. Children who take dance classes also regularly learn to pay attention to detail. Whether it is a ballet routine, a tap sequence or a mix of hip-hop moves, they learn to absorb new information quickly. Research even shows that students who attend regular dance classes achieve higher SAT scores and do better in math and science. Self-Esteem Children who are comfortable in their bodies are comfortable with themselves. When children develop a sense of their physical presence in relation to the rest of the world, they develop more confidence to take risks and move forward. This effect is especially noticeable for children with any sort of developmental disability, especially stuttering, dyslexia, ADD and poor coordination. If you haven’t already done so, enroll your son or daughter in a studio or arts academy in your area. You will find this to be a great way to keep them active, develop their muscles and learn the fine art of self-expression. And if nothing else, they’ll have a great social experience taking dance classes.
Related Articles -
Daycare, Kindergarten, Preschool, Dance, Tumbling, Music Lessons, Piano Lessons, Karate, Day Camps, Art Classes, Summer Camps, Parent Date Night,
|
