Your child’s health depends on him or her being able to be creative and express himself or herself. When infants hear music, they smile, sway, and clap; when they are toddlers, they begin to bounce up and down, side to side, spin in circles, and use their arms. Children love to dance and dancing is a lovely way to get your child moving.
In Australia, children’s early education programmes regularly incorporate musical and physical activities. The early childhood curriculum and a child’s life are enriched by music and movement.
Dance is a great way to get kids moving because it’s so fun that they don’t even realise they’re working out. The benefits of dance are numerous, like getting in shape and boosting confidence and imagination. But how do you encourage dancing? Read on to find out how to get your kid to dance and enjoy its benefits in childcare centre.
Why is it important for toddlers to dance?
Children can’t always communicate their feelings through words, so it’s useful for them to have a healthy outlet for their emotions. Children thrive when given the opportunity to actively participate in music and dance in early childhood. It encourages them to be open about their emotions, develops their ability to work in teams, and stimulates their imagination.
For kids, the benefits of music and physical activity are numerous. They aid kids in learning and maturing in areas including reasoning, artistry, communication, and interpersonal skills. A child’s development as a learner would be stunted without the incorporation of music and movement into preschool and kindergarten.
Children learn through physical activity and dance help children develop greater range and a sense of spatial awareness through dancing and movement. Dance will benefit their development in so many ways and you’ll both be sure to have fun too!
Why creative movement is important for kids
Most of the time, people talk about “creative expression” in terms of what it leads to. They think that the most important thing about a creativity activity is what comes out of it. This could be a painting, a story, a sculpture, a song, a dance sequence, a play, or even just a mess of string at the end of a craft session. But being creative isn’t about what you make. It’s more about how it’s done.
Even though a lot of people think so, being creative isn’t limited to art, music, craft, writing, or drama, and it’s not just about making physical movement. We can be creative in math, science, politics, building, business, and just about anything else. Creativity can be thought of as the process of using and improving our imaginations, originality, productivity, and ability to solve problems. The same rule applies to creative play and learning for young children.
Every child is creative and every child is able to show that through a creative outlet, but the main thing to focus on is the process, not the quality of the result.
How does dance help with child development?
Children today spend a disproportionate amount of time in front of screens rather than engaging in active play; music and dance can help combat this trend. Moving to music and dancing help children develop as it gets the brain working. The dance exercises are helpful for creative development and activate connections in the expanding brain.
Dance helps cultivate communication skills and improve their social and listening abilities, boosting their confidence and preparing them for academic success. Dance lets a child develop skills to freely express themselves, even for those who can’t do it verbally.
What are the benefits of dancing for toddlers?
Dance has a positive impact on a child’s life, not only physical and mental health but also emotional and overall health. This is is increasingly important with our often busy and stressful modern lifestyles. It is impossible to overstate the many ways in which dance benefits kids of all ages around the world.
If you’re a parent looking for methods to keep your kid active this summer, dance is an option worth considering. The benefits of dance in early life are well worth the time and effort, both physically and mentally.
Creativity and expression
Creativity and self-expression improve communication. We can improve children’s self-confidence and pride by encouraging them to play an instrument, sing, or dance. This approach will spark creativity.
Music and movement help young children express themselves and stay in check. Kids can communicate their calm or excitement by making music or playing instruments. Dance or other body movement helps babies express themselves when they can’t talk.
Toddler dance programs promote creativity because they encourage improvisation. Children move and make shapes in reaction to music while imagining themselves in different places (such on the moon, during a picnic, or in a forest). Children can also learn to love and appreciate other aspects of performing arts and creative arts through these activities.
Physical development
Children can seem to go from one activity to the next without tiring out. This is because they require regular physical activity to develop strong muscles and bones, greater coordination and flexibility, and a strong heart and lungs. Dance courses are a fun way for kids to achieve those positive effects on their physical fitness and physical strength.
The Australian Department of Health recommends that children aged 3 to 5 should be physically active for at least three hours a day, with an extra hour of vigourous activity for better blood flow. Dance will get them moving without pressuring them or turning them off exercise, try including it into their daily routine. Also, remember that a good night’s sleep is facilitated by regular exercise during the day.
Coordination and learning
Even if they’re only tapping on a saucepan, including movement into musical practise is a great way to improve a child’s hand-eye coordination. At a young age, children are learning to move in time with the music and execute various movement that involve the use of the entire body, not just the arms and legs. A child’s coordination will improve as they become more fluid and self-aware, whether on or off the dance floor. They’ll also improve as an athlete in general and be able to try a wide variety of sports in addition to dance.
Dance also helps them develop strong listening and comprehension abilities. When kids imitate an adult or learn a choreographed dance like “the chicken dance,” they are forced to pay attention and absorb information. They’ll start to be more aware of their surroundings and the people in them.
Socialisation and social awareness
Dance classes for kids are like team sports, with a coach or teacher in charge of the squad. This means that dancing provides the same advantages as the other group activity. Benefits of dance in social skills include helping kids have effective relationships with other children. Dancing often requires working as a team, being patient, and listening. This makes dancing a great way for many children to practise important life skills and think about how they compare to their peers.
Dance improves communication and social skills by bringing people together. Your child may find that other children who prefer the same dance style have similar interests, increasing the likelihood of them becoming friends. Dance helps kids encourage each other and become socially aware through regular social interaction.
Cognitive development
People say that just practising a dance routine makes the mind more flexible. No matter what kind of dance your child does, the physical skills, dance steps, and choreography they learn and put into practise will help a lot in a child’s cognitive development. Dance improves brain functions in areas such as problem-solving, remembering, imitating, and abstract thinking.
Learning new body positions, movement patterns, stances, and gestures makes it easier for a child to understand new ideas and store them in a way that makes them easier to find later. Dance classes or dance in general also boosts the connectivity between both cerebral hemispheres which shows mental maturity. Long-term dance practice even has a positive impact on brain activity.
Emotional development
Crying and tantrums often come from a child’s incapacity to communicate their emotions. Dance promotes emotional maturity by allowing kids to express emotion comfortably. Dance class helps kids listen to lyrics, perform motions, be aware of body language, express emotion through movement, and interact.
It feels good to move to music, and dancing gives your child a chance to express joy and excitement, shake off a bad mood, and enjoy being imaginative and creative. The combination of exercise and having fun releases those feel-good endorphins, which lift your child’s mood and make for peaceful family time. Self-expression through artistic outlets becomes more vital as individuals age to reduce stress and regulate emotions.
Self-identity and confidence
The self-esteem and confidence that children learn from dancing is priceless. A child’s sense of pride in themselves grows as he or she learns and perfects a new dance step. They also learn the significance of motivation through the persistent practise required to perfect a movement or sequence. Children’s aspirations and determination to succeed can spread to other areas of their lives. It encourages them to give their best effort in every situation.
How to choose the Best Dance Style for your kids?
Does your kid get up and move to the music wherever they are? If yes, then they probably need dancing classes. There are various dance classes of different genres available for many children. Finding a dance clas that reflects your kid’s interests and character is the most important thing. Here are some of the most well-known dancing styles and advice on choosing the right one for your kids.
Ballet
Ballet performances take planning and practice. It’s a fun way to teach kids dance basics.
Ballet is also ideal for young boys since it demands strength and technique. If kids persist, they can copy many moves they see. Ballet can also help children with better balance and posture.
Modern
Contemporary or modern dance is where kids’ imaginations and inventiveness shine. Modern dancing has physical benefits for babies through teens. Contemporary dance is unique in its economy, society, and culture as influenced by different parts of the world. You can’t put all the pieces of the puzzle together for a dance like this.
It is visually impressive due of dancers’ dynamic motions. They could do flips and drops. Some dance choreographers even mimic gymnastics.
Tap
Tap dancing ranks well among kid’s dance classes. Tap dancing teaches rhythm, an important life skill. Tap is loud and steady. Everyone can tap. It’s possible for clumsy kids and ideal for boisterous kids as tap is expressive.
Individual dancers can tap even if students learn it as a group. Skilled tappers perform solo or in small groups. Tap helps dancers of all levels stay fit.
Younger dancers appreciate moving and making noises, while more experienced dancers cherish tap’s independence.
Ballroom
Ballroom has always required a high level of discipline, but there are now so many classes for children that the activity has become more enjoyable and engaging for them. Ballroom dance programmes incorporate a variety of dance styles, ensuring that students will find at least one that piques their interest.
Breakdance
Hip hop and break dance are great for energetic kids. In a safe environment with lively music, they may burn off energy and learn tricks. Early dancing programs teach kids basic dance steps.
Breakdance requires no training. Kids may dance to familiar music and employ TV-inspired movements. This dance type allows improvisation, which is ideal for rule-averse youth.
How to encourage your children to dance
There are numerous benefits of dance but before signing them up for a class or child care, try to find out what it is that your children are truly interested in. Even if they like dancing at an early age, they might not follow directions very well. Allow them to dance with other children first to help them associate dancing with a positive impact.
Use their willingness to dance as a springboard to get them dancing in early childhood. Create a playful atmosphere and make it a fun activity for them. If you’re looking at enrolling them in a course or childcare centre, find one where they have friends or organize one with other families to make new friends. Start by looking at reputable childcare marketplaces like Space.
If you already found one, make sure the time works for your child and be there for them as your child practices. Doing so will encourage your child to continue dancing with other dancers.