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Movement Leads To Learning in Children

Our Adapted Gymnastic class looks like a lot of fun, but there is more going on than what the observer sees. Recently our Adapted Gymnastics...

Monday, April 30, 2018

Your Child Does Not Follow Through With School Work or Chores?

How does dance help your child to follow through with projects, homework and personal chores? There are many ways. But let's explore the most obvious for now.

Dance is a great training ground for your child to learn executive thinking  and organization skills!  That is right! From the process of dressing for the class to stepping on the floor, you child learns about time and organization skills. How is that?

When putting on their dance wear for class, there is order in how it goes on, tights, leotard (shirt, pants and shorts for boys), shoes. When stepping onto the floor, they have their placement and standing positions. But it goes a lot further than that!

Dance teaches children about space, time, area and awareness. In a well organized class, that follows an organized curriculum, your child learns how to think and move while listening to the music. This means learning to travel in their own space and timing from point A to point B and back to point A again, without bumping into others (respecting others space) and arriving at their placement by the time the music calls for the child to be there and be in rhythm with the music (follow through).

Dance teaches respect for others. Learning and knowing their placement , also teaches about knowing other class members placement (space and time) as well. By working together, and knowing their path to follow, young dancers understand that the other dancers have just as much importance to the work as they do. They learn to curtsy and bow at the end of their dance piece to say thank you. They perform a reverence toward the teacher to thank them for the class and guidance.

Dance teaches time management. Have you ever sat and watched a dance class? There is a lot that goes on in a forty five or sixty minute class! Preparing the body with proper dance wear, shoes, and warm ups to prepare the body. Music theory in talking about the music and how the choreography works with the music rhythms and theme. New step break down and performance of the steps, Working in patterns across the floor and transferring it to the dance. Completion and/or review of the choreography taught the weeks before.

Dance class also teaches patience. By repeating the process each and every week, your child knows what to expect and follows through. But there is also the amount of time it takes to learn a dance and wait their turn that is valuable. Your child, learns to respect the teachers time as well as learning to focus and use their patience while others in the class learn the steps and movements.

So think about registering for dance class, when checking out what would be a great activity for your child. It is fun and can teach teamwork like any sport can. But your child has the opportunity to learn so very much more in a dance class. They can learn life skills that helps them for a life time.