I have recently been exploring articles about dance, kids, and fitness. The health benefits around dance have always been important to me as a dance trainer and a mom. When I speak about health benefits, I am not only speaking on physical fitness, but emotional and social wellbeing as well. Rebecca Lake in her article The Benefits of Dance for Kids, stated that most parents are in search of the best way to channel their children’s boundless energy and while traditional team sports are a good way to get your kids physically active, they may not be right for younger children. Lake further suggests that dance classes are a great alternative to team sports, and most studios offer lessons for children as young as two or three, “ours starts at age 18mths (Lake). Participating in dance classes can be beneficial for kids of all ages. Dance also leads to the beginnings of the student’s first social activities, this is where bonds can be made at a more deeper level than in the academic environments they experience in early child care centers and school. Lake went on to state that according to "Family Talk Magazine," dance lessons can help children improve their social and communication skills, learn how to work as part of a team, develop a greater sense of trust and cooperation and make new friends. If your child is shy, enrolling her in dance can encourage her to reach out to other children her age and help to reduce her anxiety about new people or places. Dance can also help to alleviate fears related to performing in front of an audience (Lake). In my 30 plus years’ experience in teaching and training young dancers, I have personally watched once shy children blossom and children who required more structure learn to participate and function within a team of friends. The benefits of dance to all children physically, emotionally, and socially are numerous and can make a difference in a child’s overall childhood development.
References
Lake, Rebecca. LivingStrong.com. n.d. internet. 12 January 2019. <https://www.livestrong.com/article/214791-the-benefits-of-dance-for-kids/>.