We want to give the world to our children. Many little girls and some little boys show an early interest in dance, and you should not worry about gender stereotypes at young ages. The benefits of dance for children far outweigh any potential stereotyping that may come about. Children, whether male or female, can learn many things from dance classes that go far beyond practical applications in their dancing. These life lessons are part of the appeal of dance classes to parents.
Dance Teaches Important Lessons
Much like team sports, dance for children can teach some invaluable and important lessons. Discipline and self-control are important character traits when it comes to dancing. You must practice and hold yourself in the proper positions for the moves you need to take. Your child will also learn to take turns share attention, and cooperate with others. These are important skills for a young child to develop, and dance classes are often offered for children at a much younger age than many team sports. Your child will also learn the importance of being a part of a group as many dances involve everyone in the class.
Dance classes also teach your children about music, rhythm, and beat. Your child will become more coordinated because of their dance classes, and these classes are a great way to encourage physical fitness and exercise. By teaching your child early in life the importance of movement and fitness, you will instill in him or her the tools he or she will need to remain physically fit throughout his or her life.
Dance for children will also help build self-esteem in your child as he or she accomplishes new goals and tasks each week. You should watch closely, however, and make sure that this isn’t backfiring by having your child in a style of dance that he or she finds frustrating. While you do want your child’s dance classes to present a challenge, you also do not want them to be so much of a challenge that your child isn’t enjoying them either.
You should also keep in mind that if you consider a long-term commitment to dance classes and competitive dance, the financial commitment could be significant. This is not a cheap alternative to team sports. Quite the opposite is true at older and more competitive levels of dance. Not only are the financial commitments serious, but also the commitment of time. Dance is a wonderful method for teaching your child many important skills that will greatly help develop the character of your child. Then, you should be aware that if this becomes something in which your child is exceptionally talented, you might find that the costs are more than you had imagined.
You will also find that there are many different types of dance offered for children. Among some of the more popular are ballet, jazz, tap, ethnic dances, hip hop, and belly dancing, just to name a few. Younger children will probably take a few creative movement classes rather than jumping into one specific style. This gives your children a chance to experience different styles of dance and to discover which moves are more enjoyable and natural feeling to them.
All in all, dance for children is a great way to build invaluable social skills. More importantly, it is an opportunity to teach your children the importance of being part of something larger than themselves. This is something far too few children understand, and that will serve them well as they grow and become adults. If you are looking for an excellent studio that teaches dance for children, you should concentrate on those studios that emphasize personal development for your child more than competitive opportunities, particularly in younger years. As your child’s talents and enthusiasm for dance grow, you can always choose to move your child to a more competition-focused studio.
