Dance Boosts Social + Emotional Development in Children
Recently, I came across an article on types of play that “skyrocket a child’s social and emotional development”. Did you know we cover 5 of them in children’s ballet and creative dance classes?
Independent Play
If you’ve been using our Once Upon A Ballet curriculum and lesson plans, you’re well aware that we include a free dance in EVERY CLASS. Why? Because like independent play, it allows children to move and explore independently. This helps children to develop self-confidence and leadership.
Dramatic/Imaginative Play
We also like to use role-playing a lot in our dance activities in Once Upon A Ballet. To be honest, I started employing a lot of role-playing in my own dance classes because I felt like it helped my students pay better attention. But an added benefit includes emotional development. Dramatic and imaginative play allows young children to explore different emotions in a safe, non-judgemental environment.
Physical Play
Did you know exercise changes the structure of our brains? Physical activity increases blood flow, and therefore oxygen and nourishment, to the brain. This helps our brains make more neural connections and grow more nerve cells—particularly in the area where learning takes place and memories are stored. Physical play can boost attention, memory, cognitive function, and even mood.
Sensory Play
Using props in children’s dance classes can be a great way to spark imaginations and aid in teaching a particular dance concept. It can also be a form of sensory play for children. This helps them learn more about the world through their senses such as sight, sound and touch. Having a prop can also be calming to children. So if a child is anxious or distracted, a prop can help them focus and relax a bit.
Cooperative Play
When children learn dances in class—whether for a quick parent observation or a formal performance—they are practicing cooperative play. Even the simple act of standing in a line performing the same dance together requires students to work together to keep their line straight. They must all listen to the music and move in unison. They must watch each other. As children get older and there may be different parts to a dance, children work together by taking turns, partnering with their peers, and keeping in mind where their peers are when traveling across the room or stage in a dance.
There you have it! Five ways dance class boosts both social and emotional development in children. Dance truly builds lifelong skills through movement and play.
Happy Dancing!
Ashley Hartford
Founder + Owner, Once Upon a Ballet
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What We’re All About
At Once Upon a Ballet, we want to help you teach dance in a way that sparks your students’ imaginations, keeps their attention, and has them leaving class excited for what’s next.
DANCE CURRICULUMS
Our complete curriculums for toddler and preschool dance and children’s ballet give you a full year of lesson plans for each age group. Our lesson plans are rooted in child development and teach dance through imagination and play. We strongly emphasize correct, age-appropriate ballet techniques for young children, as well as building self-esteem, creativity, problem-solving, and classroom skills.
CERTIFIED TEACHERS
If you teach toddler or preschool dance, our teacher certification course gives you the tools to better connect with your littlest students, keep their attention, and have better classroom behavior.
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