When we think of what children really love, we often imagine things like playing in the park, hide and seek and playing with a range of exciting toys and gadgets.
Pre-school aged children also naturally gravitate towards music and dance, enjoying the different energy it brings into their lives. With so many dance options to choose from these days, there’s no shortage of inspiration for both boys and girls to engage in. So, why does dance appeal to younger children and what are some of the benefits? Let ‘s explore this further.
- Dance and music engages a different part of a child’s brain, allowing them to feel stimulated in very different ways to sedentary activities. This enhances their ability to develop and grow creatively, promoting higher forms of intelligence such as lateral thinking, abstract concepts and language through movement, not words.
- Pre-school aged children are naturally geared towards learning new things. Dance is one of those activities children love to explore that is fun, exciting and rhythmic. It ignites a strong sense of movement, organic creative flow and helps to strengthen mind & body co-ordination.
- The sound of music together with dance movement provides exercise for the brain like nothing else can. Even as adults, dancing makes us feel good and activates the ‘feel good’ chemicals in our brain, making us want more. We love how music and dance brings us together socially – it’s one of the simple joys in life. The rhythmic patterns in dance helps young children develop their memory, improve their empathy skills and increase their ability to engage socially with other like-minded personalities their own age.
- It’s a scientific fact that infants learn from sounds even before they’re born. Music and dance is an aural function and young children learn better aurally. It both goes hand in hand making it an ideal tool for growth and creative momentum into older age.
- Music and dance is a natural way for children to express their feelings without the need for words. Because language is not yet fully mastered at pre-school age, dance is the perfect way to balance and release these emotions in a productive way; it also enables children to become more attuned at expressing themselves creatively.
- Dance is a social activity that brings everyone together. Children may have family members in the dance and music industry, there may be music played at home or simply going to parties with friends provides an avenue for active participation in their daily lives. Singing songs, dancing to different beats and rhythms and anything that urges us to move brings so much enjoyment to our lives. It’s a universal thing we all love to do at some degree or another.
- With the digital age upon us, it’s more important than ever to get your children moving and engaged in different sports and activities. Dancing allows your child’s mind to soar and allows them to use their imagination to create beautiful stories. There is no division with dance, only the ability to experiment and play in ways that will surprise you.
Creative Dance Movement is the perfect choice for your pre-school aged children creative development. Secure a spot next term and watch your child soar.