Dance is a primal part of the human experience. It unites us all no matter our age. The benefits it has on early childhood development are definitely worth understanding.
Four benefits of dance
Physical development
Physical development is one of the most obvious benefits dance classes have for children. They are learning a great range of motion, body awareness, balance, muscle strength, coordination, and endurance. Through dance classes, kids begin to understand that the possibilities of movement are endless and fun to explore.
Social awareness
In dance classes, children have the opportunity to learn in a comfortable social setting. They must work as a group and support one another. They learn that communication can occur through immediate and effective movement to express an idea. Many times you will see a very strong bond between dancers because of these efforts no matter how old they are.
Cognitive development
At a young age, children understand that movement can be used as a response to an idea or problem. This creates a cognitive link to a solution or outcome. This type of cognitive development creates an awareness of how to function in the world. For example, it is very common in dance classes for children to be taught to leap over a “river” (scarf or mat) so they don’t get wet.
This idea achieves several different concepts… leg extension, transferring weight, problem-solving, imagination, balance, space recognition, etc. The idea is that physical expression or solutions give young ones another way to handle the world while their verbal communication develops.
Emotional maturity
Because dancing is also an art form, children are learning how to creatively express their emotions as well. There are endless opportunities to share and be aware of various emotions as students experience one another and themselves through movement. Dance classes provide a structured outlet for a healthy physical and emotional release that helps develop emotional maturity.