|
 Do you see kids swaying away naturally or tapping their feet whenever there's music in the background? Do you do that as well?
Responding to music comes naturally to many people. Mothers who sing know how even the most upset babies are quiet and listening. What baby doesn’t like to be rocked? Kids love music and movement- dance. It seems fundamental to their core. Toddlers and preschoolers often bop away whenever they hear a song - a jingle on TV, a catchy tune on the radio.
Kids truly enjoy themselves when they move to the music. It’s a great chance for self expression and creativity. When a child moves, he or she learns about how the body works, and how one step changes the way he looks and presents himself (when he looks in the mirror). Action songs that enable a child to use the whole body tend to be most popular, like 'Hokey Pokey' or 'Row row row, your boat'.
Dancing is good for the grey matter too. Children learn by doing and movement is one of the main ways they learn about themselves and their world. The control of muscles, posture and balance help with the simplest activities of sitting still.Dancing also promotes memory - we learn 'patterns' when we associated words and tunes with certain movements.
What can you do to expose your baby or small child to dance?
- expose babies to different types of music.
- Dance and sway around your room with them in your arms (if you can still carry them).
- Jump and hop in time to the beat with your toddler.
- Get your child to stand on your toes and you hold their arms with them facing you. You can move shouting out instructions. Lift up your feet and move together.
- Older children may like dancing with props; ribbons, musical instruments or as animals (stomping elephant, flying bird, slithering snake.)
- Start with an Action songs CD and make up your own routines and actions if you don’t know them.
- Talk about the music and move in that way. Try dancing to 'Star Wars' theme songs!
- Enroll your child in a dance class.
Does your child love to dance? Share your parenting experiences with us.
 |
Family Focus 