Did you realise that dancing can be beneficial to preschoolers? Dancing may appear to be just another type of play or a means to keep children occupied. It does, however, include developmental and learning aspects. Of course, dance can benefit children of all ages, whether structured or not. However, it can have specific purposes in early development. The following are some of the reasons why dancing should be included in childcare and preschool programmes. (Preschool Malaysia)
Dancing, like music, has an impact on the learning and development of youngsters.
We’ve already discussed how music influences young children’s learning. Those ideas are inextricably linked to dancing. Music, in course, lends itself to dance. When we hear a beat, we want to dance to it. Take it a step further: a toddler practising learning skills while memorising dancing steps or counting rhythmic beats.
Movement and activity are linked to memory and a variety of other biological demands, according to a comprehensive piece in The Atlantic (like relieving stress or increasing attention span). In the same article, Emily Cross, a psychologist and lecturer, describes a study showing that children who move around through dancing learn better.
Dancing is an art form that allows preschoolers to express themselves and learn new skills.
The arts, like science, math, and reading, play a vital role in education. Dance, like painting or creative story-telling, has similar health advantages. They assist preschoolers in expressing themselves through their bodies. They are free to disregard the ‘rules’ and move to their hearts’ content. Dancing and performing, on the other hand, accomplishes so much more.
According to this Scholastic article, the process of performing arts provides additional benefits. Children, for example, learn not to be terrified of giving a presentation in front of a group. They also build confidence in their ability to master their act, particularly when they receive plaudits. They can also learn to think on their feet if something goes wrong. These abilities are useful in a variety of disciplines and situations.
Dance frequently involves more than one individual. Children learn to work together in synchrony when they dance in groups. This is excellent social engagement practise.
The effects of ballroom dancing lessons on children in classrooms are discussed in a TED Ed piece titled “Why dance is equally as important as math in school.” Kinder interactions were one of them. The concept is explored further in this piece from The Atlantic, which shows how a violent, poor group of kids began to behave more positively toward one another after taking dancing lessons.
While the tests in the classrooms mentioned above used older children, they do demonstrate how cooperative kinds of dance can benefit preschoolers as well. Pupils can learn to collaborate to complete a dance motion, hold hands and wait for one other’s rhythms, or even mimic and engage in a group activity.
Dancing is a fun way for youngsters to get some exercise while also improving their motor abilities.
Of course, dancing is also a type of exercise, which is always beneficial to children. The advantages of dancing are similar to those of any other form of exercise, with one exception: you don’t need a gym or any special equipment to work up a sweat. It can happen in the middle of the lesson, or as part of a productive break, to help preschoolers focus better throughout the day. It can also help them ‘shake it off,’ allowing them to physically ‘wiggle’ out any pent-up energy or emotions.
To summarise, we can see that dancing is not merely a pointless – albeit extremely enjoyable – pastime. Dancing can be used as an instructional approach and as a way to incorporate art into the curriculum of early childhood educators at daycare and preschool. Plus, when it comes to a child’s emotional and psychological well-being, dancing can undoubtedly play an important role in the daycare or preschool classroom.
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