Guest article provided by: tappytoes.com
I can’t stress enough how good dance is for both the mind and the body! Just try it yourselves. Stick your favorite tune on at home and boogie round the kitchen. It instantly makes you feel happier, less stressed, and puts a smile on your face. Sometimes you just can’t help tapping your toe when a certain song comes on the radio right? Dance releases endorphins in the body, giving you that ‘feel good’ factor.
It’s the same for your baby or toddler. When they hear a song they know and love, come on the radio, watch them. You’ll notice their little faces light up and they may start to wiggle! We all have an ‘inner dancer’, and Tappy Toes baby and toddler dance was set up to bring it out of us!
You are probably aware of the mental health crisis facing our children today. It scares the life out of me that my happy, smiling 6-year-old will become a teenager in the blink of an eye, and my biggest concern for her is her mental health. She is a happy little sole, and I can’t imagine her any other way, but I teach teenagers too, and I know how things can change for them in an instance.
Is it the pressures of social media? They can’t escape their peers for a second with all the whatsap groups, snapchats and the latest craze- TikTok! So how do we help keep our babies’ minds healthy when they enter their teenage years?
I absolutely believe that DANCE can be an integral part of keeping a positive mental state, and if your little one starts dancing now, at 18 months, 2 years, even 4 years, they are more likely to keep it up and still be dancing into their teenage years and beyond.
Something that keeps you physically active and fit, AND promotes good mental health. What better hobby could there be?
In 2017/18, an estimated 22.4% of children aged 4 to 5 in England were overweight. This really does sadden me. If those children could find an activity that they fall in love with, that could set them on the path to a healthier childhood. Whether it’s dance, football, rugby, gymnastics, as long as they are moving it doesn’t matter. Enrolling your child in an activity today is one of the most important things you could do to ensure they stay physically fit and healthy, and help them develop a positive mindset.
In Summary
Physical Health Benefits of Dance for your baby or toddler;
- Improved coordination
- Better flexibility
- Improvement in Motor skills and balance
- Better spatial awareness
- Improved heart and lung health
- Balance
- Posture
Non-physical Health Benefits of Dance for your toddler;
- Confidence
- A positive mental state
- Better social skills
- Self-discipline
- Increased creativity
- Better kinaesthetic memory
- Self-motivation
- Communication skills
- An ability to express emotion through movement
- Patience, listening and leadership skills