Arts — Expert Article
The Importance of Teaching the Whole Child in Early Childhood Dance Classes
Community Expert: Wellness - Mindful Living Becky Moller
Here are four things that separate The most beneficial development. A good a high-quality early child-hood programs are those that allow students early childhood dance dance curriculum from the rest. Most to make their own interpretations, curriculum uses props children are ready for an independent connections and suggestions. As as building blocks to support learning dance class without a parent between psychologist and co-creator of the outcomes and amplify children’s the ages of 3 and 4. early childhood dance curriculum conceptual and physical skill 1– Is It Developmentally Appropriate? Leap ‘n Learn, Dr. Annie Spell says, development. “The job of every 3 through 6 year old The first indicator of a high-quality Dr. Elena Lambrinos says, “The best is pretend play.” Children should have dance teachers are able to see past early childhood dance curriculum is that it keeps childhood development in the opportunity during class to make ‘what is being done’ to understand their own movement choices and be mind. The curriculum should support how the component parts come given the latitude to dream up ways a young child’s physical, cognitive, together. They understand how dance of expressing movements in ways that education develops ways of moving social and emotional development. are meaningful to them. The Director At this age, children are exploring as well as ways of acting, thinking, of Education for Leap ‘n Learn says, the world around them, developing feeling and being a dancer.” A truly “Classes that incorporate pretend relationships between themselves comprehensive early childhood and other things and people. They are play ensure that children develop as curriculum has a team of experts on individuals, not as clones.” discovering new words, movements board to educate and guide instructors and feelings all the time. Early child3– Are Props Used as Scaffolding on how to teach, scaffold, connect, hood dance should enable their Tools? integrate and build knowledge. naturally occurring development, and Giving a child a wand and telling Understanding how children learn and then amplify it! Also, safe and effective them to run around is NOT creative process information is a game changer dance curriculum doesn’t push little dance. In a strong program, props because a few incorrect techniques bodies into positions too soon. are used thoughtfully to build early on can lead to hard to unlearn complex skills and support children’s 2– Is There Purposeful Pretend Play? bad habits later on.
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