Children move naturally. When they move, it is to achieve mobility, to express a thought or feeling, because it is enjoyable and of course, it feels wonderful. It is when their movement becomes intentionally controlled and performed with awareness that it then becomes dance. Dance is a natural method for learning and a basic form of expressing themselves. Children learn movement patterns as easily
as they learn language. It is beneficial to provide all children with the opportunity of the developmental benefits and unique learning opportunities that come from organising movement into the aesthetic experience of dance. Some benefits of attending the dance classes could be: increasing strength, endurance and muscle tone; balance, coordination and grading of movements all whilst working on increasing impulse control, concentration, focus and self-esteem. As well as the physical benefits, there is also the social aspect to be considered. Classes are a great alternative to team sports and is a rewarding activity where your child can be increasing their health and movements via physical activity, whilst increasing their social interactions in a fun and enjoyable way. By participating in regular dance classes your child will be gaining important social skills from learning to start or join in with peers, learning to initiate interaction, managing their behaviours in a supportive environment, following rules and directions. These skills are often not refined and need to be learned which our classes will help with. At Foundations for Growth we understand how important play is and how important a good start to childhood development is. We provide developmental therapy for children aged between 2 and 12 in the form of dance classes that caters for all developmental needs. We have a strong focus on social inclusion and as a result, do not restrict our classes to children with disabilities or developmental issues, as we believe that it is an important experience for children with difficulties to enjoy social activities with peers without developmental issues, as well as important for children without developmental issues to experience activities with children with disabilities. We can also provide a consultative service at children’s schools in order to provide a thorough assessment of how they operate in physical activities there, and provide full guidance on how to help them flourish.
