Every mum has anxieties about how their child will fare in school. Will they make friends? Can they focus in class? Are they destined to be academic? How well-behaved will they be?
Most of these questions depend on a child’s self-esteem which is something you can help them build from an early age, both at home and when engaging in external activities. You need to strike a balance between setting boundaries and standards and allowing children to just be themselves. Dance classes, especially those teaching hip-hop and street dance, are an ideal adjunct to the excellent work you’re doing at home.
Whether your child is preparing to enter school in the next school year or he or she has only recently come out of nappies, Hip Hop Tots® can help them make that crucial transition from toddler to school pupil. Here are five ways in which our toddler dance classes specifically target self-esteem.
1. The Power of Self-Expression
Naturally enough, kids gain confidence by getting things right. While adults can delay gratification and see the ultimate gain behind the pain of practise, young children only feel the pain. At Hip Hop Tots®, we don’t get overly technical with the dance classes and we mix it up with plenty of other fun stuff, like story-telling and singing. Children dance to have fun and express themselves, not to impress a tutor or reach a certain standard. As their confidence grows, older children will naturally want to emulate their dance idols and challenge themselves.
2. A Regular Dose of Good Mood
Have you ever noticed how the most grumpy and fratchety child seems to chill out and lighten up once they’re out and running about? In common with all vigorous exercise, hip-hop dance classes will stimulate the release of endorphins in your little one’s brain, giving them an instant lift that will dispel the clouds of a bad mood. The more kids start to associate exercise and activity with having a good time, the more self-motivated they will become.
3. Learning Social Skills
Every parent wants their child to fit in with a group of like-minded peers who will nurture and support them throughout school life. Hip Hop Tots® activities and dance classes get them started off on the right foot by exposing them to other children early in their young lives. They will get to learn the skills needed to co-operate with others in a warm and welcoming environment. And as Hip Hop Tots® is a parent-child session, the children will have the security of knowing that mummy or daddy is still there if they need them.
4. An Energy Outlet
A lot of misbehaviour in the classroom (and at home) occurs when children are full of energy yet have no space in which to run around and burn it up. This can also lead to problems with obesity which can lower self-esteem and make the classroom a hard place to be (even with all the great anti-bullying work that happens in schools today). Hip Hop Tots® activity sessions and dance classes can nip this problem in the bud by giving kids the room they need and the love of movement that will keep them fit and in good shape for the rest of their lives.
5. Endurance: The Tool to Succeed
As pre school children start to challenge themselves with slightly more complex routines their capacity for mental and physical endurance will increase. This is perhaps one of the most powerful qualities a student can develop since it ensures they will keep on going when others give up, achieving success which breeds yet more success. Endurance and high self-worth is a potent combination that will overcome most mental and physical challenges.
And Finally: What About You?
If the above article has got you thinking about your own self-esteem and what you can do tom improve it and set a good example for your child, then how about looking at how to become an instructor with Hip Hop Tots®. For a small outlay of time and money you can quickly learn all that is needed to embark upon a rewarding career with children – no dance experience necessary!
