Children are born with very little motor skills, and while they can learn some on their own, like rolling over and sitting up, gross and fine motor skills must be developed through physical activity. If you have an accident-prone child who struggles with coordination, enrolling them in a dance class is a great way to help them gain confidence in their movement and get used to activating their muscles. Our classes start teaching gross motor skills as young as 1 years old. Our Dream & Dance with me class is designed for dancers ages 1-2 and their caregiver. Here are some ways dance lessons can develop a child’s motor skills and balance. 

How Dance Can Aid a Child's Development

1. Easy Movements For Big Results 

Many motor skills are established through simple, repetitive movements. Gross motor skills deal with large muscles and are supported by actions like swaying, rocking, and jumping. Fine motor skills are related to the smaller muscles in the wrists and hands, and can be developed with waving and finger bending or wagging. Many preschool or elementary level dance classes are uncomplicated and use routines with similar movements. Dancers learn both fine and gross motor skills in our dance classes. Each style has a different way of incorporating motor skills. 

2. Activate Muscles 

Dance uses all muscle groups, so children will learn what using each muscle feels like during certain types of dance. Different styles will stimulate different muscle groups, so dance lessons can be customized to areas where one lacks strength. For example, a child who struggles to keep their balance could be enrolled in ballet, where core, back, and leg muscles are utilized the most. Our Acro dancers are incredibly strong and coordinated, even in our youngest dancers. 

3. Learn Control

For a technique or move to be done properly, it will be repeated until the child does it successfully. This repetition will create muscle memory and develop coordination by using different muscle groups together to complete a routine.

4. Rich Variety

Dance involves a variety of actions that little people can learn and improve at, like running, bending, stretching, twisting and grabbing. When activities like these are practiced in a casual, encouraging environment like a dance class, they are more likely to be absorbed and exercised by a child in everyday life. 

Whether your child is having difficulties with coordination or can’t help constantly spinning around the room, Dream Dance Co. is the studio that will nurture and develop these skills through dance lessons. They offer young people ages 1-18 in the Shelby Township, MI, area classes as simple as Mommy & Me up to advanced ballet, tap, jazz, and other styles. The talented and experienced staff will go above and beyond to make your child feel safe and welcome, and instill a passion for dance that they can carry into all aspects of life. To see what will work best for your little one, book a trial class today by calling (586) 488-7011 or visit their website to enroll.