Dancing your way To Good Health – Nasrin Aziz

          Kids in Kuwait are always locked indoors. Activities are limited to watching TV, playing video games and latest treads is ipad and iphones. Gone are the days when play dates were about climbing trees, running in open grounds or and kids enjoyed each others friendships. Everyone with kids here in Kuwait will agree that they don’t have enough ways to channel the energy of their growing child. While traditional team sports are a good way to get your kids physically active, they may not be possible to find the right one for your kids especially the younger ones. Dance classes are a great alternative to team sports, and most studios offer lessons for children as young as two or three. Participating in dance classes can be beneficial for kids of all ages and can be practiced at home keeping the mothers fit too. So dance your way towards health…

Improved Physical Health

          Dancing is a physical activity, and kids who take dance lessons regularly should expect to see a significant improvement in their overall physical health. Regular dance practice can increase your child's flexibility, range of motion, physical strength and stamina. The repetitive movements involved in dance can improve muscle tone, correct poor posture, increase balance and coordination and improve overall cardiovascular health. For children who are overweight, it can potentially help them to lose weight and improve their eating habits.

Socialization Benefits

          New friends are made at dance classes. They are different from school friends as here they are doing fun activity together. This can help children improve their social and communication skills, learn how to work as part of a team, develop a greater sense of trust and cooperation. If your child is shy, enrolling her in dance can encourage her to reach out to other children her age and help to reduce her anxiety about new people or places. Dance can also help to alleviate fears related to performing in front of an audience.

Educational Benefits

          Becoming a skilled dancer requires practice, discipline and focus, skills that can be useful in other areas of your child's life. Dance lessons can help to spark creativity in young children and help them to develop an appreciation for the arts. Students who regularly participate in dance lessons typically tend to perform better academically than their nonparticipating peers. Another research estimates that students who have a background in dance tend to achieve significantly higher SAT scores and do better in math and science competitions.

Improved Self-Esteem

          As children adjust to the movements and postures required in dance, they begin to get a better sense of their bodies. As they become more comfortable in their own skin, their confidence and self-esteem also improve. According to various researches, dance lessons can encourage children to foster a more positive attitude and explore their own self-expression. This can be particularly beneficial for children who are physically or mentally impaired or those who are attempting to deal with significant emotional problems.

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