Here’s How Your Child Benefits From Dance

In today’s times, stress has become part and parcel of our lives. Stress is not good for our body’s immunity & health. Put on some music to dance the stress & blues away. Swipe left to know how dance helps kids with ADHD too
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Have you ever wondered why dancing feels so good?

Dancing is known to be one of the major stress busters in our everyday life and stimulates you at a physical and emotional level. In ancient times too, people have paintings of dancers caved on their walls. Babies too, take to music instantly, by simply tapping their feet or moving their bodies. 

Dance is a performing art form consisting of purposefully selected sequences of human movement. People have often been heard saying dance your way to life. Dancing is nothing but the movement of the human body in selected sequences or in some sort of rhythmic form. Dancing releases a hormone called endorphin. What are endorphins actually?  Endorphins are a hormone that your body releases to ease pain and make you calm and happy.

As someone who can move immediately to music (not in any specific rhythm, not a trained dancer) I can vouch for the multiple benefits of dancing 

  • Boosts happiness (try putting on some music and sitting idle for 5 mins, you are bound to feel better)
  • Improves your creative thinking patterns. Often people listen to music when painting or reading.
  • Helps improve your memory. Try listening to audio rather than reading a book, you will grasp things faster. Of course, this may vary from person to person. However, a study has proven that babies respond faster when you talk to them in a sing-song tone.
  • Great way to exercise. Besides helping you burn calories and fuelling you up with energy, it also betters your stamina.
  • Improves your body balance too.

In recent times, we have heard a lot about kids suffering from ADHD ( Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) This condition is a neurological condition that affects a person’s attention span, makes them hyper ( makes them move about constantly sometimes making them fidgety as well) and results in impulsivity.

People suffering from ADHD may not have all the symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. The diagnosis is usually made by a paediatrician when it comes to children, a psychologist or a psychiatrist who has expertise in ADHD. There are no known cures for ADHD however some studies have established the link between dancing and handling ADHD and stress.

I recently was diagnosed with a high level of prolactin hormone and increased anxiety which was controlled with regular dance sessions at my local dance studio.

Ways In Which Dancing Can Help With ADHD 

Dancing is known to be a social and less structured form of involvement, hence it’s a great programme to help people cope with ADHD. The repeated instructions, forming small groups and modelling behaviour will help kids get involved and focus more.

Visual Schedules –  Since dancing involved both physical movement and visual instructions, it can help hold the child’s attention. It helps in capturing their attention span along with adding to their self-confidence.

Consistency in Schedules – We all realise the importance of having a set schedule for ourselves. It doesn’t matter if you can get a lot done during the set schedule. However, having a set routine and schedule for the dance class will help the child understand the plan for the day.

Set Musical Signal – A set signal for the beginning and end of a dance form. You can set a beat or a sound to begin the class. Set one consistent beat that will help hold the attention of the child and will give out clear ques.

Helps Reduce Hyperactivity & Impulsiveness – Dance requires you to practice steps repeatedly and some dance forms mix colour coding in their dance sessions. This helps kids to channelise their energies. The use of colours in any activity helps build a  person’s organisational skills too.

Helps Tackle Non-verbal & Behavioural Aspects – ADHD usually associates with characteristics of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It also involves non-verbal behaviour. Dance therapy can help children address these symptoms through body movements.

ADHD is a journey and a struggle together. There are various known studies to tackle it. Only the one who is part of the journey will understand the hurdles that come along. Dancing is a great way to tackle it because dancing has no barriers. Dancing doesn’t require you to be someone or at some position, it just requires you to be yourself. 

 

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