You don't have to enroll your little one in formal dance lessons to help him or her reap the benefits of movement. Children enjoy movement and will nod their heads or tap their feet whenever they hear music. In addition to physical fitness, music and dance help toddlers understand rhythm, math, and spatial concepts. At Horizon Education centers, we offer children the chance to move to music in a variety of ways from Zumba at our East Lorain location to traditional dance at our South Elyria location. And as a parent you can encourage your kids to get moving at home, too.
Expose your child to different kinds of music
Of course you'll want your child to listen to the kind of music you like, but don't be afraid to scan the radio dial to see what kind of music interests your child. Allow your child to experiment—see what happens if you play slow classical music and what happens when you play something faster with more percussion.
You also don't have to spend a lot of money buying CDs that are specifically geared to children. As long as you don't find the lyrics objectionable, your child can listen to some of the music adults listen to. Educational music has its place but sometimes a kid just wants to move around to music without having to concentrate on the lyrics.
Don't be afraid to dance too
If you are an adult who avoids dancing in public, try not to let this get in the way of dancing with your child at home, especially if your child initiates it. The music in a commercial might make your child want to dance and you might feel self-conscious but dancing together can be a great way to have fun and bond with your toddler.
