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Shake It, Baby!
Toddlers Can Express Themselves through Dance By Rae Pica, Children's Movement Specialist
Watch a baby holding onto the crib rail and bouncing up and down to music, or a toddler's instant physical response when a song starts to play, and you've witnessed two things inherent in humans: the need to move and a physical and emotional response to music.
While adults have had years to learn to feel self-conscious about their dance "abilities," young children are blissfully unencumbered by the need to move in certain ways. They just do what comes naturally to them! That's why, when we consider "dance" for toddlers, we're not talking about such structured styles as ballet, tap or jazz. Rather, toddlers should have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to simply experience the joys of movement and music. And in doing so, they'll naturally reap the rewards of greater body and spatial awareness, an improved sense of rhythm and greater freedom of expression and creativity.
Also, if they have the opportunity to move without censure or structure to a wide variety of musical styles, they'll develop a true appreciation for this important art form. All of this will benefit them throughout their lives, particularly if they go on to participate in such physical activities as dance or sports. At minimum it will provide them with greater physical self-confidence and an enhanced aesthetic awareness. And that's a lot!
The fact is, toddlers aren't ready for anything formal at this stage in their lives. They have neither the emotional nor cognitive abilities to understand instructions, follow directions or conform. (And why would we want them to do the latter anyway?) Nor do they have the physical ability to perform complicated and often unnatural movements.
Yes, he can walk, but that doesn't mean he's ready to perform a jazz walk. Yes, she's flexible enough to get her big toe into her mouth, but that doesn't mean she's ready for ballet's turnouts and tends! Being required to do such things can be physically and emotionally harmful. At the very least, it can create an intense dislike for physical activity, which can keep children from becoming active adolescents, teens and adults.
So how can you involve your little one in "dance" without putting a damper on the joy of movement? How do you ensure all of the pleasure and none of the pain? By fostering the early love of movement every child is born with, which can be as simple as starting the music!
