Movement & Dance Part 5

Ladies and gentlemen!!!! I bring you the final installment in this particular portion of my interview with Connie Dow, author of Redleaf's "One, Two What Can I Do?" and national expert on movement and dance for young children. Connie is giving us her 7 benefits of including these art forms within your school day in response to a question posed by Vanessa Levin. The question stems from how to encourage teachers who may feel silly in front of other adults. Connie is taking the time to outline the significance of movement + dance in the hopes that if teachers realize the comprehensive benefits that are possible, they will be willing to engage in some 'sillyness' for the sake of optimizing their time with children.

Take it away Connie, we're ready for number five!!

5^th Benefit:  Emotional Growth

Also From NDEO:

Dance promotes psychological health and maturity. Children enjoy the opportunity to express their emotions and become aware of themselves and others through creative movement.  A pre-school child enters a dance class or classroom with a history of emotional experiences.  Movement within a class offers a structured outlet for physical release while gaining awareness and appreciation of oneself and others. Dance fosters social encounter, interaction, and cooperation.

6^th Benefit:  Creativity

 Could nurturing the creative side of our children be a key to the future success of the United States?  There is no question that education in the U.S. is in need of some serious revamping.  As stated in the 2007 report of a comprehensive study of the American workforce,  “Whereas for most of the 20^th century the U.S. could take pride in having the best-educated workforce in the world, that is no longer true.” In proposing solutions, the authors of the study point to the development of creative thinkers as one of the keys to success:  “Seeing new patterns and possibilities is the essence of creativity . . and creativity, innovation, and flexibility will not be the special province of an elite. 

It will be demanded of virtually everyone who is making a decent living, from graphic artists to assembly line workers, from insurance brokers to home builders.”

The creative arts, by definition, nurture this aspect of the developing child.  Movement specifically allows students to approach tasks “through the body, or kinesthetically,” and come up with new answers.

Connie, you know how I feel about creativity!!

7^th Benefit   The Whole Child

Dance, as an art form and physical activity, is part of the education of the whole child.  The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

 believes a comprehensive approach to learning recognizes that successful young people are knowledgeable, emotionally and physically healthy, motivated, civically inspired, engaged in the arts, prepared for work and economic self-sufficiency, and ready for the world beyond their own borders.

ASCD calls on parents, educators, policymakers, and communities to join forces to ensure our children become productive, engaged citizens. Our children deserve an education that emphasizes academic rigor as well as the essential 21st century skills of critical thinking and creativity.

Take us home, Connie!! Wrap it up for us!!! Go Connie, Go Connie!!

Developmentally appropriate practice dictates that we educate the whole child.  Furthermore, academics and physical activity are not mutually exclusive.  A number of researchers have found that regular physical activity contributes to improved school performance. As neurophysiologist Carla Hannaford states in her book Smart Moves:  Why Learning Is Not All In Your Head: “because movement activates the neural wiring throughout the body, the whole body, and not just the brain, is an instrument of learning.

I hope this blog entry has provided lots of food for thought, and reinforced your instincts to bring the delightful arts of creative movement and music to your learning environment!

Keep on dancin’,

 Connie

I have just added this article to the link-up being hosted by "PreK+K Sharing" on all things to encourage children to be ACTIVE!!!