Taking toddlers to ballet classes isn’t just a great excuse to dress them in adorable outfits, it is fantastic for their development too.
Noodle Performance Art’s Ballet Tots and Noodle Tots classes are suitable for children from as soon as they can walk and are carefully designed to help your little ones pick up all sorts of useful skills while they are busy having fun. Here are six of the ways our toddler ballet classes can benefit your child:
- Speech and language
Toddlers are constantly learning new words and activities like ballet are a great way for them to expand their vocabulary and practice their own fledgling language skills. One thing our little dancers are quick to pick up on are the names for their body parts, especially those good toes and naughty toes! They also learn lots of new verbs to describe the movements they do in class like bending, stretching and wiggling. Our Tots classes include action songs, which are a really effective way of helping young children remember new words and grasp simple concepts like counting.
- Motor skills and flexibility
Toddlers are still developing both their fine and gross motor skills and learning how to control their body and the way it moves. Ballet encourages them to practice a wide range of movements and over time, these movements will become more fluid and controlled. Dancing also helps increase your child’s flexibility in a safe and healthy way with warm-ups and stretches at the start of each class to prepare their muscles.
- Strength and balance
You might not realise it when you see your little one doing ballet but the poses they are learning and the movements they make are developing their muscles and making them physically stronger. Ballet helps develop the core muscles – those around their trunk and pelvis – which will help them develop stability and balance. Over time, this may mean they are less clumsy and fall over less (though some toddler tumbles are still inevitable) and it may give them a head start when it comes to other sports. Taking part in regular physical activity also helps build the foundation for a healthy and active lifestyle as your child grows.
- Discipline and listening skills
Our Tots classes are often the first time a toddler will have been in a group environment where they need to listen to a teacher and follow instructions. Our sessions follow a simple routine so even the youngest children start to anticipate what will happen next. This includes collecting props like instruments and ribbons and returning them to the teacher. They also get lots of opportunity to practice things like taking turns and sharing. It can take a while for little ones to get the hang of listening to instructions but it is great preparation for when they eventually go to school.
- Confidence and self-esteem
Many of the little ones who start our classes are really shy and may be reluctant to leave their grown up’s side during the first few lessons. Our gentle approach and focus on fun mean that children soon build their confidence and start taking more of an active part in class. Plenty of praise and positive reinforcement when they do join in helps raise their self-esteem and you’ll find they love showing off what they have learnt in class to their family and friends.
- Social skills and friendship
Group classes are a fabulous way of building your toddler’s social skills as they get used to interacting with other children the same age. Taking part in activities with each other, learning to take turns and give each other space are all valuable experiences of socialising with others. Some great friendships have started at our classes, both among the pupils and the parents.
Find out more about our Ballet Tots classes or our other dance or performing arts lessons here or contact us today.