When we think of toddlers performing Ballet, our minds usually think of our little ones twirling in their sparkly tutus, and a smile on their face. And, while this may seem like a great reason to sign your child up for ballet classes, there are many reasons why these classes would be beneficial for your toddler to take early on in their developmental stages.
So, If you’ve been considering enrolling your child in ballet, then stick around as I will be sharing some essential information to help you make the right decision!
Ballet classes are good for toddlers to take for the fact that ballet opens a new world for your little one to learn things such as discipline, self-confidence, and it also teaches them a set of skills which will create a strong foundation for their lives. Ballet classes teaches them an art form of dance, while also opening up their minds to a new set of vocabulary words which will teach them the proper verbs needed for dance movements.
Having your toddler in ballet classes will increase the chances of them maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle as they develop, and will also open their doors to new friendships which may last a lifetime.
These classes seem like a grand idea for toddlers to take part in as they get educated on so much more than just the art that is ballet. These classes are offered to toddlers from ages 3 and 8, although typically most parents and teachers prefer to wait until the child is 4; as their attention span tends to be shorter at the age of 3.
Ballet teaches children to have discipline and learn how to respect an authority figure at such a young age, and allows them to gain the confidence they need through positive reinforcement. It allows those who may be shy, to be able to shine through their skills acquired from ballet.
Enrolling your child in a ballet class will teach them the proper stretching techniques which will help them learn muscle awareness, and helping them prevent future injuries to occur. Ballet will also teach your toddler how to improve their posture and help them develop the strength needed to be more in control of their body movements. This improves their range of motion
and strengthens their techniques.
The ballet classes will teach the child simple stretching techniques such as:
- Leg extensions
- Toe touches
- Straddle splits
These are some of many stretches that they will learn in class that will help your toddler maintain limberness; which will help your child have the flexibility needed to perform correctly. As we all know, toddlers are remarkably limber which makes these simple stretches a fun and easy way for your child to engage in the classes, all while maintaining their flexibility.
The isometric techniques which are taught in ballet, help toddlers achieve long, lean muscles which will create endurance in your child and assist in maintaining a healthy body.
Why is Ballet good for this age range?
Toddlers who are enrolled in ballet not only benefit from the skills learned, but they also learn how to think more creatively as they get taught the mechanics of ballet. As your little one is developing and learning, ballet will teach your child to have flexibility and appreciation for music as they develop an awareness of dance with each lesson.One of the many benefits is, that ballet will enhance your child’s motor skills as they learn to balance and move to the music.
Are ballet classes good for toddlers?
Signing your toddler up for ballet classes is a great idea in which will bring them a positive impact in their early developmental stages, all while enjoying moving to the music and dancing with their friends. Their brains are quickly grasping every information that is presented to them, allowing their minds to absorb every word and movement at a fast pace. This makes it an ideal time to register your child in classes as they will retain the lessons in a quickly manner.
The great thing about these classes, is that toddlers learn how to depend on one another while building their trust with each other on each rehearsal and performance. It lets children learn how to wait their turn, and listen to an authority figure that is not their parents, which teaches them respect for others and how to follow instructions. Toddlers must work together to master
their routines and create unity in ballet which teaches them how to rely on each other to perfect their performances.
What should you expect them to learn?
You can expect your toddler to learn things such as coordination, grace, stability, while also strengthening their growing bodies. Ballet teaches them how to control their bodies and allows them to have control of their movements. They are taught on how to perform ballet with grace, while also being taught to be disciplined.
This helps your child learn from an early age how to
make good choices in life. It teaches your child that hard work and determination really pays off, and teaches them how to overcome any setbacks as they work hard in every rehearsal and performance made.
Ballet opens their mind to becoming more creative, allowing toddlers to translate their emotions and thoughts, giving them the foundation needed to perform through their unique and powerful movements. These classes help teach toddlers learn how to gain an understanding of music and rhythm which helps them improve body awareness. These classes are a great way of improving our toddler’s memories as they learn how to memorize each step.
It teaches our little ones how to gain trust in their partners and how to work as a team to perform successfully which will help them in the long run as they continue to mature emotionally. Ballet teaches toddlers how to maintain a healthy lifestyle which they most likely will carry on in their adulthood years. It allows children to improve their social skills and increase poise.
One major thing to take into consideration is the potential costs that comes with enrolling your toddler in ballet classes, which can be often pretty pricey. You can expect to pay anywhere between $60 to $150 per month for tuition, depending on the amount of classes you sign your child up for, and the region in which you reside in. Some ballet studios may charge you a
registration fee as well.
Now, as we all know you can’t perform ballet without the proper attire needed for the rehearsals and performances.That being said, you would also need to purchase the ballet shoes, tights and the leotard for your toddler to be able to start the classes. You can expect to find all the supplies needed for the classes to be anywhere between $7 to $30 per each item, depending on where you purchase them.
One great idea for parents interested in these classes, would be for you to jot down all the expenses required to start your child up for classes. This would also be including the costs of the materials needed so you can have a better idea of what you can expect to spend on everything altogether.
Overall, ballet is wonderful for toddlers to practice early on, bringing them so many positive benefits which will leave an impact for the rest of their lives. Really, the only downside to ballet is finding the adequate amount of time needed for rehearsals and performances, which tend to be tricky as not every parent is able to dedicate themselves due to work schedules and other events.
The good news is that some studios offer online classes, which is a great alternative for those who prefer a more private class for your little ones. And, for those parents who would love to be a part of their child’s experience, some studios even offer “Mommy and Me classes” which allows mothers, fathers and caretakers to be involved in the class.
Now that we touched base on the benefits of signing your little ones up for ballet classes, you can now decide on whether or not this will fit into your everyday lifestyle ,and if it will fit with your routine with your toddlers. If you think this is a great opportunity for your child, then the best thing would be for you to do some research on ballet studios that are near your area
which offer classes for your child’s age group.
The skills that they will gain from these classes will help them in their future if they ever decide to change dance classes, or whether they decide to try out sports in their teen years.Your little ones will be exposed to the relationship between dance and music, while also building up their self-esteem with every accomplishment that they make—which is one of the many great
benefits of ballet!