Many children like ballet, which is not surprising since dance is an instinctive response to the need that human beings have to express our emotions through body movements. However, what many parents do not know is that stimulating an interest in dance from an early age not only improves children’s skills in this art but can also bring many benefits to their physical and psychological development. We reveal some of the advantages of your children starting to learn ballet from the first years of life.
- Improve posture
Posture in children can be shaped, so the earlier you start the better. This can prevent multiple spinal problems that appear as a result of poor posture, as is the case of kyphosis. In this sense, ballet can become a great ally since the practice of some of the exercises such as the plié, the grand plié, the relevé or the five basic positions help to work the posture of the back, while correcting the position of the legs and knees.
- Exercise coordination, balance and flexibility
Ballet is an excellent exercise to train coordination, balance and flexibility in children. Through basic exercises such as the cambré, the flexibility of the arms and back is worked, as well as the coordination between the feet and the arms, while other positions such as the croisé contribute to improving balance and flexibility. It is also an ideal workout to help children exercise different muscle groups in a fun way and promote body expression from an early age.
- Strengthen self-discipline
Practicing ballet requires perseverance, commitment and effort, and the key is in self-discipline. Children quickly become aware of the demands of dance and become more and more aware of the need for training, leading to more time for ballet and stronger willpower. This was demonstrated by a study conducted by experts from the University of Florida in which it was found that children who practice dance have more self-discipline, compared to those who do not.
- Stimulates brain development
Dance, and especially ballet, is an excellent exercise to stimulate brain development. While music stimulates the brain’s reward centers, dancing activates sensory and motor circuits, such as the motor cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. It also contributes to the formation of new neural connections, while enhancing the development of long-term memory, spatial recognition and executive functions, which are nothing more than the set of cognitive processes that allow associating ideas, movements and actions aimed at achieving a specific goal.
- Boost positive emotions
Did you know that children who go to dance class tend to be happier? This was demonstrated by a study carried out by researchers from New York University in which 120 children between the ages of 2 and 5 participated, who were exposed to sound stimuli, some rhythmic and others completely arrhythmic. The results showed that the children who danced to the rhythm showed more positive emotions and felt happier. Among other factors, this is due to the fact that when children dance, their brain generates endorphins, a neurotransmitter responsible for the sensation of well-being, tranquility and joy.
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