5 helpful tips
You want to be involved in your child’s activities and help them succeed. If you never danced yourself, though, the dance world can be hard to figure out, and you probably have questions about how to support your child and help them do well. Here’s what we, the teachers at Nan’s School of Dance, suggest to help you “rock” the dance mom (or dad) role!
Empower your child
Dancers have good days…and they have bad days. Some movements come easier than others, and when your child hits a setback, help them take charge of it. Encourage them to talk to their teacher after class. That’s how they learn to own their dance experience and to communicate. Try to teach them to:
- Speak up for themselves
- Ask questions
- Advocate for themselves
Help set goals
Every dancer runs into obstacles, and setting goals is a great way for kids to get past them. If there’s a move or a routine your child is struggling with, encourage them to set a goal for it. Knowing how to set a goal and work steadily toward it is a skill worth having. So whenever you have a moment, sit down with your child and:
- Set goals and benchmarks
- Brainstorm ways to reach those goals
- Find ways to hold them accountable
Involvement: find the right balance
Be involved in your child’s dance, and give them room at the same time. Let them take responsibility for their training and make it their own. At Nan’s, we want our dancers to have fun, and we try to make the whole process enjoyable. Our teachers want you and your child to enjoy it, too. So listen to your child, and offer support when they need it.
- Don’t micromanage
- Don’t step in to fix everything
- Do listen and support your child
Emotional support
Dance is an art, so it’s full of emotion. A routine stirs up feelings in the audience and in the dancers performing it, and your dancer will feel all kinds of things as they learn. They’ll be overjoyed when they reach a goal. They may also be sad or frustrated when a particular move won’t come. Whatever they’re feeling, what they need most from you is support.
- Listen
- Ask how you can help
- Praise your child
Enjoy the journey
As long as your child dances, they’ll learn and grow in ways you haven’t imagined yet! You get to come along for the ride, and like most of childhood, it goes by a lot faster than any of us want. So enjoy every bit of it, mom and dad!
If your child is just starting out, how to prepare your child for dance lessons and what to pack in a dance bag cover the practical side. If homework is part of the juggle, read how to manage school and dance. Still choosing a class? See our dance classes for kindergarten through 5th grade.
Reach your goals with Nan’s School of Dance
At Nan’s School of Dance, our goal is to provide top-quality instruction at a competitive price. We encourage our students to reach technical proficiency in their favorite dance form and build self-discipline, poise, and self-esteem. We offer instruction in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Acro, and Pre-Dance, at all levels.
We love having new members in our dance classes and will help get your child acclimated to our dance school to make them feel right at home. When your child attends Nan’s School of Dance, they will become a part of our dance family and share in our love for dance!
Don’t forget to register!
From ballet to hip hop, we offer dance classes for ALL ages and skill levels in a variety of styles. We place students in classes that will challenge them while offering a fun atmosphere for learning and growth. We also offer Mommy & Me classes (18 months – 2.5 years). Register online or give us a call at (919) 803-6044 to hold your spot!
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Want to read more about dance?
Take a look at some of our other articles about getting started.