How sessions enhance early years development
“The power of early years dance activity and the positive benefits on children and their families are being increasingly evidenced. The early years are some of the most important and creative years of a child's life, with movement and dance fundamental in the development of children.”
People Dancing - www.communitydance.org.uk/
When creating my dance sessions I always keep the Early Years Foundation Stage framework in mind to ensure that the sessions support the prime areas of communication and language, physical development, and personal, social and emotional development. Some of the ways in which this cohesion is achieved are detailed below:
Communication and Language
Storytelling underpins Imagine and Move dance movement sessions, aiming to inspire a love of books and reading. Children are invited to use verbal and non-verbal communication during the initial reading of a story and then the re-telling of that story through dance movement. They will be given opportunities to listen to and repeat key words and phrases from the book and then embody those words and phrases through movement, for example “She rolled the chapatti, flat and round”, with the phrase then being repeated later while the children explore rolling movements.
Physical Development
During Imagine and Move sessions, guided movements, together with the use of props such as scarves and feathers, provide opportunities for children to develop gross and fine motor skills, which not only links to early literacy, but also provides important sensory experiences. By experimenting and playing with different movement dynamics, floor work, methods of travel and movements that cross the midline etc, Imagine and Move sessions provide significant opportunities for children to develop core strength, balance and coordination.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
During Imagine and Move dance sessions children are given the opportunity to connect to themes in the story and express these, as well as their own feelings, through dance movement and reflection. Dance activity, in many forms, is well evidenced for serving to reduce stress and anxiety through endorphin release, and also in developing general self-confidence and self-awarenes. Another key factor in the sessions is the social element; adults are encouraged to participate with the children, which supports important attachments and role-modeling, and the interaction with other children contributes to the development of positive relationships and cooperation.
Awe and Wonder!
‘We are here to feel, wonder and gaze in awe at the world. Instead of just teaching our children how to use things and do things, I suggest we nourish their sense of wonder’
Bernie Siegel.
A hugely significant feature of Imagine and Move workshops is the magic experienced by the children when they enter into a different world. Dance, music, props, puppets and spoken narrative offer the children a unique perspective of the book as they step inside the story and bring it to life - inspiring and nurturing a love of books that hopefully lasts a lifetime!