Does our 5-year-old have to go with dance class?

Parents: “Our daughter (5) dances for a year and a half. We saw that she really enjoyed it, also the dance show in the theater at the end of the first season. But since ten weeks she is complaining. She thinks it is stupid, has no sense to go. Theater show is going to be fine during the lesson. OUTEN dares to make. ”

Playful practice

Marga Akkerman: „Laten we geen etiketten plakken op zo’n jong kind. Perfectionisme is een vaag begrip, en heeft niks te maken met niet willen oefenen. Maar oefenen voor een theatershow haalt het speelse weg. Het betekent dezelfde dansjes herhalen. Misschien vindt jullie dochter dat saai, wil ze iets nieuws leren, en durft ze dat niet te zeggen. Op deze leeftijd willen kinderen vooral lief gevonden worden. Of ze vindt het inderdaad te moeilijk, en wil vrij dansen en niet hoeven to perform.

« You can ask her. Whatever her answer is, the current dance lessons no longer seem to fit. Because this development phase is about pleasure, and not about ‘persevering’ the season is not necessarily necessary.

« It is important to create an environment in which your daughter does not experience pressure, but a challenge. Let go of the idea of ​​perfectionism. You now see instructions for their existence, but on a lot of other moments they will not be discussed. Every child collects information in her own way and comes to their own decisions. Be especially curious about it, and therefore appreciate her.”

Dance

Carolien Hermans: “I would not choose to continue with the lessons if the pleasure is missing. At this age it is important to put the pleasure at the center. That is the intrinsic motivation for an activity in the long term. Pressure or obligation can stand in the way.

« Take a look at dance lessons in the area that may fit better. Let your daughter do some trial lessons. In the lessons she does now, a tight choreography is central, but there are also dance teachers who organize their lessons more creatively, and do more with free expression.

« A theater show for toddlers only works if it is well accompanied, in a safe atmosphere. A fixed choreography is often too much to ask. At this age an informal session with parents is often much more fun, you can make a party of it.

« The question is whether dance class is needed. We think that if children like something, it is good to do them on teaches. But that is not necessary. If your daughter dances at home, it also contributes to what we call ‘the dance development’. You can stimulate that at home by dancing together, for example by setting up a music for a child after eating.”

Marga Akkerman is non-practicing clinical youth and child psychologist. Carolien Hermans is associated with the Conservatory of Amsterdam as a choreographer and remedial educationalist. She wrote To a pedagogy of mobility.

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