Creative Movement

Music has many benefits. Not only does it touch people's souls, it also shapes growing minds. Studies have shown that when children sing or play music they become better readers, thinkers and learners. Music can be crucial to children's learning. Creative movement and dance can also be used to enhance learning. It is a fun way for children to explore movement through music, develop physical skills, channel energy, stimulate imagination and promote creativity. Creative movement uses body actions to: communicate an image, an idea, or a feeling.

Children learn about their bodies, the space around them, and each other through movement. Creative movement activities should encourage all children to participate. Both boys and girls enjoy creative movement classes. Even children with communication, sensory, developmental or physical challenges can benefit from creative movement.

I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand!
Confucious

Creative Movement activities can be used to enhance all areas of learning and growth. It helps the children to understand themselves and their relationship with the world. Many additional benefits can come from creative movement.  Some of the benefits include improved development, sensory awareness, improved social skills, better health and fitness, increased memory and communication, increased concentration and self esteem.

DEVELOPMENT: Movement is a natural form of communication.  Children of all ages love to move. Even an infant responds to the sounds with motion, such as swaying, rocking, clapping, or kicking his feet. Developing that natural creativity depends on early influences.  Creative movement enhances development of motor skills such as creeping, walking, jumping, leaping, stretching, bending, twisting, shaking, etc.   Stability and balance are also improved when children are provided with creative movement opportunities. 

SENSORY AWARENESS: Creative movement enhances sensory awareness.  The kinesthetic sense is increased as children move and feel their body.  Images that they see and create engage the visual senses.  Auditory senses are stimulated with music and sounds.  And Tactile sense is used when moving with bare feet or swirling a scarf.  This multitude of sensory experiences helps children to appreciate the beauty in nature, art, literature, and everyday living.

SOCIAL SKILLS: Creative movement is rich with opportunities to develop social skills skills successfully. It encourages an interactive environment where children share space as they explore movement together. They move their own way and gradually learn to observe the movement of others. Soon, the idea of creating movements together becomes appealing.

HEALTH & FITNESS: Children need a variety of movement experiences to become coordinated and agile. Current research shows an alarming trend of a lower level of movement in children. Creative movement classes are important.  Opportunities for movement activities contribute to children's overall health and fitness level. 

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR: Children will always move! Creative movement gives children the opportunity to move and relieve tension in an acceptable way.  Children become more capable of determining what kind of movement is appropriate for different situations. It also helps children gain more experience in concentrating, and develops higher levels of awareness of themselves and others.

SELF-ESTEEM: Perhaps the GREATEST benefit of creative movement is self-esteem. As children learn more and develop new skills, their self-esteem increases.

Dance to Health is a great manual for using creative movement with special needs children.  Click Here!

All children, regardless of age, developmental stage, or ability level can benefit from creative movement.  It provides many benefits, and best of all, it is FUN!