Dance Mode
If, like me, the kids in your life are Bluey fans, you’ve probably seen the "Dance Mode" episode. Inspired by this, and the fact that my 8-month-old Josie has started bopping along to music, I’ve decided that this Feel Good February, we’ll have a dance party each night as part of our bedtime routine. I did some research about the benefits of dancing as a family and found some great reasons to give it a try. Mostly, I’m just hoping it might make bedtime for my 2.5-year-old, Owen, a little smoother (cross your fingers for me)!
7 Benefits of Family Dance Parties
Cardiovascular Health: Anytime we can incorporate movement into our day, it's a great idea. Even just increasing our heart rate for a few minutes is beneficial.
Strength and Flexibility: Any movement is great for overall strength and flexibility, but a dance party is also a great time to incorporate stretches or exercises to help with these areas. If balance is something you or your child struggle with, include some hopping or balancing dance moves. If we’ve recommended you do some Superman exercises with your toddler or baby, now’s a great time to do a version and fly them through the air!
Release Tension: This might be the most important benefit for mum or dad at the end of the day or if your kids have had a rough day, dancing is a great opportunity to let go and shake the day off. After all, who can stay crabby while dancing and laughing?
Language Development: Music, especially repetitive kids' songs, is incredibly beneficial for vocabulary, listening skills, memory, and expressive language.
Laughter: Did you know that laughing can be amazing for both your mental and physical health? It can relieve stress, increase oxygen to your body, improve pain tolerance, and boost immune function, plus many more benefits. So make sure to let go and be as silly as possible to get everyone laughing!
Improve Memory and Cognitive Function: This is especially true for dances that involve a routine. Put on some “Hokey Pokey” or “Hot Potato” and help boost your little one's brain development by combining cognitive processing with physical movement.
Most importantly, it’s FUN!! Having fun together is a fantastic way to connect. The more connected we feel, the happier everyone tends to be.
I’m hoping that our nightly dance parties help our family in the short term by making bedtime a little smoother and adding some joy to our routine. Maybe it’ll spark a love for dance in my little ones, and they might even want to take dance classes. And who knows, maybe one day, one of them will follow their Aunty’s footsteps and become a professional ballerina! The possibilities are endless, and I’m excited to see where this dance journey takes us.
