March 2011

Spring is on its way! We have had a lot of fun in Creative Movement this winter. Our focus has been on moving through space: in different directions, pathways, and on different levels. The children love to choose different locomotor movements – walking, marching, galloping, sliding, tiptoeing – and travel in a circle, in a straight line, or in random pathways. In February we did some partner dancing around and through a heart shape.

Both the partner work and the work in groups introduce the idea of dancing in relationship with others, another basic movement concept, and one which has obvious social benefits. We’ll be “connecting” with our friends to make human sculptures, using our elbows, knees, backs, etc., in different dance shapes, and on different levels. We’ve been learning to respect each other’s personal space when we move around the room without touching; now we’ll learn how to respect each other’s bodies as we treat each other with care.

We’ll be dancing like different animals this month, traveling on different levels, and at different tempos – either fast or slow. Spring brings an opportunity to explore life cycles of plants and animals, like the butterfly and the frog, through movement.

As always, in Creative Movement my goal is to have fun while meeting basic dance and learning objectives.

You will be receiving information about an opportunity to come and visit our Creative Movement classes soon. I hope many of you will be able to join us!

It’s hard to believe that there are only a few more Creative Movement classes before Christmas break! We have had so much fun in our sessions this Fall. We have continued to focus on body part and locomotor movements, and I have introduced the concept of shape. Using Fall colored scarves, the children did a falling leaf dance, landing in leaf shapes. I pulled out the tumbling mats, and the children learned log rolls, pumpkin rolls, and forward rolls, using straight or round body shapes.

We have also focused on rhythm activities, using the lummi sticks and the drums, and songs from other cultures. We all especially enjoyed learning the Native American song, “Hey Ya Na”.

This week in Creative Movement the older classes are viewing selections from “The Nutcracker” ballet, and having fun dancing like the mice, toy soldiers, and other characters from this favorite holiday story. In the next two weeks before the break we’ll play a Christmas shape game, do reindeer locomotor movements, and play the drums like “The Little Drummer Boy”.

I wish you and your families all a wonderful holiday season, and look forward to dancing and singing with your children in the new year!

Contributing to Early Childhood Development Through Dance

I’m so excited to be starting another year as the Creative Movement teacher at Lord of Preschool . This year, our Creative Movement sessions will be on Tuesdays and Fridays, depending on the class. I have provided an overview of this program below for those of you who are new to the school, and to serve as a reminder for returning parents.

There are so many benefits to Creative Movement, it is hard to list them all, but I will outline many of them here. We are all aware of the health benefits of physical exercise, including increased flexibility, strength, and coordination. We will begin class with age-appropriate stretches and warm-ups. Some form of locomotor movement, such as galloping, jumping, hopping, and sliding, is always included, providing aerobic benefits.

Rather than focus on a specific dance style, such as ballet or tap, a creative approach to natural movement is most appropriate for young children. In our sessions, students will learn body part awareness and control, and be exposed to the dance elements of shape, rhythm, time, space, and effort. Simple percussion instruments will be used for rhythm experiences. Props such as scarves, bean bags, and hoops are also used to enhance the theme of the day.

Studies have shown a direct correlation between directed movement activities and cognitive development in young children. Movement patterns and sequencing, and basic rhythm activities strengthen neuromuscular connections in young children, and reinforce developing language and math concepts.

Perhaps most importantly, when children attend Creative Movement they will have the opportunity for creative expression, and so “own” their movement, allowing for increased confidence and self-esteem. Their thoughts, ideas, imagination, and feelings are all taken into consideration, leading to joyful experiences. Children learn to respect each other’s space and ideas, and have fun with non-competitive movement games, yielding positive social benefits as well.

Please feel free to come see me anytime if you have any questions about the Creative Movement program. I always post a note outside Room #1 so that you can see what we do each week, and I will put periodic updates on the LOL website. I’m looking forward to an exciting and creative year with your children!

Carrie Wilcox, Creative Movement Teacher