5 Crafts and Activities to Do with Your Kids Together

It’s important to establish a close relationship with your child, and one of the greatest ways to achieve that is to organize things you can do together. Are you having problems thinking of new things to do with kids to keep things interesting?

We wish to assist. We’ve compiled a selection of our favorite arts and crafts that you and your kids will both enjoy. Continue reading for our top family-friendly activities.

  1. Balloon Figures

This is a craft that’s typically done with snowmen, but if you’re not like the wintery theme, you can adapt it for a variety of other figures.

You’ll require the following for this:

  • Balloons
  • Your choice of color (or colors) for the yarn
  • Tape
  • Glue (both hot glue and white school glue)
  • Water
  • Construction paper
  • Markers
  • Accessory items (varies based on your figure)

Have your kid inflate a number of balloons. For the majority of figures, two or three are required, one for each size that can be round rather than oblong. With some tape, secure the balloons together.

When you have a thin but sticky mixture of glue and a tiny bit of water, you are done. The yarn can be covered in glue by you and your child by dipping it into the glue and wrapping it around the balloons (there can be gaps, though).

  1. Paper Dolls

All ages will enjoy making this straightforward craft. You only need a long sheet of art paper, scissors, and markers (the longer the sheet, the more dolls you may construct).

The paper should be folded in half. Then fold in half one more using one of the “open” edges, then repeat with the opposite side. Continue doing this until you have one thin piece of paper that resembles the beginning of a paper fan.

Create a doll with your child with the markers. The doll should represent one-half of a figure, therefore a figure wearing clothing is a good place to start. Make sure the doll’s arm extends all the way to the paper’s edge.

When the paper is unfolded, your child will see a chain of dolls holding hands. Help your child cut around the figure. Let your child use markers to customize each doll.

  1. Shadow Boxes

You and your children will treasure this craft for a very long time. Imagine it as a 3-D scrapbook. You’ll require

  • Wood
  • Superglue
  • Craft board or corkboard
  • Paint
  • Various photos, trinkets, and memory items
  • A photo frame that fits your box with the back removed but the glass still attached

Your first task will be to construct a modest wooden frame. You can purchase pieces of cheap wood at most craft stores, and it works well for this. Making each piece approximately 1 foot long and 3 inches wide is a nice place to start. Attach them using superglue to create your “box.” After that, cut a piece of corkboard and attach it to the back.

  1. Yarn Critters

Children adore making this activity because it is so simple. Although many learn it at summer camps, you can practice it at home. Only yarn, scissors, glue, and googly eyes are required.

To keep the yarn in place, have your child hold out their hand while you have them wrap it around their middle finger. Allow them to wrap the yarn around their fingers after that. The final length will depend on how wide they spread their fingers.

You can create a yarn creature by adding googly eyes!

To create the shape of a human, you can build a larger ball and glue it to the smaller one. By placing a layer of tulle in the middle, you can add a dress. You have a ballerina yarn critter!

  1. Rainbow Decorations

This simple rainbow decoration is something your child will enjoy making. All you need is a pack of cotton balls and rainbow-colored streamer paper strips.

Allow your youngster to separate the cotton balls so that they are no longer rolled up into balls. They don’t have to be flat, just “puffed out.” Work together since you need a lot of them.

Start adhering these cotton pieces together after that. While the center should not be immaculate, you should be more strategic as you move outward to give the impression of a fluffy cloud. Work your way out and keep adding cotton until your cloud is the size you want.

Your child should help you cut the streamer paper into long strips and glue them to the back of the cloud so that it resembles a hanging rainbow from the front. If you’d like to hang it in their room, you can add a loop on the back.

A Comprehensive Guide To The Best Ballet Music For Kids

It’s significant to choose the right music whether you are instructing a children’s ballet lesson or helping your child learn at home. Ballet music for kids can serve as a supportive prompt to remind your child which movements to practice. Most of the best ballet music for kids includes upbeat melodies, so older kids will particularly benefit from classical ballet music for barre practice.

Here we’ve got you covered if you are confused about which ballet music is best for your kid. So, keep on reading with us –

 

What Defines Good Ballet Music For Kids?

If you are conducting a quick search of classical ballet music, you may not get the right music for your child’s entire class. Because some of the CDs contain tunes that aren’t appropriate for kid’s ballet lessons because they were created with teen or adult dancers in mind. Popular ballet tunes can inspire your child to start moving independently. Choosing between slow and energetic songs is a great option when your class is warming up by playing freeze dance or dancing with scarves.

The majority of music is classical and short pieces when it concerns practicing at the barre. When buying CDs for kid’s ballet lessons, you need to select each piece carefully and make sure to download the best ballet tunes.

Some famous ballet tunes, like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker are just ideal for practicing poses, going across the floor, or adagio for floor training after barre. Also, these longer songs are useful for rehearsing short routines that help kids to develop day-by-day.

 

What Music To Play In Ballet Classes?

It’s vital to consider how your ballet class will run ahead of creating your playlist. If you are a responsible parent who is helping your child dance at home, you might want to start by looking at dance class lesson ideas. Ballet dancers might require assistance to shift their attention during warm-up. So, funny tracks with different tempos are perfect for stretching at the time of practice.

To help your dancers remember their stretches during this stage, consider incorporating some nursery rhyme songs. It can be sufficient to play some soothing music in the background while leading stretches in a small circle as part of your warm-up.

Next, barre exercises can be performed to traditional ballet music. Concentrate on music designed for plies, tendus, releves, and rande jambe for young children. Even though these songs won’t be long, you might need to repeat them a few times to get the moves down. For each phase, having two or three options is beneficial.

Longer, more classical ballet compositions can encourage your young dancers to capture more grace in their movements as you progress to centre work. This one is especially useful if you need to dance across the floor since you need a song that is lengthy enough to encompass several rows of two or three dancers. A lengthier song can promote more practice in this area if your child is dancing at home.

You might choose peppy songs from Disney or other artists as your cool-down music. This is excellent for songs of farewell or free movement or for tumbling. We advise concluding each lesson with a little bow or curtsy to a piece of soothing classical music.

 

Choose The Right Ballet Dance Class For Your Kids

In addition to choosing the right ballet tune for kids, there are many other things to consider when getting ready for a ballet lesson for kids. That’s helpful if your children are properly attired for ballet lessons.

Need to take ballet lessons from highly-trained dancers? Distinctive Dance Etc. is an ideal place to stimulate an environment for kids of all ages and enable them to explore new skills. We have arranged a range of programs to match each child’s needs, which you can get enrollment as per your area of interest.

So, feel delighted to dial us at 4019965222 for the details of our admission procedure. Call today!

Top 5 Benefits of Ballet

After reaching adulthood, you will possibly enjoy performing enormous activities rather than doing bass-heavy dance tracks. Although dancing is just a perfect physical activity, which offers relaxation and lots of fun to the body. There are even much more ways to stay active, seek relaxation, and maintain your physical aptness, without any embarrassment.

Ballet, this dancing style is a great way to jump-start your classes compared to other dance forms. You might get surprised to learn that your body is working hard while you are sweating in the dance studio. Your body will also perform plenty of workouts if you combine aerobic sessions with muscle toning exercises, without putting it under excessive stress. So, here we are going to underline the best 5 benefits of ballet that also make a great workout routine –

  1. Improve Body Posture

Because we’ve all witnessed the grace and excellent poise of trained ballet dancers, this dance form helps to hold the fitness of the body. Ballet emphasizes to maintain a straight neck, chin up, and shoulders back fit. Being conscious of your position and movements of the body in ballet helps you to overcome that hunch you have been trying to work on.

  1. Muscle Toning And Lengthening

This famous dance style intends upon a significant number of muscle groups in the body. Ballet isn’t just all about legs and feet. But, you will also be working on your arms, abs, and back as you focus on poise and positioning, along with performing several repetitions to properly activate those muscles.

  1. Improves Flexibility of The Body

It takes practice to be flexible throughout the ballet tracks. Your muscles will become accustomed to all these new movements through constant stretching and practice, and they will also be able to apply more force than ever before. Therefore, this dancing style helps to improve the overall flexibility of the body.

  1. Boost Your Attention Power

It’s difficult to lose attention while performing any style of dancing. So, Ballet demands your complete attention since you must pay attention to the movements, what is coming next, and stay active while performing with other students or taking dance lessons from teachers. You can eventually notice an improvement in your attention span as you exercise your mind while concentrating on your physical body. Dancing further helps to eliminate the risk of dementia according to some research reports.

  1. Get Social

At the beginning of ballet lessons, you might sense pretty uncomfortable although it’s quite overwhelming to take ballet lessons from highly-trained dance teachers. Several beginner’s ballet lessons are available to offer everyone an opportunity to sign-up in a relaxed environment and immediately started learning. Taking Ballet lessons has lots of fun to do with your companions as well as with everyone riding in the same boat. To become social and grow your network, it’s a perfect physical activity to sign-up and stay active as always. Once you’re prepared to spend some enjoyable hours in the dancing class with other students, you need to put on your socks and leggings to begin.

Now, looking for the top-ranked institute to take Ballet lessons? Then, Distinctive Dance Etc is your ideal match providing a stimulating environment for students of all ages to explore and acquire skills while having fun. Located in Greenwood Proper in Warwick, DDE has a range of programs to match each child’s needs to take dance lessons. Feel delighted to get in touch with our certified institutors and visit us at www.distinctivedanceetc.com right now!

 

Top 6 Questions to Ask a Ballet Instructor Before Your Very First Lesson

Tens of thousands of girls who have been studying ballet for years decide each year not to pursue a career as a professional dancer in favor of moving on with their lives. They could choose to do this for a variety of reasons. One of them is failing to find the right ballet instructor. Even while it might not appear as critical in the beginning, those initial impressions of ballet, as seen through the eyes of a skilled instructor, are really vital.

Before enrolling in a ballet class for the first time, read on to learn what inquiries you have to make.

  1. Is ballet your speciality?

Because a depth of knowledge and experience is not necessary at this early stage, some dance instructors provide beginner lessons in a range of genres. You might want to find out what your dancing instructor will bring to the table before joining.

As their studies continue, some pupils don’t mind working with changing teachers. However, when students advance from beginner lessons to intermediate classes, some find it far more comfortable to work with a known, dependable ballet teacher. It is doubtful that the teacher will continue to work with the ballerinas as they grow if they don’t specialize in ballet.

  1. What steps do you take to ensure your students’ safety?

The advantages of ballet are numerous. However, dancers frequently get hip, ankle, and foot ailments. Ballet is physically demanding, and improperly executed routines can put dancers in danger.

A skilled instructor, however, is aware of how to avoid these accidents. Before putting their routines into practice, they make their students warm up. Additionally, they meticulously watch each dancer rectify any errors that can result in stress injuries.

You are probably in excellent hands if a ballet instructor can provide a thoughtful response to this query. You might want to keep looking, though, if it seems as though they’ve never given safety considerations any thought.

  1. How much at-home practice do you encourage?

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. A ballet teacher should be expected to demand that her students practice at home. However, you might want to find out how much time a teacher expects her students to spend practicing at home.

Verify that you have adequate free time to fulfill the instructor’s expectations. For instance, if the school frequently competes, the instructor would likely anticipate that ballet is a top priority for all of her pupils. There may be fewer options for competition for people who don’t have time to train at home.

It’s crucial that you are honest with yourself when you ask this question. Are you only interested in ballet as a pastime, or do you want to take it more seriously? Finding the ideal ballet instructor for your requirements is easier once you know the answer.

  1. How do you measure progress?

It’s likely that your goal in taking ballet classes is to improve over time. As a result, you will require feedback and the opportunity to practice skills and techniques that aren’t coming easily to you.

A certified syllabus is frequently used by ballet instructors to organize their courses. This is a great technique to employ since it allows ballet instructors a chance to establish a standard and gauge each dancer’s development. Individual, constructive feedback and, based on the dancer’s preferences, private sessions should be part of this.

Ballet teachers that just focus on routine instruction rather than the various skills that make up routines may not be progress-oriented. Once more, if ballet is your interest, this might not be a problem. However, you should look for a progress-oriented instructor if you intend to continue ballet through high school and beyond.

  1. What is your cancellation policy?

Many dance studios have a clear cancellation policy that enables students to discontinue their sessions at any time without incurring any fees. Before beginning a new semester of studies, it’s critical to be aware of this alternative. You learn whether or not ballet is a good fit for you as well as whether or not the ballet instructor is the correct fit.

It’s not that the cancellation policy is only designed to protect dancers who change their minds. Sometimes studios run out of money or their key instructors relocate, which can lead to the closure of the entire operation.

You want to be sure that you’ll get a refund for whatever you’ve already paid for in the unlikely event that this occurs.

  1. How much do your classes cost?

Let’s assume that you have responses to your satisfaction for each of the queries we’ve already covered. The last decisive factor is the cost concern.

You must be aware of both your own budget and the kinds of classes you intend to enroll in. Do you wish to enroll in both individual and group lessons? Find out if both are included in the payment schedule or if the cost of individual courses will be much more than you anticipated.

In the end, you want to be sure that everything you desire is within your means. You don’t want to end up paying for stuff you don’t want, though, at the same time.

How to Keep Your Kids Dancing During the COVID-19 Quarantine

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, dance studios all over the world have had to close without much warning to the families of the dancers. These dance lessons are the one thing some small children look forward to each week. Your children may express themselves, learn, grow, and have fun through dance!

Your little dancers could be getting stir crazy being trapped indoors without a dance studio to let loose in as all dancing lessons have been canceled till further notice. These are the kinds of situations when we need to keep youngsters dancing. There is still dance to be done even if there is no studio to go to.

During the quarantine, children can dance with their families at home. Dancing at home will not only keep children occupied, but it will also keep them on track so they can easily return to dance school. Even if they aren’t dancers yet, your tiny ones will grow to adore the activity.

For tips on how to keep your kids dancing and having fun during the COVID-19 quarantine, continue reading below.

Have them set their own goals

Allow your young dancers to define their own objectives. All ages can participate in this activity. Ask your young dancers what they hope to accomplish in dance today or this week.

Your children may not be as eager to practice new dancing moves if they feel compelled to. Allow them to decide for themselves what objectives they want to achieve, and make sure to support them along the way.

When practicing dancing at home, it’s best to concentrate on competing against oneself rather than other dancers.

Participate in daily stretches together

Your kids may become less flexible if they take extended vacations from dancing. You may stretch regularly with them to make sure their bodies are always ready for dancing. Both you and your tiny dancers will benefit much from it.

You may find helpful stretches for young dancers on YouTube or by asking your children’s dancing instructors. Spend some time each day stretching with your little dancers to make their dancing skills flawless.

Create an at-home dance space

The atmosphere might not feel like a place for dance if there isn’t a designated area for your little dancers. If you can set up a dancing studio in their house, it will provide them with the setting they require each day to succeed.

The dancing area doesn’t need to fill the entire room, however, it would be nice if you had the room. If not, reserve a particular area of the room for your dancers. They will now have a separate area where they may dance to their hearts’ content.

If at all feasible, make sure to include some dancing supplies, such as a full-length mirror, a ballet barre, ballet shoes, a ballet costume, and dance flooring. The more amenities you can offer, the more like a typical dancing studio it will seem to them.

Small dance practice intervals

Give your kids short breaks to rehearse their dancing moves when they are practicing at home. One or two sessions of 10-15 minutes each will be effective. Allow your kids to keep dancing after the timer expires if they want to, but don’t make them.

They shouldn’t feel as though their dance time is a duty. Instead, you want to enjoy and have fun at this time.

Reward them for great practices

Make sure to give them praise after they finish a practice. Consider a few things that your kids like the most. This might take the form of stickers, spending more time on an electronic device, or something else.

After each dancing lesson or practice, give them their preferred goodie. You’ll want to let them know how proud you are of them since they’ve worked hard to maintain those skills and keep you amazed. Remember to provide them with plenty of water as well.

Top Five Benefits of Stretching

Stretching. Consider it the next wonder drug for athletes, dancers, gamers, and even book lovers. Regular stretching is good for children of all ages. The top five explanations are as follows:

  1. The muscles become more flexible and have a wider range of motion as a result of stretching. That translates to bigger jumps and deeper splits for dancers. It translates to a superior backhand twist for tennis players.
  2. Stretching makes the muscles receive more blood. The body heats up as a result, lowering the possibility of harm. This might make the difference between a goal and a groin injury for soccer players.
  3. Posture is improved through stretching. A child’s shoulders can round from playing video games, staring at a phone screen, or immersing themselves in a book for hours on end, all of which weaken their muscles. Kids can stand more upright thanks to stretching, which strengthens those muscles.
  4. Stretching can lessen pain in the muscles. Muscles may hurt after a strenuous game or dancing routine. Stretching helps to ease this pain.
  5. Finally, because it encourages relaxation, stretching can help youngsters sleep better. Children who stretch pay attention to their breath and their bodies rather than day-to-day concerns like COVID and homework.

The Benefits of Dance for Gymnasts

Dance and gymnastics are frequently viewed as complementing sports, and with good reason!

Both have a propensity to enhance the other’s abilities, and dancing, in particular, may boost the confidence of gymnasts in a few crucial areas of development. It gives gymnasts an opportunity to experiment with the art of their movement, as well as their melodic and memorizing skills.

Dance develops grace

Gymnasts must display artistic expression in their movement, especially on the balancing beam and the floor exercise, despite the fact that gymnastics is frequently seen as more of a sport than an art. In order to demonstrate their impeccable technique and composure, their performance quality must stand out alongside their abilities. Gymnasts may acquire a lightness and elegance to each stride, stance, and tumbling pass via dance instruction. Additionally, dance enables kids to focus on the specifics of the lines and forms they draw, such as those made by their extended fingers and pointed toes.

Dance cultivates body awareness

Gymnasts who take dance classes are better able to execute their maneuvers because they are more conscious of their bodies. Gymnasts, for instance, frequently repeat the same routines throughout their season; dance training helps improve this “muscle memory” (also known as the ability to recall what to do without consciously trying). Gymnasts may cross-train their muscle memory and hone their body awareness by taking a dance class, which is built on repeating movement phrases (some extremely long!).

Dance builds musicality

By default, musicality training is included in dance training. Gymnasts who study dance will automatically start to comprehend counts and rhythms better since dance courses are conducted with music and dance routines are performed to music. More than just improving her performance, this effect may also have an impact on how she perceives and makes use of her breathing to facilitate movement. When it comes to scoring effectively, keeping time and learning how to move properly to the rhythm of the music are two skills that cannot be undervalued.

 

Distinguish Between Dance And Gymnastics: Which One Is Better For Your Child?

Choosing the best physical activity for your child isn’t so easy, as you need to ensure your child is active and physically as well as mentally stimulated. And also, nobody wants their children to dislike any new activities. Instead, your children need to grow a passion for Dance and gymnastics.

 

Between Dance and gymnastics classes in Coventry sessions, which one is ideal for kids in terms of physical activities? Keep on reading with us to check which option your child should pursue to gain a new skillset.

 

Tumbling Is Required For Both Gymnastics And Dance 

 

Both dance and gymnastics can co-exist, so involves important tumble. It helps to develop strength and quickness in a child. Tumbling is a major component of practicing gymnastics and it can also include variations to dance lessons. All of these learned skills are significant to perform gymnastic routines and equally important as a move for dancers. 

We also provide Dance and tumbling classes in East Greenwich if you are looking for any specific tumbling dance classes.

 

Take Dance Classes At Any Age, But Not Gymnastics

 

Begin gymnastics at a very young age is extremely important to learn difficult techniques for kids. Learning higher levels in gymnasts can put older students at multiple disadvantages. Although dance isn’t similar to gymnastics, as not all of its session offers physical challenges. In case you have a teenage child, they can anytime join dance lessons and catch up quickly. 

 

Both Activities Need A Routine For Your Kids

 

Both dance and gymnastics are excellent at creating a routine for kids to follow them. This helps your child to stay more organized throughout the day. It’s equally important to choose the right gymnastics or dance institute to get your child enrolled for the best lessons.  

 

Diverse Sports Cultures For Your Kids 

 

While both dance and gymnastics are sports, although they have different sports cultures. And so, you need to wisely choose which one will suit your child the best. 

 

Gymnastics focused more on individual performance, as scores of individual gymnasts matters in a competition. If you are choosing a gymnastics session, your child can acquire great skills in self-reliance and persistence as a gymnast. However, dance is more of a group activity, unless your child is getting prepared to perform a solo. Most dance lessons require working in a group with other students and ensuring the routine is a success. 

 

The Range of Competition For Kids

 

The cost of participating in gymnastics to dance doesn’t make a noteworthy difference to your wallet. In comparison to uniforms, dance costumes are comparatively expensive as each dance routine will require different outfits and shoes. But, gymnasts don’t require as many expensive costumes as a dancer. Also, dance will cost you somewhat more to get new costumes in each routine and competition travel for kids.  

 

Now, It’s Time To Choose The Best Physical Activity For Your Kids 

 

The final decision is upon your child and you (as parents) to choose the right physical activity as per your interest. Both dance lessons for kids and gymnastics sessions are excellent physical activities to increase your child’s strength, motivation, and activeness. You just can’t go wrong with either one as numerous advantages and good reasons as equally present in each one. 

 

Are you in search of the right platform to get your child enrolled in any physical activities? Then, Distinctive Dance Etc is a renowned place to offer a stimulating environment to children of all ages and allow them to learn the best things. We have a wide range of programs to suit each child’s needs and options to explore gymnastics or dance lessons from highly-trained trainers.

 

To know more about our upcoming sessions to join, you can simply give us a call at 4019965222 today and get Dance and Gymnastics classes in Coventry.

Is Dance Important for Gymnasts?

Similar physical advantages, such as enhanced muscular strength, spatial awareness, and flexibility, are offered by both gymnastics and dance. Although gymnastics and dance have certain similarities, their respective techniques are significantly distinct. Due to these distinctions, dancing is the ideal addition to gymnastics training.

 

Dance improves grace

In artistic gymnastics, the floor exercise and balance beam blend tumbling and dancing moves to create a lovely performance. Gymnastics involves more than just completing a set of abilities; it also incorporates dancing to link these motions together. Gymnasts who study dancing discover that one move ends and another begins. Gymnasts can make more elegant connections between the elements because of this approach.

 

Dance helps to strengthen arm and leg postures

Gymnasts are trained in certain arm and leg postures, even at the recreational level. A stance that is taught and reinforced in dance class is the passé walk, which is practiced by athletes in preschool lessons on the balance beam. Gymnasts are also taught how to start and land techniques with certain arm and body postures. Gymnasts may learn how to push their hands and lunge into and out of skills by practicing these postures, which are also taught in dancing classes.

 

Athletes benefit from learning combinations

Both gymnasts and dancers must be able to recall and repeat a set of instructions. This method aids in imparting knowledge in a secure and advanced setting. Students’ memory abilities are strengthened when they use these techniques during dance or gymnastics, and they will find it simpler to recall combinations in their current class as well as in other comparable classes.

 

The ability to communicate is taught to athletes

For young people of all ages, self-expression is crucial. Children’s communication abilities can be safely improved by being taught to express themselves via music, rhythm, and dance. Gymnastics students find their individuality by showcasing their skills with their own flair, which translates to other forms of self-expression. The judges give points to gymnasts who show emotion in their beam and floor performances.

 

Dance and gymnastics make the ideal mix for children to succeed at both while being challenged and entertained in class, whether they are preschoolers or competitive gymnasts.