How Dance Can Help Your Child Cope with Stress in the Pandemic

Dance education has helped students cope with the major impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been a stressful 18 months; moments of isolation, fears of the unknown, and constant changes. Parents are facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions. And all of those emotions and stress are being seen in children in record numbers. Even though public health actions are necessary to reduce the spread of this pandemic, it has also increased the feeling of loneliness, stress, and anxiety in our children. Parents are seeking ways to help their child learn to cope with that stress. Finding activities like dance will make your child become more resilient and reduce their anxiety.

Learn 5 ways that dance can help your child cope with stress during this crazy pandemic.

1. Dance releases happy chemicals in your child's body

Kids need to be physically active. Getting them out of the house and doing a physical activity, like dancing, is essential. And it is also fun! Dance, as an exercise, helps oil the body and the mind. It's not just a physical thing. The mind is free when the body is in motion. Dancing starts releasing those happy chemicals that kids need right now: dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. Once those chemicals are released, your child can manage stress with ease. And that's exactly what is needed when stress levels from the COVID situation have hit the roof.

2. Dance teaches mindfulness

In every dance class there is a classroom structure that incorporates deep breaths, stretching, and social awareness. Each dance student has moments of personal reflection when they move throughout the room. The mindfulness of internalizing the movement, connecting to others, and breathing deeply reduces a lot of the stress that a child may be feeling.

3. Dance fosters the relationships kids desperately need right now

This is an important time for your child to connect with like minded kids. And through dance, your child learns to value and respect their friendships and family relationships even more. The dance community teaches students to be nurturing and compassionate towards others. In doing so, students also learn the responsibility and benefits of friendships. The connections students feel with their teacher, fellow students, and even an audience have fostered the good feelings that kids crave, especially now.

4. Dance forces kids to take breaks

It's good to be informed, but your child needs to be able to take a break from all of the negativity of the pandemic and focus on the things they have some control over. When your child is in a dance room, they are disconnected from phones, tv, and computer screens. Instead they are relishing in the present moment of music, creativity, social connection, and positivity. And by living in the moment in dance class, your child learns to enjoy the simple things in life and they get that break they need.

5. Dance allows your child to practice problem solving and make changes

There will always be challenges to overcome. This is what makes life so colourful. The important part is how we go about solving problems and changing our thought patterns. Sometimes we need to change so we can grow. Other times, we simply need to approach a challenge from a different perspective. You can help your child develop their problem solving skills by enrolling them in dance classes. To be able to learn skills and choreography students have to make split second decisions for their body and their surrounding space. We have seen tremendous growth in our students who have continued to dance through the entire pandemic as they have learned to adapt quickly. Students learn multiple styles of dance and have multiple teachers helping them approach their challenges from different perspectives.

BONUS - South Coast Conservatory Is Also Helping Parents Cope

While we take care of our dancers, it allows parents the much needed time to take care of themselves and then they are better equipped to take care of others. During these times of social distancing, it is especially important to stay connected with your friends and family. Having a chance to make an uninterrupted phone call or video chats can help parents have a chance to connect with their other family and friends that also need connection right now.

Our South Coast Conservatory motto is to create dancers that are strong, smart, and kind. And we want all of our dancers to have the strength to do great things. The health benefits they gain through their years at South Coast Conservatory will last a lifetime. Enroll in one of our programs and experience the athleticism your child needs.

At South Coast Conservatory we CHANGE LIVES THROUGH DANCE!

Laguna Niguel, CA