Why Dance is the Perfect Activity for an Only Child

Many children today come from single child families and those parents are often looking for activities that give their child lifelong social connections. Dance is a perfect activity because you can start it at a very early age, it has group accountability and goal setting, and provides lasting friendships throughout their childhood.

1 - Dance helps pre-school age children adapt

At South Coast Conservatory we start our dancers at 2 years old. This is a perfect time for an only child to get social interaction, movement, and performance opportunities in a group. They learn how to relate to their peers at a young age, giving them a peer group to play with and confidence when they begin school. Their dance friends have a similar passion that creates friendships that continue into all through their school years.

2 - Dance helps children make new friends

Dance classes are a great way to meet new friends. Young dancers develop essential social skills through interaction with other students. Learning group choreography fosters teamwork, communication, trust, and cooperation. Dance also has been proven to nurture important life skills, such as discipline and focus. Dancers naturally display confidence and self-esteem which allows them to build healthy relationships.

3 - Dance provides a feeling of belonging

When an only child enters grade school, it's important to give them a sense of belonging. Our competitive program at South Coast Conservatory not only gives a sense of belonging, but a sense of team accountability and group accomplishment. Just like when brothers and sisters build a fort in the living room and play in it all day, our teams also create something together and enjoy the success of that creation.

4 - Dance builds lifelong relationships

Unlike school that changes classmates every year, dance often has the same relationships that continue all the way to college. Many of our high school age students that were only children have said that South Coast Conservatory is their home away from home, and their dance mates are like "brothers and sisters". Many alumni dancers attend the weddings, baby showers, and graduations of their dance mates and become their lifelong friends.

5 - Dance combats feelings of isolation

Feeling isolated from friends and family is something a lot of children are really struggling with. By encouraging your child to participate in dance classes, virtual or in-studio, it can help them combat these feelings of isolation. When they dance online, your child will still feel connected and loved. Encouraging this interaction in challenging times will strengthen their bonds with friends and with their dance teacher, leaving them with a stronger support network. The last thing you want for your child is the emotional and physical challenge of feeling alone.

Start your only child dance journey of making lifelong friends that feel like family at South Coast Conservatory.

Laguna Niguel, CA