5 Ways Dance Class Helps Your Child Thrive as They Start School...

Building happy, confident learners- one dance step at a time...

Wow! can you believe that it's new term time already! Back to school and ready to start school for some. It’s such an exciting time, but it can also feel like a big leap for little ones… and for their parents! Even if your child’s been in nursery or preschool, school is a whole new world with bigger classrooms, more routine, more people to get to know.

I want to share with you five ways that dance classes can in fact help support your child through this transition in terms of both fun and movement, as well as in building emotional skills, social confidence, and resilience.

Whether your wee one is starting P1 or just moving into a bigger school stage, these are lessons they can carry with them into the classroom and beyond. And the best part is that they can be learning all of this while they’re having the time of their lives dancing.

1. Understanding and Managing Big Feelings

Starting school is a mixture of all sorts of emotions- excitement, nerves, pride, sometimes a bit of worry. That’s a lot for little bodies and minds to process, and for some children, those feelings can come out in ways that surprise us. We see everything from tears and extra clinginess to bursts of hyper energy, or even going completely quiet.

Dance class gives children a safe, healthy outlet to express what’s going on inside. If they’re buzzing with excitement, they can throw it into the creative choreography or attack technique with energy. If they’re feeling unsure, they might move slower, until they feel ready to join in. In dance, every mood is welcome, and we can work with it.

This is one of my favourite things about music and dance: it doesn’t just reflect how a child is feeling, but it can also change it. A child who comes in tired or cranky will leave with a smile and a skip in their step, because movement releases those “happy hormones” that boost mood and energy. It’s like pressing the reset button.

It’s also important to highlight that dance doesn’t drain their energy the way you might think after a busy school day. In fact, it often does the opposite. When children are physically active in a positive, social environment, they feel more awake and alert afterwards. I’ve lost count of how many parents have told me their child arrived at class ‘ready to fall asleep’ and left saying, ‘Can we do more?’

2. Learning to Listen and Follow Instructions

In dance, listening is built into the fun. We call out, ‘Skip to the corner!’, come in close, ‘Freeze in your pose!’, ‘Change partners!’. It’s playful, but children are actually practising the skill of hearing instructions, processing them quickly, and responding.

One of my favourite moments is watching a group of 3 and 4-year-olds suddenly freeze mid-giggle when the music stops — total stillness. Then the next moment they’re hopping to the other side of the room because they heard a new instruction. That quick change of attention is exactly the kind of focus teachers value in school.

And it’s not just about reacting, it’s also about understanding sequencing: “First we do this, then we do that.” Who's turn it is in a line and such. That’s a direct link to classroom activities like following multi-step directions or completing a task from start to finish.

Teacher tip: Try a “freeze dance” games at home. They’re so brilliant for listening skills, and your child will think you’re just having fun together.

3. Developing Social Skills & Friendships

In dance, children learn to share space, take turns, and work with partners or groups. They are encouraged and learn to cheer for each other when someone nails a move, or performs in front of the class and they learn how good it feels to be encouraged.

I remember a wee boy in one of our classes who was so shy he would only dance at the back, near the wall with his eyes on the floor. Over a few weeks, another little dancer started quietly inviting him into her group each time we did partner work. By the end of term, he was so confident to perform in front of the class, and couldn't wait to do the show!

Teacher tip: If your child tends to be shy, ask if they can bring a familiar friend to their first few classes. That shared experience can help them warm up to new faces

4. Strengthening Focus & Memory

When children learn a routine, they’re remembering the sequence, keeping in time with music, adjusting if the teacher changes something, and sometimes even adding facial expressions or acting on top. That’s a lot of brainwork!

The great thing is that in dance, memory is developed without pressure. There’s no test at the end of the day as it’s all about enjoyment and achievement through practice. That makes it less intimidating and more natural, so children stay engaged and willing to try.

Teacher tip: You can support this at home by asking your child to “teach you” their favourite move from class. Teaching someone else helps lock the memory in even more.

5. Building Resilience & Independence

Finally, let’s talk about resilience and independence.

In dance, children face little challenges every week- maybe they can’t get a step straight away, maybe they wobble in a balance, maybe they forget a move during a routine. Each time, they learn to try again.

One of my proudest moments as a teacher was watching Molly cartwheel beautifully and confidenmtly on stage. For weeks she had been worried about it. So we gave her an alternative move, 'just in case' she was still struggling by show night. Low and behold, with that pressure having been taken off, she started to enjoy practcing cartwheels rather than dread it and on show day, she pulled off a beautiful, strong and confident cartwheel in the routine.

Dance also encourages independence such as managing their own shoes and water bottle, finding their spot in class, and listening without a parent beside them. Those small acts add up to a child who feels capable and ready to handle the more independent environment of school.

So, there you have it- five ways that dance class can give your child a head start as they begin their school journey: helping them understand and manage big feelings, listen and follow instructions, develop social skills, strengthen focus and memory, and build resilience and independence.

If your wee one is about to start school, or if they’ve just started and you want to give them that extra boost, our classes are a wonderful way to support them and, they’ll have a whole lot of fun along the way.

Michelle Douglas

Aug 2025