Dance to Learn® Library

Our Why

When I was young teacher, I lacked the skills and knowledge to teach developmentally appropriate dance classes. I remember teaching an exceptionally challenging Preschool Ballet class one day. My students wouldn't want to sit for warm ups, they would rather run around the room. They didn't know how to wait their turn for across the floor exercises and they all wanted to dance at one time. They didn't follow directions or classroom expectations. I was using out-dated classroom management techniques like Time Outs rather than evaluating my teaching skills. I decided these students needed just weren't ready for a structured dance class. They needed a parent in the room to help facilitate the rules and expectations of the classroom. Thinking it would solve my dilemma, I created a Parent and Me class with the mindset that the parents can manage their child, and the child will follow directions. Guess what - it didn't work either! I was still teaching exercises and skills that weren't developmentally appropriate for this age group. Young children don't like sitting on a spot and stretching, or standing on a dot and practicing pliés. The class was too structured and too technical. Parents were frustrated because all though they were in the room, the children still didn't follow directions. It created a high stress environment for the parents, so they stopped coming all together. We eventually cancelled the class. I took 3 years off from teaching a Parent and Me class, and in that time researched the developing child. The result is a Parent and Me Dance Curriculum based on the Whole Child and how they learn. It includes Developmentally appropriate teaching practices, conceptualized weekly lesson plans, multi-sensory props and upbeat kid-friendly music. My Parent and Me classes went from a high stress environment for both parents and students, to a cooperative classroom with opportunities for both caregiver and child to learn the benefits of dance and how a quality dance education can help their child reach developmental milestones. I am excited to share the Curriculum with other dance educators and studio owners looking to implement a high quality, kid-centered Parent and Me Dance Program!