Dance can benefit a child in countless ways. By regularly participating in dance lessons and activities, children gain social skills, improve their physical fitness and see benefits in their academic performance.

The physical benefits of dance are unparalleled. Regular participation in dance classes and activities naturally supports a child to develop higher levels of physical fitness and cardiovascular endurance. However, according to an 

, the physical benefits go much further than the obvious.

Dance, alongside increasing a child’s general fitness, also benefits their spacial awareness, balance, and blood pressure while increasing their flexibility and coordination. They will also see an increase in their overall strength and endurance.

These benefits, experienced as a result of regular dance activities, enable children to approach other areas of their life, both physical and social, with higher levels of confidence.

The nature of dance results in direct, positive benefits on a child's academic performance. The self-discipline of dance, as well as the need to follow specific instructions and work effectively within a group setting, are all skills that translate positively into a classroom environment. 

 by suggesting the memory skills involved in learning choreography naturally benefit academic performance.

Stagecoach details specific lessons a child will be exposed to within a dance studio including learning patience, the benefits of repetition, and the necessity of trial and error. A child who is self-assured and comfortable with the positivity of making mistakes is more likely to get confidently involved in academic activity.

As a predominantly group activity, dance undoubtedly supports the social development of a child. One of the most prevalent ways is exposing them to other children, often from a variety of backgrounds, and encouraging them to form new friendships.

 defines dance as an active form of emotional expression. Being able to address and communicate their emotions, in this way, encourages a child to develop higher levels of emotional maturity.

Additionally, the act of performing causes a child to explore their vulnerability and strengthens their self-esteem within a social setting.

Learning to dance enables children to embrace failure. There will be times when children struggle with choreography and take longer to perfect certain movements. Overcoming and facing these struggles equips children with increased levels of personal motivation and perseverance, benefiting them in their future careers.

Dance gives children a creative outlet. As we grow older, we recongise the need for creativity and physical fitness to positively benefit our mood, tackling feelings of stress and anxiety. Exploring the world of dance, at an early age, gives children a creative outlet to rely on in the future.

By including dance in your child’s weekly activities, they will experience higher self-esteem, confidence, and improved social skills alongside the abundance of physical, personal, and academic benefits.

The only real question is: which form of dance does your child want to take?! There are so many dance styles to choose from that you are really spoilt for choice!

Benefits of Dance for Children

When planning activities for an After School Club, it is vital to incorporate arts and crafts. Creative activities support children in developing social skills while increasing their academic performance. Beyond this, arts and crafts are a means of self-expression, they can develop patience, and help children to work through their emotions.

The majority of art and craft activities require the use of muscles within the hands, fingers, and wrists. The development of these fine motor skills can greatly benefit other tasks like writing, as 

. As a result, children who regularly partake in arts and crafts will more easily develop skills like writing, directly benefiting them in their academic performance.

As well as developing the muscles in the hands, arts and crafts can support better hand-eye coordination. Another vital life skill!

 discusses the direct benefits that art and craft activities can have on a child’s ability to communicate effectively. Arts and crafts benefit language development through the exploration of a wider vocabulary including words connected to textures, colours, and mediums.

Additionally, by setting a theme to explore within their arts and crafts sessions, children can further their vocabulary surrounding specific subject areas. For example, a painting inspired by the sea could encourage children to learn the names of animal species.

 conducted a recent study that discovered children, who regularly participated in some form of creativity, performed better in math and developed stronger reading and cognitive skills.

Drawing and painting was seen to directly enhance a child’s mathematical mind through the identification of shapes and the sorting of art equipment based on colour or medium. These problem-solving and grouping skills provide a strong foundation for mathematics.

Furthermore, children have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of certain subjects or learn about new topics through artistic activities. Creating a drawing inspired by space and rockets could present the opportunity to develop their understanding of the solar system. As well as improving language skills, this specific example would directly benefit a child’s performance in science lessons.

Art activities provide a necessary opportunity for self-expression, as 

. Art allows children to communicate their emotions, without having to vocalise them. This is beneficial to school-aged children who may be experiencing complex emotions that they can not effectively communicate with words alone. Supporting a child’s mental well-being, and allowing them a space to work through their emotions, has unmatched benefits for their social and educational development.

Arts and crafts are social activities. Gathered around a table, getting stuck into a painting, generates organic conversation between children. This can support them in developing friendships while enhancing their ability to cooperate when sharing items such as pens and pencils.

The benefits of art and craft activities stretch from academic and educational to personal and emotional. Adding creative sessions, to a child’s routine, will benefit them now and in the future.

How can art and craft activities benefit a child's learning and social skills?

Attending an After School Club benefits multiple areas of a child's life. These include, but are not limited to, their academic performance, the development of wider hobbies and interests, emotional development, and the nurturing of social interactions, life skills, and friendships.

Undeniably, the attendance of an After School Club positively impacts a child's academic performance now and in the future

After School Clubs provide an opportunity for children to develop skills and lessons learned in the classroom through meaningful play. Play offers a child the opportunity to deepen their understanding of a subject matter, problem-solve, and work collaboratively with other children.

 suggests that play also encourages cognitive growth and, when led by adults within an After School Club, can help a child solidify the lessons learned within a classroom. As a result, their academic performance is strengthened.

 suggests that attending an After School Club improves a child's academic performance through better grades and higher attendance. Additionally, children that consistently participate in an After School Club are shown to have a deeper level of empathy for other students, less problematic behaviour,  and higher levels of engagement. These create a strong foundation of social skills to foster effective learning and participation in the classroom.

Regularly attending an After School Club allows children to be exposed to a variety of new activities and a changing social circle.

The activities explored at an After School Club will expose children to potential new interests and hobbies. As detailed by 

, when a child finds their passion or a hidden talent, their self-confidence is naturally impacted; they feel fulfillment and excitement for a new avenue of expression. An increase in confidence, as a result of skill development, positively impacts their academic performance as they have a new sense of an ability to achieve.

Entering a new social circle after the school day, comprised of children from a variety of age groups and with a variety of interests, positively develops social skills and confidence. Increased confidence can encourage children to be bolder in the classroom, take more risks, and develop leadership skills. This confidence leads to a 'can do' attitude which will undoubtedly benefit their academic performance.

 has discovered that the skills developed within an After School Club, including increased confidence within the classroom, a greater grasp of academic concepts, and improved social skills, have lasting, positive implications on a child's education.

The social skills developed in these early years of education will improve leadership skills that will benefit a child throughout higher education and their career. Additionally, solidifying their understanding of core academic concepts will create a foundation for success in their later studies.

It is important that a child's experience of an After School Club is enjoyable and not a direct extension of their experience within the classroom. When used correctly, an After School Club can solidify and improve academic performance while encouraging self-expression, play, and a natural interest and curiosity in the world.

Academic performance will be most positively improved by fostering a love for learning. Creating an understanding that learning can be creative and fun and encouraging children to never lose the enjoyment in trying something new.

The benefits of attending an After School Club for academic performance

A record number of families are benefitting from their children being able to attend free holiday activities this summer. The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is a government-funded initiative that provides activities and healthy food to pupils from Reception to Year 11. The programme is open to those who are eligible for pupil premium free school meals.

Holiday clubs across the country, including many Pembee customers, are part of the scheme this year. To be eligible for funding, the activity provision must include one hour of physical activity per day such as sport, a walk or free outdoor play. There is also a requirement to provide a free meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) but if the Holiday Club is not in a position to provide this, the local council is likely able help arrange this with a local food provider.

The activity provision must be inclusive for children with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities. It must also be running for a minimum of four weeks over the summer.

Activities can usually be made available to children who are not eligible for the scheme whose parent pays for their place. However the council may ask for children who are part of the scheme to be given priority.Andy Francis, sport delivery manager at Ignite Sport in Oxford, told the 

 that the HAF programme is enabling children to fulfil their true potential through fully funded activities and food. He added: “This summer will be a challenging period for some families in Oxfordshire as the cost-of-living crisis squeezes people’s ability to fund increased food and childcare costs.”

Kelly, the Youth & Community Co-Ordinator at 

 in Reading, added that the programme had helped them reach many new families in the community. This includes those who need support over the summer for young people with complex needs.

The exact funding model is set out by each council. In the case of Ealing Council in West London, they provide up to a day £20 per child if the Holiday Club is arranging a meal. They also provide support with the food offering, in which case they will fund up to £17.

Most councils provide a list of Holiday Clubs that are part of the HAF programme on their website to help parents find activities that are local to them. In most cases, parents are sent a HAF code by email or text message which they can use to book a child into a HAF activity. The Holiday Club will need this code to claim the funding for the council.

If you are interested in providing HAF programme activities during school holidays in the future, contact your local council who will be able to give you information on their application process. The HAF programme does currently include half-term weeks, so it will next run during the Christmas Holidays.

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