The Power of Play

 

** For photos or graphics, we recommend using images that display students engaging in activities and exercises that focus on play and pretend play. You should also include images of students interacting with each other **

Caption 1: What separates an amazing preschool program from the rest? 🧐

Play!

As Dr. Annie Spell, child psychologist and co-creator of Leap N Learn says, ‘The job of a child is to learn through play’.

If we're not teaching dance through play, then the students are missing out! We ensure that play is at the forefront of our classes, we want to change the dance education space, one playful preschool class at a time.

Our Leap 'N Learn curriculum capitalizes on the power of play, giving children the chance to problem solve, choose how to interact with scenarios, and create incidental learning moments.

#leapnlearn #preschooldance #preschooldanceeducation #danceeducation #dancecurriculum #balletcurriculum #balleteducation #creativedanceforkids #creativedance #balleteducation #studioowner #danceteacher #balletteacher #dancestudio #play #playbasedlearning

 
 

Caption 2: Whether it's learning about levels, size or tempo, our Leap 'N Learn inspired classes support powerful learning through the magic of pretend play. 🦋

#leapnlearn #preschooldance #preschooldanceeducation #danceeducation #dancecurriculum #preschoolballet #creativedance #creativemovement #danceteacher #dancestudioowner #danceteachertraining

 
 

Caption 3: Learning great dance technique shouldn't come at the sacrifice of play and creativity.

The best dance studios know that dance education is about creating moving, thinking and feeling dancers, not clones.

Our Leap 'N Learn foundation fuses the magic of pretend play with research-backed theories of learning to give students safe, effective and engaging experiences that will help shape their unique sense of self.

At this studio, we're all about supporting the development of independent, confident and curious young minds 💕🧠

#leapnlearn #preschooldance #preschooldanceeducation #danceeducation #dancecurriculum #balletcurriculum #balleteducation #creativedanceforkids #creativedance #balleteducation #dancestudioowner #danceteacher #balletteacher #dancestudio

Image 4:

 
 

Caption 4: The most beneficial early childhood programs are those that allow students to make their own interpretations, connections and suggestions.

As Dr Annie Spell, child psychologist and co-creator of Leap 'N Learn, says:

"The job of every 3 through 6 year old is pretend play. Pretend play is one of the most important aspects a teacher can bring into their early childhood class."

Our Leap 'N Learn classes always situates learning in engaging, playful, imaginative and creative settings.

#leapnlearn #preschooldance #preschooldanceeducation #danceeducation #dancecurriculum #preschoolballet #creativedance #creativemovement #danceteacher #dancestudioowner #danceteachertraining #pretendplay

Caption 5:

When children play, they use self-directed talk or actions to think, plan, engage and problem solve.

Because pretend play involves making choices based on make-believe contexts, it supports cognitive, social and emotional skill development... but want to know the best part? Kids love it!

So, the next time you see your child pretending to be a flamingo or a baby bird, a deep sea explorer, or an astronaut in class, you can rest assured they’re engaged in powerful, developmentally-appropriate learning.

#leapnlearn #preschooldance #preschooldanceeducation #danceeducation #dancecurriculum #preschoolballet #creativedance #creativemovement #danceteacher #dancestudioowner #danceteachertraining #pretendplay #pretendplay #powerofplay

Caption 7: How do we incorporate pretend play in our classroom?

We don't just give the kids wings and a wand, and let them dance around. That's not pretend play.

In order for it to be pretend play, we must ask the questions - What are you pretending? What are you doing? What is your character?

All these questions need to be answered, and they should be answered by the child through their play. That's when we see the true value of pretend play.

#leapnlearn #childhooddance #preschooldance #danceeducation #pretendplay #danceteacher #dancestudioowner

Caption 8: We know that kids love to leap and twirl in class, but harnessing this energy to develop fine and gross motor skills isn't always easy in a preschool dance class.

That's why at our studio we teach teachers to embrace what makes kids, well, kids.

The secret? Pretend play.

When technique is taught not just properly, but playfully, you are giving your students the chance to develop vital physical, cognitive, social and emotional skills, all while they are having fun, exploring their creativity and learning to understand the world around them.

We are proud to be a Leap 'N Learn studio.

#leapnlearn #preschooldance #danceducation #meaningfullearning #dancestudio #studioowner #danceteacher #preschoolkids

Caption 9: Dance is so much more than just technique - and creative movement reinforces that. But how do we find the balance between the two? Pretend play!

If we want our students to develop secure technique and strong foundations, classes shouldn't just be boring skill and drill. But, creative movement shouldn't just be fluffy and lacking purpose.

In fact, these are two of the biggest issues we see in early childhood dance education, and this is why we've adopted the Leap 'N Learn curriculum. Because we're here to make a difference.

When technique is taught properly and playfully, it shows.

#leapnlearn #leapnlearndance #kidsdance #preschooldance #danceteachers #dancestudioowner #dancestudio #balletcurriculum #dancecurriculum #danceteachnique

Caption 10: We don't expect our students to engage with skill and drill learning... 🙅🏼‍♀️

At a preschool level, the ideal way to absorb information is through pretend play that uses stories and imagined contexts to give students a 'why'.

As LNL co-creator and child psychologist, Dr. Annie Spell, says, "the job of a 3-6yr old is pretend play". We want to be incorporating pretend play into as much of our lesson as possible to watch student engagement and learning blossom right before us.

You can trust our studio to engage with your students the Leap 'N Learn way.

#leapnlearn #leapnlearndance #kidsdance #preschooldance #dancetips #danceteachertips #danceteacher #danceteachers #dancestudio #dancestudioowner

Caption 11: Want to know one of the easiest and most impactful things we do to support our younger dancers?

💫 It's play! 💫

When children play they use self-directed talk or actions to plan, engage and problem solve. This helps develop symbolic thinking, working memory and cognitive flexibility, which are super important to executive functioning.

It also...

🎈 prepares them for real life settings by providing a chance to rehearse processes and scripts

🎈 provides a safer space to experiment with feelings, and

🎈 supports the development of empathy by playing roles outside of themselves

Whether its cognitive, social or emotional development, play helps young children thrive 🌱

#leapnlearn #preschooldance #preschooldancecurriculum #pretendplay #childdevelopment

 
 
Theory and MethodsMillie HingTheory and Methods, Play, Pretend Play, magic, creativity, creative movement, self-directed talk, playing, development, engage, learn through play, playful, child developmentComment