Movement Matters: Dance in Early Childhood

Movement is the key to learning! Dance and music experiences in early childhood contribute to the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of young children. Come and learn why movement matters: how it constructs the body and the brain; builds the strong foundation children need to explore the world around them and within themselves; and empowers children to become self-reliant, grounded, and integrated movers and learners. The workshop will be a blend of discussion and movement experiences that are developmentally appropriate for preschoolers.

We will learn the preschool BrainDance moving through the fundamental movement patterns that wire the brain and central nervous system in the early years of life. Participants will learn how the fifteen dance concepts we explore through creative movement are made up of simple and clear contrasting elements. Discover how young children experience balance in body and mind while having fun exploring, creating, and responding within the framework of brain-compatible teaching. You'll come away with a blueprint for planning age-appropriate, conceptually based lessons, strategies for teaching dance in any setting, and ideas for coping with common class management issues. Daycare providers, teaching artists, preschool teachers, parents, dance teachers, caregivers, OTs and PTs are all welcome.
$65. Participants wanting clock hours must bring $10 check made out to PSESD on day of workshop.