In the last year I've covered a lot of academic territory, but what hasn't been covered is physical education related. The Arts stimulate minds and help strengthen the skills socially and emotionally, allowing for better communication and comprehension of all materials at hand.
My own children are dancers...where this gene for such gracefulness came from completely eludes me as I seem to have been born with two left feet and have the body of Roseanne Barr, pre-surgery. What I can say my husband and I both have is a great appreciation for Theater Arts, and on my side a bit of exposure to varied other performing arts, including painters, pianists and the symphony.
While I hope to never hear my daughter utter the phrase “One time at band camp” in the context it is used in our modern society, I will give her (and her brother should he continue down the same path) exposure to dance competitions, conventions, workshops, and as many classes as our pocketbook allows for. Both children have learned the history of the time of Classical Ballet they've seen performed, the political history of the era, and we've turned it into a lesson in geography and mathematics at the same time that they are off learning to plie, tendu, jete, shuffle-hop, buffalo and ball change their way across a stage.
While it doesn't have to be dance (in my case it worked out) I would strongly advocate that arts be included in your own student's education. It fits seamlessly into ours and provides extra physical education that is outside the realm of sports.
Give it a try – you might find your own child learns to express themselves better while learning things you never would have imagined too!
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