Pole dancing has been popular recently. It is a fun and challenging way to stay fit, build strength, and express oneself through movement.
Some may still associate pole dancing with adult entertainment. But it has become a legitimate form of fitness and artistic expression.
Moreover, this activity can be great for children. Pole dance for kids is entertaining and helps develop strength, flexibility, and coordination.
Yet, teachers and parents should consider various things when introducing this sport to kids to ensure their safety.
It’s time to scroll down to break down this topic. Let’s get started!
Benefits Of Pole Dance For Kids
Parents may not consider pole dance when mentioning the activities for their children. Yet, it may offer many advantages for their mental and physical health.
Here are the benefits that this sport brings to your children:
Improve Physical Fitness
Pole dance is a full-body workout to help your children improve strength, endurance, and flexibility.
Kids participating in pole dancing will develop strong core muscles, upper body strength, and improved balance.
The upper body strength gained from pole dance can also benefit other areas of life, such as sports and everyday activities.
Moreover, the improved balance that comes with pole dance can help kids prevent falls and injuries.
The physical demands of pole dancing can also help kids maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases.
Boost Self-Confidence
Learning and mastering new pole dance moves can be a challenging and rewarding experience for kids.
The combination of physical strength, creativity, and expression in pole dance can help children develop essential life skills.
When they have advanced skills, they can achieve a sense of accomplishment. So it helps them increase their confidence.
Therefore, pole dance encourages confidence and creativity. It allows children to explore individuality and build self-esteem.
Develop Focus And Discipline
Pole dance requires practice and discipline. Thus, children will learn the importance of dedication and hard work.
Through pole dance, children learn to set goals and work hard to achieve them.
As a result, it’s a good way for your children to develop discipline and determination during the learning process.
This sport also positively influences a child’s cognitive abilities. The focus and concentration required for the sport can enhance a child’s ability to stay focused.
Thus, it can lead to better academic performance and success in educational institutions.
Provide A Supportive Community
Pole dance studios are a place to learn a new skill and a community of individuals with similar interests.
The cozy and friendly atmosphere promotes a sense of belonging and friendship among the learners.
Therefore, they can make new friends and develop social skills. Also, they can build these skills by interacting with others with the same passion.
Moreover, they can get the opportunity to perform in front of an audience. It’s a good idea to boost their confidence.
Fun And Creative Activity
Pole dance is a fantastic activity that allows children to express themselves through movement.
With its blend of artistry and athleticism, pole dance provides a challenging and engaging way for kids to stay active and healthy.
Unlike traditional team sports, pole dance is a solo activity that allows children to develop their creativity.
Furthermore, pole dancing classes use various music genres, which allows children to explore different musical rhythms and styles.
Kids can also explore many dance forms. They can learn more and enjoy diverse styles of dancing.
Pole dance also allows children to explore different themes and costumes, which can enhance their creativity.
Generally, this sport is an exciting activity. It offers children a unique way to stay active and express themselves creatively.
Safety Considerations Of Pole Dance For Kids
While allowing your kids to participate in pole dance classes, parents should keep in mind the following safety considerations:
Proper Equipment
The first safety consideration when it comes to pole dancing for kids is ensuring they have access to proper equipment.
It includes a sturdy pole fastened securely to the floor and ceiling and proper shoes and clothing.
Shoes should have an anti-slip sole and fit snugly to prevent slips and falls. Besides, their clothes should be comfortable and cover the body appropriately.
Read more: What To Wear To Pole Dancing Class?
Age Appropriate Movements
Another safety consideration for pole dance for kids is ensuring that they learn the movements suitable to their ages.
Children’s bodies are growing, so they may not have the strength or flexibility to perform certain moves safely.
It’s essential to choose appropriate movements for their age and skill level and introduce more challenging moves as they progress gradually.
Proper Warm-Up & Cool-Down
As with any physical activity, it’s crucial for kids to properly warm up and cool down before and after pole dance class.
It helps prevent injury and prepares the body for the physical demands of pole dance.
A warm-up should include light cardio, stretching, and mobility exercises. On the other hand, a cool-down should consist of stretching and relaxation techniques.
Supervision
Finally, the instructors may supervise and correctly spot their learners during the lesson.
A spotter can help prevent falls and provide support during challenging movements.
In addition, an instructor should always be present to provide guidance and corrections and ensure proper safety measures.
Techniques And Moves Of Pole Dance For Kids
Here are some of the safe techniques and moves of pole dancing suitable for kids:
Techniques
Grip
The first technique that kids should learn is the proper grip of the pole. It is essential to have a solid grip to prevent slipping and falling.
It’s better to let kids start by practicing the fundamental grip, which involves holding the pole with both hands, and the thumbs pointing in the opposite direction.
Spin
Spinning around the pole is one of the fundamental techniques of pole dancing.
Children can start with a simple spin by stepping back from the pole, grabbing it with both hands, and spinning around.
They can gradually progress to more challenging spins like the firefighter spin, which involves hooking one leg around the pole and spinning.
Climb
Climbing the pole is another essential technique that kids should learn.
It’s better to start with the basic climb, which involves wrapping their arms and legs around the pole and pulling themselves up.
When they are more comfortable, they can try more complex climbs like the inverted climb, which involves flipping upside down and climbing.
Moves
Pole Walk
The pole walk is one of the basic moves that kids can learn. It involves walking around the pole while maintaining a grip with both hands.
Kids should start with a simple walk and gradually progress to more complex walks like the catwalk, which involves walking while lifting the legs.
Pole Sit
This move involves sitting on the pole with the feet off the ground. Kids should start with a basic pole sit and then try more advanced versions like the twisted grip sit.
They must twist their body and grip the pole with one hand when performing this movement.
Pole Spin
Pole spins are another fun move that kids can learn. They can start with a simple spin and then try more complex spins like the carousel spin.
The learners must spin around the pole while lifting the legs when doing this movement.
Common Misconceptions About Pole Dance For Kids
There are still a lot of misunderstandings around pole dancing for children.
These wrong ideas can prevent parents from enrolling their children in pole dance classes. Thus, it’s essential to break them down!
Here are some common wrong beliefs about pole dancing for kids and the truth behind them.
Pole dance is only for adults
Pole dance has been recently popular as a form of fitness and artistic expression for adults.
Yet, pole dance is also a sport that children can practice. Some pole dance schools have classes specifically designed for kids.
Generally, allowing your children to participate in these classes to boost their strength, flexibility, and coordination is a good idea.
Pole dance is too sexual for kids
The sexual connotation of pole dancing is a significant reason some parents are hesitant to enroll their kids in classes.
But pole dance for kids focuses on the sport’s acrobatic and athletic aspects rather than the sexualized movements.
Instructors are trained to teach age-appropriate choreography and movements that are safe for kids.
Pole dance is dangerous for kids
Like any sport or physical activity, there is a risk of injury when practicing and performing a pole dance.
Yet, the risks of injuries can be dramatically lower with appropriate instruction and supervision.
Pole dance schools for kids have safety guidelines to ensure learners are learning in a safe environment.
Instructors are trained to teach proper technique and form to prevent injuries.
Pole dance is not an actual sport
Pole dance requires strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination – all qualities of sporting activities.
The Global Association of International Sports Federations recognizes this activity as a sport. They also consider it for inclusion in the Olympics.
Pole dancing for kids is more than just a fun activity. It’s a legitimate sport that can teach children discipline and teamwork.
FAQs
Is Pole Dance Good For Kids?
The answer is Yes! This sport can be a great form of exercise and self-expression for children with safe and age-appropriate movements and techniques.
It can help children to develop their physical abilities, boost their confidence, and develop a love of fitness.
What Age Can You Pole Dance?
People of any age can do pole dancing. However, most studios require participants to be at least 18 years old.
Besides, many pole dancing classes are available for children aged 6 – 17. Children’s pole dancing classes often focus on building strength, coordination, and confidence.
The routines taught are usually fun and playful. They incorporate elements of dance and gymnastics.
What Type Of Dance Is Best For Kids?
The best type of dance for kids will depend on their interests and abilities.
It is essential to let your children try different styles and see which one they enjoy the most. Here are some popular dance types for kids:
- Ballet
- Jazz
- Hip Hop
- Tap
- Contemporary
Can Boys Be Pole Dancers?
The answer is yes! Boys can be pole dancers. Pole dancing is a sport that is suitable for anyone, regardless of gender.
It is a great way to improve fitness levels and build confidence. Also, you can find many male dancers in this industry.
How Is Dance Important For Kids?
Dance is an essential activity for children that provides many physical, emotional, and cognitive benefits.
Below are some advantages this activity brings to your kids:
- Dancing is an excellent exercise. It can help your children build strong muscles and bones to keep fit.
- It helps them develop their creativity and boost their confidence and self-esteem.
- Dance classes create chances for children to make new friends with the ones with similar interests.
- It helps them develop social skills such as teamwork and cooperation.
- Dancing requires memorizing steps and sequences. Thus, it can improve children’s memory and cognitive skills.
- It also involves focus. So it can improve their attention span and mental agility.
- Children can access different dance styles worldwide in pole dancing classes. It helps them develop an appreciation for other cultures.
In A Nutshell
In conclusion, pole dance can be an excellent activity for kids, providing physical fitness, self-confidence, focus, and creativity.
Besides, this activity can be fun and rewarding for kids of all ages with proper safety precautions and a focus on fitness.
If you consider this sport for your child, find a reputable studio with experienced instructors who prioritize safety and proper technique.
If you know any reliable instructions, comment below to share with other readers. Thank you for reading!
Read more: