Is your Child Ready to Learn Ballet?

Sharing is caring!

Is your Child Ready to Learn Ballet?

Wondering if your child is ready to learn dance steps or best age to start ballet? Let me share with you my story and my best ways to encourage physical activity with kids. 

A few years ago, my daughter Sylvia started Ballet Lessons. I always wanted to give my daughter the opportunity to do extra curricular activities. So, after settling into a new area, we signed her up to gymnastics.

Sylvia enjoyed balancing on the beam and jumping over the box but there was a lot going on at home. We had recently moved house, mummy was unwell and my daughter started to cry whenever daddy took her to gymnastics. The class was after school and to be honest, I think the combination of missing mum and being tired from a long day of school meant it was not going to work.

How to Determine Best Classes for Kids

I didn’t want to push Sylvia so she stopped gymnastics after only 5 weeks and stayed home with mummy instead. Ever since then, I felt guilty and decided to review activities Sylvia could do in the future. I remembered she enjoyed music, singing, drama and dance. In addition, she is talented at art and has a creative mind. After a nice talk together, we decided to enrol her in swimming and performance dance.

First, we rang the local pools and there was a huge waiting list. So, we added Sylvia’s name down and waited until a spot came available. My husband John would take her to improve her swimming skills. To find the best classes near me, I searched online for local dance schools in the area. Thankfully, I found one which sounded really lovely.

Begin a Lifelong Interest using Trial and Error

We let Sylvia try out the tap dance and Ballet classes. To our relief, she went to a performance dance class and she loved it. Sylvia came home all excited, showing me the moves she had learned and eager to do her Ballet homework. We were both happy for her newfound love of dance. She also tried Tap and although she really enjoyed it, she loved Ballet even more and so it began – Ballet lessons! 

Sylvia was so excited. While I couldn’t personally attend Sylvia’s classes due to health reasons, she eagerly revealed to me all the dance moves learned every week. Plus, she shared the various names of different ballet positions.

Sadly, after a year, Sylvia decided she no longer wanted to do Ballet. While I was hoping she would stick to it, the excitement waned and we weren’t going to push her anymore. We believe it’s not necessary to pay for something no longer thrilling to her.

Ways to Encourage Physical Activity

There are so many ways to encourage physical activity with your child, but let’s try asking them first! If they participate in the decision-making process, the results will be optimal! 

After speaking to Sylvia about the different activities available, she decided to try out swimming. So, as schools begin, she also started her swimming lessons. And, I am happy to report, Sylvia has really improved her swimming skills in just a matter of months. She has even moved up four levels — obviously, she absolutely loves swimming.

I think she has finally found her thing — we’re sticking with the activity she enjoys and excels at the most. While surprised at the outcome, she is happy so Mummy is happy! 

Does your child have ballet or swimming lessons? Would love to hear from you!

Angela