A Parent’s Guide To Understanding Dance Therapy for Kids
As a parent, it’s important to explore different avenues for supporting your child’s emotional well-being. One powerful but often overlooked option is dance therapy—a form of psychotherapy that uses movement to help children express their emotions, process feelings, and improve mental health. Here’s a guide to understanding what dance therapy looks like, what you can expect from sessions, and how to assess its benefits for your child.
What is Dance Therapy?
Dance therapy, or dance/movement therapy (DMT), combines physical movement with emotional processing to promote mental and emotional healing. For children, it’s a way to express difficult emotions when words fall short. It helps children build self-awareness, improve self-esteem, and manage stress, all through the therapeutic use of dance.
What Happens During a Dance Therapy Session?
Warm-Up and Relaxation: Sessions usually begin with calming exercises like stretching or breathing to help children feel grounded.
Movement Exploration: The therapist leads children through various movements—some free, some structured—to help them connect with and express their emotions. It’s not about perfect technique, but about letting the body communicate feelings.
Group and Partner Activities: Often, kids work in pairs or small groups, which fosters communication, trust, and social skills.
Reflection and Discussion: At the end of the session, children are encouraged to share their experiences through words, drawings, or further movement, helping them process the emotions that arose during the dance.
What Can Parents Expect?
A Focus on Emotional Expression: Dance therapy isn’t about learning choreography, but about using movement to express feelings and process emotions.
A Safe, Supportive Environment: It’s a space where kids can express themselves freely without judgment, under the guidance of a trained therapist.
Personalized Attention: The therapist will tailor activities to your child’s needs, ensuring a customized and supportive experience.
Confidentiality: What happens in the session stays between the therapist and your child, unless there’s a concern that needs to be addressed.
How to Assess the Benefits of Dance Therapy
Improved Emotional Expression: Your child may begin to communicate their feelings more openly, both during therapy and in daily life.
Increased Confidence: Dance therapy can boost self-esteem by helping children feel comfortable in their bodies and learn new ways to express themselves.
Better Coping Skills: You may notice that your child is handling stress or emotional challenges more effectively.
Enhanced Social Skills: If your child is more confident in social interactions, dance therapy may have helped them develop empathy and teamwork skills.
Physical Benefits: Since it involves movement, dance therapy also enhances coordination and body awareness.
The Impact of Dance Therapy on Your Child’s Well-Being
Dance therapy can be an effective and creative way to support your child’s emotional health. By allowing children to express themselves through movement, it helps them build emotional resilience, self-esteem, and better coping strategies. As a parent, you can expect your child to feel supported and empowered to explore their feelings in a safe, non-judgmental environment. Over time, you may see improvements in their overall emotional well-being, confidence, and ability to manage stress.
