Small Talks, No. 106

Friday November 15, 2024

Welcome to the 106th edition of Small Talks. Every Friday, I highlight 6 areas of weekly joys and reflections in early childhood and the whole family. Small Talks leverages my experience at the intersection of education, philanthropy, and impact investing. Enjoy!

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What I’m celebrating -

This week is inspired by my youngest daughter, who loves to dance. By the way, in its simplest form, dance is movement paired with music.

Did you know? Five (surprising) benefits about dance:

1. Boosts Brain Development. Studies show that dancing engages multiple regions of the brain, including the motor cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus, enhancing cognitive development. Synchronizing music and movement—dance, essentially—constitutes a “pleasure double play.” Music stimulates the brain’s reward centers, while dance activates its sensory and motor circuits. This research sums it well: dancing is thinking for children.

2. Improves Emotional Regulation and Social Skills. Participation in group dance improves emotional self-regulation, empathy, and relational intelligence. A study showed that children involved in dance therapy displayed improved emotional expression and social connection.

3. Enhances Language and Literacy (most surprising). Movement activities, including dance, are linked to better phonological awareness and literacy development. Rhythmic activities like dancing help children recognize sound patterns critical for language acquisition.

4. Strengthens Motor Skills and Spatial Awareness. Dancing supports the development of both gross and fine motor skills while enhancing spatial awareness. Children engaging in dance-based activities show significant improvement in coordination and balance.

5. Reduces Stress and Builds Emotional Resilience. Dance reduces cortisol levels in children and releases endorphins, promoting a sense of well-being and resilience. Dance therapy reduces anxiety and enhances emotional stability in children.

Yet, children's participation in dance appears to be declining. In the UK, 45.9% of children aged 5-10 engaged in dance in 2008/09, dropping to 30.4% by 2019/20. In the U.S., a broader decline in youth physical activity suggests similar trends for dance.

Some hope (from a few innovators):

• Move This World promotes movement in schools and fostering social emotional learning.

• GAIT also supports dance expression in India.

  

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What I’m listening to -

A visual history of social dance in 25 moves by Camille Brown.

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What I’m reading -

• “Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina” which highlights Misty Copeland’s groundbreaking journey to becoming the first African-American principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre is both inspiring and a testament to breaking barriers in dance

  

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What I’m watching -

This inspiring program “A Chance to Dance'“ that lets kids with special needs shine on stage.

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What I’m learning more deeply -

• This great summary by Harvard on Dancing and the Brain.

• A thought provoking read by Christina Patterson for The Guardian: Science classes won’t future-proof our children. But dance might.

• On The Move: The Power of Movemnt in Your Child’s First Three Years by Zero to Three.

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Two quotes I’m pondering -

“Children dance before they learn there is anything that isn’t music."
– William Stafford

"There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them."
– Vicki Baum

Feedback is a gift. Which part above is your favorite? What did I miss? What do you want more or less of? Other recommendations? Please kindly let me know. Thank to all of you who are sending me amazing suggestions.

If you enjoy this newsletter, please help spread the word by sharing with your friends, colleagues, and networks.

✨ Unlock the power of relationships in learning. Thanks for your help in spreading the word about my upcoming book "Love to Learn: The Transformative Power of Care and Connection in Early Education" with your community and spark conversations about how care, connection, and relational intelligence can transform education and unlock human potential. The book is available for pre-order and will be published on February 11, 2025. 📚❤️

Have a wonderful week. Please stay safe and care for each other.

Isabelle