It's Home Dance Party Time!
Over the past six months that I began the newsletter, one of the main goals I had was to keep up with weekly YouTube videos to enable my students and others to dance along at home. Last week, I asked those stuck inside during the typhoon to post videos of themselves using the YouTube videos. I was so touched when some students shared that they danced together with their children at home.
Although I’m not a parent, over the many years I was a kindergarten teacher, I spent a lot of time moving and shaking with little ones. Nothing could quite get the room as full of smiles and giggles, even from the shyest of students, as a dance party!
Putting on music and getting up to groove has so many benefits for kids and parents alike. Physically and emotionally, it’s a great way for children to burn off their endless supply of energy while adults can relieve some of the stress of work and parental responsibilities. Happy, upbeat music and some bouncing around can turn even the worst moods around for kids and grownups alike.
Having a dance party needn’t be structured, such as following along perfectly to a routine on my channel. It’s an opportunity for kids to express themselves creatively, and develop self-confidence moving their bodies however they feel the music inspires them. Further, dancing together creates a feeling of closeness and bonding as you move in step together and raise your heartbeats-- something that time in front of the TV or playing on i-Pads can’t quite do.
Home dance parties allow parents to burn some extra calories while helping children build a natural, positive attitude towards being active. It’s like sneaking extra vegetables inside your kid’s favorite meal. For children who may not see themselves as particularly athletic and who shouldn’t be pressured to “suffer” through exercise, it shows them that moving their bodies and sweating can be fun, instead of a chore or torture. It helps to create an ingrained idea that being happy and healthy can go hand in hand.
No matter what your age, there is something child-like about losing yourself in music. It can take us to a time where we were less self-conscious about how our bodies looked and more concerned with enjoying being in them. Whether you are a parent, a teacher, or just someone looking for other ways to get in extra exercise, why not put on some happy tunes, and get down and silly with your own dance party at home!
Stay tuned as I share some of my favorite videos from students dancing at home, and keep an eye out for parent & child classes I hope to have in the future.
Keep moving!
xx,
Katie
舞蹈轟趴時間
這六個月以來的電子報，希望讓大家對我有更深一層的認識，所以分享了許多我的生活及想法。除此之外，我也希望藉由電子報和大家分享我的YouTube頻道，每周都有不同的影片讓大家可以在家一起跳。上週颱風假，我邀請大家錄一段跟著我YouTube頻道跳舞的影片。看著你們上傳的影片，讓我心裡暖暖的，因為跳舞的人不只是我的學生們也有他們的小孩。
雖然我還沒當媽媽，但是我在幼兒園教了好幾年的書，讓我有很多和小小朋友們一同唱唱跳跳的機會。我發現沒有什麼活動能比跳舞派對帶來更多的歡笑聲，就連最愛害羞的學生也不自覺得露出真誠的笑容。
空閒的時間，在家放一點音樂跟小孩一起動一動，對小孩和家長都有種種好處。不論在情緒上或是心理上都可以幫小朋友們消耗他們無窮的精力，同時大人也能釋放工作壓力或是暫時解除身為父母的重擔。聽著開心、有節奏感的音樂，隨著音樂蹦蹦跳跳，不管對大人或小孩而言，這都是趕走壞心情的絕佳方法。
在家開舞蹈派對不需要很完美，例如動作不必跟影片一樣，這是讓小孩表達自我與展現創意的機會，讓他們在隨著音樂自由擺動的同時，培養展現肢體的自信。和小朋友一起跳舞，你們會一起做同樣的動作、互相微笑、一起大笑、甚至是做一些搞笑的動作，這些看起來似乎微不足道的事，都能在情感上創造更深刻的親子連結，同時大人也可以提高心率，這些都是坐在電視機前或是玩手遊所達不到的。
在幫助家長燃燒熱量的同時，可以自然地幫助孩子培養正面與主動的態度，是一個把青菜藏在飯裡面的概念。對於不是那麼有運動細胞的小朋友和那些不應該被逼著用運動來減重的孩子們，比起做家事，讓他們了解動動他們的身體和流汗可以是件好玩的事。這也幫助他們建立一個想法，開心與健康是可以雙管齊下的。
即使是成人的我們，有時候也會像小孩一般放任自己，沉浸在音樂中隨之舞動，這讓我們回想起從前當我們還沒有對於外表如此在意的時候，對那時候的我們來說，好玩與開心比較重要。不論你是家長、老師或是只是想要找一些其他的方式來運動的人，何不就打開音響、放一些開心的音樂，自己在家裡開一個跳舞派對，隨心所欲地舞動你的身體，大跳特跳！
接下來會分享一些學生們在家跳舞的影片，希望也能燃起你的赤子之心。後續也希望可以推出Zumba的親子課，敬請期待唷～～
繼續前進！
愛你的 Katie
( Anna Liang 譯 )
#connection #homedanceparty #fitfam #workoutathome #zumba #katiemovestaipei #dancingwithyourinnerchild