Prepping for Your First Class

First of all, BRAVO for signing your young child up for Little Beats. In case you didn't know, there are tons of benefits that stretch far beyond their 45 minutes in the studio!

Introducing your child to a structured activity for the first time can be a challenging but wonderful time. While your child may LOVE dancing, singing or creating at home, doing so in class is a whole other experience. Most Little Beats classes require grown-up involvement so expect to have a caregiver participate WITH your little one. Not only will this help them thrive, but it will also help you understand what they're learning and practice at home! If your, child is signed up for a drop-off class, prepare them ahead of time for this new transition.

It is important to remember that ages 0-4 is a period of rapid growth and the goal of classes at this age to build confidence, gross and fine motor skills, social skills, listening skills, and of course, make wonderfully HAPPY memories in the studio. Don't be discouraged if your child has trouble adjusting to the class setting, it can take some time but you will be amazed at the progress your child will make each week.

As your child grows, we are here to provide and guide you towards the best classes for your child!

Here are some tips to help prepare you for your first Little Beats class:

1. It takes a few classes to get acclimated

Depending on your child's personality and former experiences in group class settings, your little one might be literally taken aback by the experience of day 1 at Little Beats. There are lots of people in the room, new music, and movements being done that they've never seen or done before. This can be scary for a little one so if it takes a few weeks for them to build up the confidence to participate, that is OK! Just keep cheering them on and showing them by example that Little Beats is a safe, fun place to be. We NEVER want to force them into any activity. Even if they cling to you and observe all class, they are still learning in their own way.

2. For your child's sake, please arrive 5 minutes early

Believe it or not, arriving on time is a key way to get your child started on the right foot each week. When children arrive to class late, they do not get to experience of being greeted at the door by their teacher and properly transitioning into class. Furthermore, walking into a class that has already begun can be quite uncomfortable as it forces them to 'jump right in' to a situation that they have not yet acclimated to. For some little ones, this can set a challenging tone for the entire class and can be easily avoided.

3. Show by example and focus on your child

We know attending class with your little one is a great way to spend some time with your grown-up friends too but PLEASE save chatter for before and after class. Don't give into peer pressure! Believe me, this can be a real thing and it's distracting to both the teacher and the kids! Here at Little Beats, the phrase 'monkey see monkey do' truly comes to light. In a grown-up-and-me class, you play a crucial role in helping your child learn. Not only should you be following the teacher's instruction with your child, but you should also set a good example by showing you are engaged. Depending on the age, developmental stage, and learning style of the child, there may be times when you will need to manipulate their body for them to give their muscles an understanding of what to do. Showing by example also means re-engaging your child when their attention drifts and redirecting negative behavior. Of course, no cell phone use in class (other than taking pictures) and big smiles!

4. Don't be afraid to use breaks to 'reset' during class

Some children enter the building filled with more excitement than they can contain. They might try to run around the room, and before they learn the concept of listening and waiting turns, they will be fully dependent on you to keep them focused on the activity at hand. We must teach the little ones what behavior is and isn't safe or acceptable in the studio. If they do not want to participate in what the group is doing, they are welcome to take a break until they are ready to join back in. This is perfectly OK! This is how we teach them positive classroom behavior which will help them in and out of the studio.

5. Positive reinforcement is EVERYTHING

In our youngest classes, building confidence is the key to happy students. In this unique time of education, we are teaching how to be a student just as much as we are teaching skills and the progress week to week is amazing! So please join us in applauding good work and celebrating all the little successes that a child has during class. We make it a point to ALWAYS part ways in a positive manner, eagerly awaiting our next class together.

To dancing through life,

Emily Siagel Jabbawy, Director
emily@siagel.com