Minute Masterclass Episode 4

Welcome to your one-minute masterclass. I’m Andrea Trench, founder of DiscoverDance. I often hear teachers say, children are so different these days. Well, let’s make a few observations, shall we? Babies are being held more and more in their grown-ups’ arms or wrapped on their bodies for hours at a time. They are being placed in walkers and swings and being propped up way before they are developmentally ready, and let’s not even get started on all the screen time. They aren’t moving as much as we did in the good ol’ days, so of course they are different. Movement is the key to development. If they are not moving, they are not reaching their full potential. And that affects their behavior and how they learn and grow.

We are not teaching the same kids we taught 10, even 5 years ago. So we cannot teach the same way we have been teaching for years. The biggest mistake I see a teacher make, is to not recognize these developmental changes and shift their approach to teaching. We must teach the way children learn, NOT teach the way we were taught. For more information, visit DiscoverDance.com.