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Dance is an important part of the ‘Expressive arts and design’ area of the curriculum, so all settings should give it a go, reports Nicole Weinstein, who also pinpoints some useful resources

Young children love to move their bodies in response to the world around them. When hearing music, most children will instinctively jump, wiggle or skip – and this makes them feel good.

Anna Daly, an early years community dance artist and co-author of Understanding Physical Development in the Early Years, says dance and movement are ‘invaluable’ in a child’s early years. This is not only because they assist learning and attainment, but also because they are a non-spoken language that children are fluent in, and so promote holistic development of the individual. ‘Dance and movement give children a sense of ownership as they use their own physicality as a tool for exploration, expression and mastery,’ she explains. ‘The wider benefits include physical, cognitive and emotional development as well as the ability to learn, communicate, understand their self and their own body, take risks and become a well-integrated child.’

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