DANCING
WITH DISABILITES
Is a program that has benefited more than 40 people with and without disabilities. The new enlarge studios of this prestigious ballet school are welcoming people with and without disabilities of all ages. Classes are designed to give participants an opportunity to experiment with movement and dance. The participants are guided through a series of activities beginning with a full body warm up leading to various moments activities including those which challenge special awareness motor’s skills, group and partner improvisation and basic dance concepts.
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Please, contact 305 948 4777 or use our contact form for further assistance.
Your Child with Learning Disabilities Can Learn a lot from Art
Art is an important part of our daily lives and development. It gives us humanity and makes us feel love, laughter and pain. Without art, life would be boring and drab. For children, art is an important part of the development of their brains. It causes them to stretch their minds, and see new views of the world around them.
If your child has a learning disability, certain subjects in school can be very difficult. While focusing kids on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is important and great for them, adding art to their lives can challenge their minds, give them a boost in self-esteem and give them a stronger sense of self.
Here are some ways to add art to your child’s repertoire.
Sign up for classes -- Your kids can learn just about anything with lessons, including painting, crafts, dance, acting and music. Consider summer camps, too. Often summer camps are themed, and many of them are available for the arts right in your community.
Go shopping -- Spend some time at a arts and craft store and pick out some fun ideas of projects you can do with your kids. You can find books at a bookstore or your local library that will help you find more projects to do together. Craft stores also often have classes, too.
Create an art room -- Set up a room in your home for an art and hobby room. Get a table, an easel, paints, paper, old shirts to protect their clothing and more. If you have room, set up a little stage so kids can perform plays. Put some of your old clothes in there for dress-up, or shop at a thrift store for fun items for them to wear. Paint a chalkboard wall so kids can draw on it. Put in a TV so kids can stream art instruction videos.
Try dance -- Your child probably already dances at home, which is great and should be encouraged. But consider signing your child up for dance classes, which will help them learn balance, coordination, motor control, rhythm and collaboration. Learning to dance as a group for recitals helps them learn the importance of working together and how to perform before an audience.
Get musical -- Learning to play an instrument is a great way to expand your child’s mind. Learning takes practice and repetition, but it also teaches your child skills that will help her in math, logic, literacy and more. It helps create neural pathways that wouldn’t otherwise be there. It helps them learn to distinguish sounds and beats, too.
Branch out -- Try activities with your kids that you wouldn’t normally do. Take a class in ceramic painting and firing. Learn to knit or crochet together; it can be very relaxing. Or learn to sew, so she can make her own clothes. Take a pottery or sculpture class together. Get some books that teach you how to draw, or watch YouTube step-by-step videos and draw cartoon characters. Learn to make artistic collages or visit a glass-blowing studio. Visit art museums and take classes there. The possibilities are nearly endless.
However your child experiences art, remind her that it’s OK to not be perfect by praising her efforts. If the art doesn’t win awards, it’s still expression, and it’s still teaching her something. Art for the sake of art and creation is its own reward, and the joy on your child’s face will be your lasting reward.