Creative movement uses dance, drama, and music to communicate ideas, images, and feelings through body movements. It helps children understand themselves and others better while developing physical, social, and creative skills. Creative movement classes are offered for different age groups, from infants to teens, and can aid development, bonding, and stress relief. Parents can encourage creative movement at home through activities like dancing, mimicking animals, and swaying to music.

1. feature
Creative
Movement BY MRINALINI SEKAR
C
reative movement more aware of themselves and their such as cognitive learning,
uses body actions to bodies. Creative movement activities and motor skills, guided
communicate an image help with a better body-language- by the mother’s active
(eg: the wind), an idea (eg: expression which in turn, helps in the participation. Neural pattern formations
a journey) or a feeling (eg: understanding of the body language are actively altered.
strength). It uses dance, drama and of others. It leads to considerable
music as a form of expression. motor skill development, and a good A theatrical movement class for 3
understanding of rhythm. to 5 year old children This enables
For children, creative movement children to become excellent story-
is a way to start the process of Apart from the highly evolved forms tellers expressing themselves through
understanding themselves better and of classical dancing which allow for movement and themes based on
the world that they live in, through creative movement, there are various age-appropriate concepts. This class
activities that enhance all areas of their less imposing creative movement supports their formative ideas.
growth and development. classes, combining fitness with dance
and fun for children of all ages. Some Ballroom Buddies This allows
It helps them understand their programmes are outlined below. (Please for partnering across age groups,
environment and develops physical skills see resource box for more information.) particularly within extended families, to
and creative skills. Sensory skills are make it a great family bonding activity.
enhanced through visualization, hearing Creative Movement Parent and child, grandparent and
and touch. Social skills are broadened, Classes child, including babies take part in the
even as every child realizes his own Movement sessions for mothers and class as a pair.
uniqueness. The child learns to respect babies of 6 to 18 months This helps
himself and others. Creative movement enhance the mother-child relationship, Other Movement and
also increases the child’s concentration. where they discover the world through Fitness classes
each other’s eyes. Several facets of Kalari is an ancient Indian martial art
As children grow, they become growth for the baby are addressed, form that is regarded as the basis of
26 Parent Circle / January 2012

2. all martial art. Learning the basics of physical development to bonding animal. Ask them to make up a story
Kalari improves physical, emotional and and communication, and resolving based on this animal and act it out
mental agility, strength and stamina. emotional issues. through gestures and movement. Ask
Some of the choreography, such as them to experiment with role reversals.
sparring in kalari payat can be applied For infants: The traditional massages For instance the more aggressive child
to classical dance forms. Kathakalli that our grandmas advocated helps can take on the role of a gentle deer
dancers who knew martial arts were the mother move the child’s limbs and the quieter one can be the lion.
believed to be markedly better than which is good for joint development. This will help them to look at the world
the other performers. Some traditional Baby games that involve small from different perspectives.
Indian dance schools still incorporate movements while the mother chants
kalari payat as part of their a rhyme, is important for both - For hyper-active children: Creative
exercise regimen. physical development and mother- movement offers great opportunities to
child bonding. The mother can croon channelize the energies of hyper-active
Miming is talking with your whole lullabies to the baby, which will help children and help them stay focused.
body, a universal language that the child feel secure. Refrain from Offer a restricted area, say within four
everyone understands. Mime brings playing recorded music. The mother’s squares of floor tiles and ask them to
to life, fantasy and illusion using one’s voice off-key is still better than move to their favourite music. They
whole body to form a picture. professionally choreographed songs! will jump, kick air and move wildly.
Ask them to pick any four moves and
Dance aerobics is one of the For young children: Play different repeat the same in a pattern. Say, two
commonest forms of aerobics that kinds of music and watch the child’s jumps, followed by three kicks in the
can be seen today around the world. response. Some may break into a free air and so on. This will make them
It is a good way to utilize time, an spirited dance, some may jump about focus on remembering a sequence,
even better way to lose weight and an and others may clap or thump their while expending energy. Hyper-active
excellent way to increase the oxygen feet. Allow each child to move freely children, despite hectic activities during
intake in the body. to her favourite music. Make it an the day, cannot settle down at night.
everyday ritual of playing music and As a bed-time ritual, for the first five
Zumba the largest dance fitness moving. You can give her a theme by minutes, get them moving to really fast
program in the world, based on a asking her to do only hand movements music; then gradually introduce slower
Latin-inspired dance fitness program or you can join her in a game of music, more conducive to sleep. In 2 to
created by dancer and choreographer mirroring her movements. 3 weeks, they will be able to sleep.
Alberto “Beto” Perez in Colombia
during the 1990s. Zumba involves For siblings: Your children can be For older children: Parents often have
dance and aerobic elements. Zumba’s encouraged to practise creative trouble reaching out to their adolescent
choreography incorporates hip-hop, movement together. In the absence and teenage children. Creative
samba, salsa, merengue, mambo, of competitive ‘win or lose’ situation, movement helps open a window of
martial arts, and some Bollywood and there is less scope for quarrels in such communication between the parent
belly dance moves. Squats and lunges an activity. Give them a topic, say, an and child in a non-verbal manner.
are also included. When you feel your teen is upset, hold
SOME RESOURCES her gently and sway to melodious
What you can do for Chennai:
music. The child gets a great sense
children at home Creative Movement
of security and a feeling that ‘mom
Everyone can enjoy a sense of well- www.bluemovementcircle.in is there, no matter what’, while the
being and develop finer sensibilities mother gets to relieve all the repressed
Kalari www.shajikalari.com
through simple acts of creative tensions.
Other www.o2healthstudio.com,
movement at home.
www.oxygen6.net MRINALINI SEKAR IS A BHARATHANATYAM
Parents can encourage creative Mumbai: www.wavesgym.com, DANCER WHO CONDUCTS CREATIVE
movement and participate with their www.dancewithemdc.com MOVEMENT CLASSES FOR CHILDREN AND
children towards different goals, from Bengaluru: Navarasa 97412 90592 ADULTS.
www.parentcircle.in 27