Kids Love to Dance!

Kids love moving to music and there can be nothing more fun than dancing! Whether your child is in formal ballet lessons or just likes jamming out with the family to your favorite tunes, there's no doubt that a love of dance is a fantastic way for kids to have fun, express their creativity and exercise!!

If you're looking for some illustrative books that inspire and invoke the imagination of dance and movement for your little ones, here's our top list. These colorful stories will delight children that love to step, twirl, plie and jump! 

Baby Dance by Ann Taylor is a perfect book for reading aloud or dancing to! Ages: 0-2

I Can Dance by Betsy Snyder is an interactive board book with cut holes so kids can use their fingers to get into the dance groove. A great way to add fun into story time. Ages 1-3

Do Princesses Boogie? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle is a fun, rhythmic, read-aloud book that will have your child dancing along. Ages 3-5

Kitchen Dance by Maurie Manning is a celebration of family dancing together and is one of our favorite books for young readers. Ages 3-6

Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle is a wordless picture book about a girls amazing interaction with a flamingo. Fans of Flora will love this and the whole series. Ages 3-7

Thunderstorm Dancing by Katrina Germein is an energetic story that will get everyone moving the next time they hear thunder in the distance. Ages 4-7

Ruby Rose Off to School She Goes by Rob Sanders is full of silly humor and esxaggerated fun, your dance-loving kids will love this book. Ages 4-8

Dance Is For Everyone by Andrea Zuill is larger than life and full of laughs. The book celebrates passion wherever it may lie. Ages 4-8

Other favorites for ages 4-8: My Mama Had a Dancing Heart, Dancing in the Wings, Frances Dean Who Loved to Dance and Dance, Brontorina, Deer Dancer, Jingle Dancer, Suki's Kimono, Firebird.

Happy dancing and reading everyone!  

Get Your Children Out To Play!

Here Are Four Reasons to Get Your Children Out To Play

Vancouver with it's fair weather is the perfect city for all year outdoor activity and both Fall and Winter are the perfect opportunity for kids to play outside. Unfortunately, many children are so caught up in their electronic devices that they don’t see the joy in playing in nature. 

Here's a list from the experts on why we need to get our kids moving! 

1. Combating Obesity

Kids that play outdoors will burn more calories. Indoor play does not engage children to be as physically engaged. The outdoors offers our kids more room to run, jump, climb and has the added bonus of FRESH AIR!

Plenty of U.S. and U.K studies have confirmed a direct correlation between outdoor play and reduced rates of obesity among children. More time outdoors means healthier body weight and reduced risk for chronic illness in adulthood. 

2. Developing Conflict Management

Unstructured outdoor play helps children develop "executive" skills. Social skills are an important means for children to learn how to handle conflict.  

When kids play outside, they are less likely to turn to adults to help them settle conflicts. They also tend to use their imagination more by substituting toys with nature. 

3. Improving the Mind

Here are some stats from the Nature Conservancy about how playing outside can help kids’ brains:

• After four days outside, backpackers scored 50 percent better on creativity tests
• 20 minutes of walking outdoors improves a child’s concentration levels
• 65 percent of kids say they feel “calm” and “happy” while spending time outside

4. Preserving Quality of Vision

Natural light is very helpful for developing young eyes. Time away from the computer screen allows childrens' eyes to recover and develop in a natural setting. 

If you want your kids to have good vision, send them outside to play. Scientific research found that kids who were outside for at least 14 hours were significantly less likely to need glasses later in life.