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Usually a brand new 2 or even 3-year old will cling to their caregiver/parent as they walk in the studio door, as they are unaware of their environment. Everything to them is new. Please arrive early on the first day in order to get them acclimated to their new teacher and environment. We have also seen that being even a few minutes late will completely throw off our little dancer even if they’ve been with us for a while. 

 

Separation anxiety is one of the most common issues on the first day. You may overcome this by explaining to your child before they arrive that mommy will watch them through the window during the class and that mommy won’t leave.

 

Our Ballet Babies & Hip-Hop Tots classes  are designed as a teacher/child class. Our policy is that all parents need to be in the lobby when class is in session. We also need to keep the door to the studio closed during class, in order to avoid any wandering dancers. We will work with you and your child to achieve success in bringing happy dancers into the classroom without mom. This is a gradual process for most babies.

 

Have you ever noticed that when one 2 year old begins to cry, the others follow suit? We have observed this as well and it is why we need to have any crying child wait with mom outside at the window until they feel confident to come back in. We know this sounds harsh, but we will make every attempt at calming your child and getting them to join the class that we possibly can, before we ask the mom to exit the room. Sometimes the child is actually upset just being in the room, so you may calm them down more effectively outside. In the past we let the parent of an unsure child remain in the room with the child; however, we found that this practice can distract other dancers, and the inability for the adult  to leave the room in subsequent weeks, as the child has learned, “my mommy/daddy/nanny stays with me”

 

Most of the time our little dancers come into the room right away and never look back. Sometimes our little dancers aren’t ready for a teacher/child class. And that’s ok! As parents, we won’t know until we try. Please remember that it sometimes takes a few weeks in order for the child to warm up to the idea, even if they LOVE to dance.

 

Lastly, our goal on the first day is to get every child into the class without mom and without crying. If we have done that we have succeeded. Please don’t be alarmed if your child just stands on her spot and stares at the teacher jumping up and down. They are simply observing their environment. They will dance when they are ready! We hope you all have a positive experience at our studio. Please don’t hesitate to call us if you have questions or concerns.

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Tips from our   Dance Teachers!

 

1) “Every child reacts differently when starting something new, especially when leaving their parents.  Some will be happy while others will cry. If your child is upset it may take a few weeks for them to become comfortable in class, that is completely normal.”

 

2) “If you have a child who is crying, as hard as it might be, trust the teacher to handle it.  We understand that these are your precious babies and it’s difficult to do, but if you just trust us, we will get you both through it.“

 

3) "It is important to remember that every child is different.  

Some walk at 9 months, others walk at 14 months – neither is wrong.  

Some dancers will want to sit and watch the class at the beginning while others want to be up and moving with the class.  

Both are okay – no matter what they do in the class, they are learning.”

 

4) “If your child is crying it doesn’t necessarily mean that they do not like dance. Give them time they will warm up.”