TINY TOES Helps Parents and Teachers Give Pre-Schoolers a Solid Foundation in Dance and Creative Expression
Every parent and teacher wants to instill a love of movement in children when they are very young. A recently-released book – TINY TOES: A Creative Movement Class for Young Children –can now provide them with a step-by-step guide for building strength, agility and self-confidence in young bodies in a safe, structured way. The book is specifically designed for those teaching children ages 2–5 and focuses on teaching dance through the M.E.G. (Movement, Expression and Growth) technique developed by professional dancer, teacher, and now author, Morgan Grubola.
Numerous studies show that healthy bodies and cognitive growth are closely linked in young children, so engaging them in movement is beneficial on many levels. To activate both their bodies and minds, TINY TOES offers 19 different exercises designed to develop strength and flexibility, promote intellectual growth, and encourage performance skills in young students. The book, which includes a 21-track music CD, outlines instructional strategies for parents and teachers, as well as exercises focusing on stretches and axial and locomotor movement. Exciting stories about the make-believe world of the stage describe the dance steps and provide inspiration for the young dancer in every child.
Numerous studies show that healthy bodies and cognitive growth are closely linked in young children, so engaging them in movement is beneficial on many levels. To activate both their bodies and minds, TINY TOES offers 19 different exercises designed to develop strength and flexibility, promote intellectual growth, and encourage performance skills in young students. The book, which includes a 21-track music CD, outlines instructional strategies for parents and teachers, as well as exercises focusing on stretches and axial and locomotor movement. Exciting stories about the make-believe world of the stage describe the dance steps and provide inspiration for the young dancer in every child.
But there’s nothing textbook-ish about TINY TOES. Each story and exercise sequence in the book is lavishly illustrated by artist Kay Grubola, with scenes of real children demonstrating exercises and positions. The book encourages children to use their imaginations to dance with fanciful animals of all shapes and sizes on an enchanted stage, while the accompanying text establishes each movement’s goals for furthering children’s physical and intellectual development. Notes in the text caution parents and teachers about the wrong way to do particular exercises, helping them gain a clearer understanding of children’s unique physiology and movements that can actually impede proper development.
Morgan Grubola, a professionally trained ballerina, developed the M.E.G. technique after years of study, dance, and her own teaching experiences. “When I started teaching, I met a lot of parents who were interested in nurturing their children’s love of ballet, yet they sometimes wanted them to start doing movements that were inappropriate for very young children. There are some movements in dance—going en pointe, for example—that if introduced too early can damage a child’s growing body, leading to pain or even injuries that can destroy a child’s enthusiasm for dance. My M.E.G. technique is a proven, developmentally correct way to engage and inspire children to find joy in creative expression through imaginative dance and movement.”
