Looking for Healthy Fun this Summer for the Whole Family? Let's Dance!

By Karen Kaplan, MS

As I watched my four-year-old granddaughter sway to the music at a neighborhood park gathering, I thought, "Yes, just dance."  Yes, EVERYONE just dance.

So, we just need to take our students, clients, and grandchildren with neurodiversity and encourage them to just dance.

You say, why?

I say, because:

• Everyone dances, so teaching them to dance builds inclusivity and social connections

• It is another way for them to express themselves

• It will help to build flexibility, strength, and positive motor planning

• It gets everyone’s heart rate up, thus improving our health

• It reduces stress for some

• It teaches rhythm to others

Now, you say, how?

• Start seated and teach clapping hands or tapping one’s feet

• Then perhaps have those in wheelchairs lift and lower shoulders, move heads, or slap thighs

• Then those who can stand, stand and sway side to side

• They maybe some toe tapping that can be the next step

• Of course, next teach side-stepping or sliding left to right

• You might model how to spin

• Think of the fun dances of the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s & 80’s  (Hip Hop, Zumba, Salsa, Swing, Cha Cha Cha, Mashed Potato, the Twist, and the Floppy Chicken)

• Show them dances on YouTube

• Play great films that showcase dancing (Grease, Flash Dance, Dirty Dancing, Saturday Night Fever, Footloose)

• Encourage them to host a dance party at their home and invite family, neighbors, or school friends

  
  

Summer is approaching, so just get on board and DANCE. Have some meaningful and enjoyable fun.

Karen Kaplan, MS, is a native San Franciscan. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, in speech pathology and audiology. She minored in special education and obtained her speech therapist and special education credentials in California. Karen worked as a speech therapist for schools for 20 years before opening her own residential and education program for students with autism. She worked in credential programs at Sacramento State University as well as UC Davis and spent 20 years directing private schools for those with autism and similar learning challenges. Karen founded a non-profit, Offerings, which helps cultures globally to understand those with developmental challenges. For seven years, she founded and facilitated an autism lecture series and resource fair in Northern California. Karen still facilitates an annual Autism Awesomeness event. She is currently consulting, helping families, schools, and centers for children, teens, and adults. Karen has authored three books: Reach Me Teach Me: A Public School Program for the Autistic Child; A Handbook for Teachers and Administrators, On the Yellow Brick Road: My Search for Home and Hope for the Child with Autism, and Typewriting to Heaven… and Back: Conversations with My Dad on Death, Afterlife and Living  (which is not about autism but about having important conversations with those we love).

www.karenkaplanasd.com