The world is now filled with endless entertainment in the form of television, computer games and the internet; this means kids can spend hours in front of a screen instead of being active. In many countries childhood obesity is now a big problem as kids take less exercise and eat more junk food. A super way to encourage a healthier lifestyle is to enroll in childrens dance classes Calgary has many on offer.

From the moment they start walking, toddlers often emulate their parents dancing to their favorite songs or instinctively move to music played on the radio. The infectious nature of a catchy beat is impossible to resist and everyone enjoys bopping along to the beat. Dancing can chase your blues away and keep you fit at the same time.

You might think that learning tap or ballet is something for older kids, but there are courses for those as young as 3 or 4. Young children really benefit from these lessons which teach movement and music along with stories and songs to make it exciting and educational. Vocabulary can be improved as well as confidence and social skills.

As the child gets older he or she might choose one particular style to concentrate on. Classic ballet and tap are both popular and have much to offer. Studios often expand the range of styles on offer to kids over 7 include more modern forms such as hip hop or jazz. All these forms are great fun and good exercise.

Whichever style of dancing your child enjoys, it is a great cardio workout, improves flexibility and aids awareness of the environment around them. Building a strong body from an early age sets an excellent foundation for the future. It can also help your child learn to interact as part of a group and express emotions; all essential parts of learning to socialize.

Balance and co-ordination play a key role in dancing and these too are improved as a child progresses. Young children can seem like they are clumsy or have trouble learning to balance on a bicycle, but through dancing they can learn better control and more awareness of the space around them. Ballet and tap each teach these skill sets as they require poise, grace and the ability to multi-task.

If your youngster wants to take their dancing a step further there are courses which lead into exams and certificates of achievement. Big studios will most certainly have these on offer, while small independent teachers might need to arrange exams through a school. The big studios can also assist with guiding a child into dancing as a career and help plan for college or a performing arts academy.

However old your child is, there are plenty of courses all year round. Many places offer summer camps and term time tuition as well as pre-school classes. Popular courses get fully booked quickly so you made need to register well in advance to make sure of getting a place on the course you want. Fees for courses and tuition vary depending on the age of the child and type of class taken.