Parents today are increasingly likely to choose homeschooling for their children over their local public or private school options and recent studies suggest their decision may be a wise one. In fact, statistics show that homeschooled children routinely score significantly higher grades on college entrance exams, such as the American College Test (ACT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). 

Along with the benefits, however, it must be noted that homeschooled children also face some challenges that usually do not apply to children who are educated within the traditional public or private school setting. 

One of the most common of these challenges is the need for enhanced socialization and communication with peers. Because the homeschool class typically includes only the children in the immediate family, the student usually has little or no interaction with others of the same age and grade level. If you are currently homeschooling and want to help your child or children overcome this and other challenges, the answer may be as simple as enrolling them into a local dance class. The following information will offer you some convincing reasons why this is the case. 

Structured, healthy exercise

Public and private schools usually have structured gym or physical education classes to help with student fitness and build good physical health habits. In contrast, the homeschooled child may have a break, recess, or playtime, but these opportunities often lack the strenuous activity level of a competitive basketball scrimmage or specific exercises to build strength and endurance.

If the child lives in an urban environment, there may be little opportunity for active play or exercise on a regular basis. When the homeschooled child is enrolled in dance class, however, they are able to get regular, vigorous exercise that helps improve coordination and strength in an enjoyable setting. 

Building lifelong friendships

The camaraderie of working together as a group in a dance class setting can help homeschooled children build long-lasting relationships based on a common interest. This can lead to more opportunities for them to enjoy activities such as sleepovers, play dates, and outings that may be difficult to plan when homeschooling has limited the opportunity to meet and make new friends. 

Encourages and rewards positive goal setting

Because homeschooled children are not bound by a strict curriculum and teaching plan, they are often able to study subjects in more depth, using their own goals as the guide for their educational journey. Yet, they may have no similar outlet for their physical and social goals, such as excelling in a sport, being part of an award-winning marching band, or joining an interesting club.

By enrolling in a well-organized dance class at an early age, homeschooled children are able to learn to set and achieve increasingly difficult goals. Much like hitting a home run in a championship baseball game, their dance recitals and increasing skill level will offer a sense of reward for their hard physical work. 

Teaches daily discipline 

Few activities can teach daily discipline like a challenging dance class.  Students who do not make time each day to do the strengthening and flexibility exercises the instructor assigns will not do well during their next dance class. When dance classes are taught by a respected, caring instructor, each student will be encouraged to be disciplined in their approach to practice sessions and the daily exercises needed to help them improve and grow as a dancer.

This type of discipline training often carries over into other areas of their current life, as well as later as an adult, to help make them more successful and determined to succeed. 

To learn more about the benefits your homeschool child can get from participating in a high-quality dance class, take time to contact a dance academy like Mercury Academy of Dance in your area.