My little one has just turned six months old and already I have two WeChat stickers of him seemingly grooving and moving like he’s ready to hit the dance floor. Music is constant in our house as we try to engage our son in song to help support his cognitive and physical development. Music is a powerful tool that is proven to help develop a child’s language skills, mood, and literacy.

Music and Music Instruction can literally help children’s brains develop faster. In 2012 The Brain and Creativity Institute (BCI) carried out a five-year study in partnership with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, to examine the impact of music instruction on children’s social, emotional and cognitive development. Within two years of the study, the results, published in 2016 in the journal of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, provided evidence that the auditory systems of the children involved in the music program were maturing faster than children engaged in other activities, such as soccer, and that this had supported accelerated development of language, reading and communication skills.

In addition to all these cognitive benefits, music is also a driver for the development of good interpersonal skills, not to mention it’s fun! We’ve all heard the expression, that music is food for the soul. Music can be a form of sustenance that promotes well being, supports emotional stability, and can be therapeutic. The benefits really are endless, and that’s why the parent-led Grooves and Moves dance class for toddlers makes the perfect addition to your family’s weekly activities.

The 45-minute classes encourage your little one to follow simple steps and freestyle movement with a dance instructor. Get your toddler grooving and moving to music. Join other parents and toddlers for a class that’s designed specifically to enhance your child’s day in a fun and engaging way. Register using the QR code below.

Let’s Play Day Care Center

Kids, 18 months -3 years. RMB 150. 10m-11am. Tuesdays. 5L Meet hotel, 1 Jianguomenwai Street, Chaoyang District. (155 10408 355/1881 1796 774) 5L满足酒店朝阳区建国门外大街1号.

Let’s Play Day Care, January 5

Start the year as you mean to go on with a free event for you and your little one. Mommy and Me Yoga class instructor Rose Scott will be hosting a specially designed music and movement class at the Let’s Play Day Care Center.

Go and enjoy a jam-packed morning of fun songs that will combine enjoyment with learning, using a variety of creative activities including dance. Classes will encourage little ones to express themselves, play, learn, and interact while having fun. Scott already hosts a successful Mommy and Me Yoga class every Tuesday morning, helping moms (and dads) to move and engage with their kids through child-friendly yoga sessions, and will be sure to bring great energy and skill to this program.

Classes will be limited to 20 participants only for a more intimate and parent/child-focused class. All classes will also be held in English and parents should call to register. To find out about this and other awesome classes run by Scott, WeChat: rosieb-scott.

Let’s Play Day Care Center

Kids, 6-18 months. Free. January 5. 5L Meet hotel, 1 Jianguomenwai Street, Chaoyang District. (155 10408 355/1881 1796 774) 5L满足酒店朝阳区建国门外大街1号.

Photos: Courtesy of Rose Scott