A child who works very hard at their dancing skills often wants to compete against other dancers. Depending on where you live, there is likely a competition somewhere in your area. Many parents allow their children to enter competitions that are held in locations several hours away, making a road trip part of the event. If this is your child’s first dance competition, there are some things that you can do to make the event a success.
Help Them Pack
On competition day, your child should have everything that they need to compete. It will cause them more stress if they realize they’re missing something essential. Not having the necessary items could affect their performance or their outcome. According to Litz Dance, you should make sure your child packs extra shoes, a sweatshirt and other accessories that might go overlooked. Clothing, makeup, snacks and a first-aid kit are all helpful as well. Make sure these items have been picked out and purchased well before the day of the competition. Preparation can really reduce your child’s anxiety and stress.
Encourage, But Don’t Coach
A parent’s job is to encourage their children to try their best. They shouldn’t be coaching their child to the point where their child is becoming upset. According to Dance Coach Academy, their coach knows the right things to say and do when a competition is going on. Let them do the job of correcting and preparing your child for the event. Whether your child wins an award or not, praise them for a job well done.
Prepare Your Child for Failure
A lot of kids walk away from a dance competition empty-handed. If it’s your child’s first competition, they probably don’t have a high chance of winning. That doesn’t mean the competition is a failure. According to Starquest, the experience they gain from participating in a competition is important. The experience will help them grow as a dancer in the future. You also want to make sure that your child doesn’t leave the competition with a bad attitude regarding competitions.
If your child has decided to sign up for a dance competition, make sure the signup process gets done as early as possible. You can take the next few weeks or months to prepare. This includes having your child put in some extra practice, but you can also take the time to plan and pack accordingly.
If you want your child’s hair and makeup professionally done for their first dance competition, check out our services here!
