The Use of Dance/Movement Therapy in a Preschool Curriculum: Enhancing Kindergarten Readiness Skills
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Authors
Naimoli, Lynda Perez-Venero
Issue Date
2016-05-01
Type
thesis_open
Language
Keywords
Dance Movement Therapy
Alternative Title
Dance/Movement Therapy Theses
Abstract
This thesis will focus on an internship project designed to integrate dance/movement therapy into the Early Childhood Center (ECC) at Sarah Lawrence College. The premise was that specific dance/movement therapy goals would enhance the ECC’s preschool curriculum by strengthening each child’s cognitive learning, supporting their developmental skills and preparing them for the transition to kindergarten. Activities were created addressing developmental skills needed for the transition from preschool to kindergarten. The various activities developed for the dance/movement therapy sessions focused on the development of one's own sense of self and relational sense of self, impulse control, interpersonal boundaries, social skills and coping transitional/adjustment situations skills. The children's developmental growth was monitored through observation then assessed during dance/movement therapy sessions and regular class activities. Their progress was tracked based on each child's cognitive, social, emotional and physical skills baseline.