If we look at the history of human kind, we can see that dance is as ancient as animal life, including mating dances and intimidation displays, known to us from documentaries. 

Dancing is a powerful form of communication. It is also an easy and effective way to bond with other people socially and for parents to create a special connection with their babies. 

My shoes and bag are by dancewear BLOCH 

The study finds that the average busy mother spends 63 days straight ferrying her kids to and from their classes, events and hobbies during their childhood. 

Between the ages of 4-16, taking kids to sports and dance classes and watching them perform adds up to a huge 1,498 hours. The study was carried among 1,000 mother figures across the UK, which includes Mums, grandmothers and female carers. It reveals the time and effort parents put into their children’s hobbies – and the bonding benefits this brings. 

Despite the long hours spent, most guardians say taking their kids to their hobbies helps them bond with their child, with 8 in 10 saying they look forward to this time spent together. 

The study reveals a huge 7 out of 10 mother figures say their children are more open and honest when chatting on the way to and from their hobbies. Further still, over half (53%) of parents say they have the most in-depth conversations with their children during this time.  

Focusing on a hobby together has many additional benefits when it comes to parent/child bonding: 

·       64% of mother figures say they have their child’s full attention 

·       67% find it easier to talk to their children 

·       65% feel like their child has so much to tell them after attending classes 

·       Over 6 in 10 parents love spending time travelling to and from classes  

Developmental psychologist and Certified Family Life Educator, Kate Monahan, discussed why hobbies can help bonding: 

“Spending time travelling to and from afterschool hobbies is never wasted time. When parents support their children’s interests, by travelling to and from events, parents show?that they care about their child and support their passions. Plus, during periods of time without direct eye contact, such as in the car, children are more open and honest communicators. This means that travel times are beautiful moments of disclosure and deep conversation. This helps to build a close, positive relationship between the parent and child.” 

Over the past 12 months, I have learnt that specific dancewear and shoes are essential to improve my skills.

I have tried many shoes before finding the perfect ones for my style and to ease my learning and dancing for hours. 

BLOCH shoes have made my dancing life much easier. Compared to other shoes, Bloch’s are softer and better quality at lower prices, without compromising on high standards. 

On BLOCH website I also found accessories like practical bags to carry my shoes to dancing events.