Encouraging Positive Role Models

Children and young people tend to have certain roleThe job of any sort of teacher is more than just
models - people they aspire to be like when they areproviding knowledge of a given subject. They should
older. Whereas traditionally children would have wishedbe able to gain their student's confidence and trust and
to emulate their mother, father or a favourite relativecommunicate well. They should be able to understand
or local character, increasingly these role models arean individual's needs and be able to assess skill levels
thought of as celebrities and sports people. Opinionand identify ways to assist students as individuals.
varies as to whether pop stars and other celebritiesDance teachers almost always have a great amount
are a good example to children. It is fair enough to sayof enthusiasm and passion for their subject. Whether
that it completely depends who the particular person inthey teach ballet, tap, jazz or modern dance, students
question is. Glamour models, such as Jordan (Katiewill be able to tell if their dance teacher's heart is in it.
Price) are often admired and looked up to by youngHelping youngsters to learn morals, to learn how to
girls, often much to the despair of parents andaccept winning with good grace and losing with dignity,
teachers, who wish to encourage the concept thatis central to any parent's or teacher's job. Manners are
success is achieved through hard work and effort,very important and a dance teacher can make use of
rather than appearance and physical attributes.their position as a 'cool' or 'trendy' to help instil good
There are still large numbers of huge people whobehaviour in youngsters.
want to grow up to be like people closer to home -It is the belief of the majority of people that raising
their parents, older siblings, a family friend. Some decidechildren well is the most important part of life, the most
they would like to be like their favourite teacher. Oftenrewarding, but also the most difficult. Good parents
children and young people identify with adults whoalways try their best for their offspring, something that
share similar interests to their own. A child who lovesa child often overlooks when they are annoyed with
to draw and paint may want to grow up to be thetheir mum or dad. Finding somewhere safe for children
next Picasso or Van Gogh, someone who loves toto go and learn to socialise better and acquire new
write might envisage themselves as famousskills can be also be a good break for long suffering
wordsmiths, like Dickens and Shakespeare. If a childparents, a chance to relax in the knowledge your child
wants to be a dancer, they may well admire ais safe and have some peace and quiet. If you want
celebrity dancer, but often this is not the case. A lot ofyour child to learn dance, make sure you trust the
dance students wish to be like their dance teacher.dance teacher fully and have studied their credentials.