dance (dans) vi, danced, danc'ing [0Fr. danser] 1. to move the body and the feet in rhythm, ordinarily to music. 2. to move lightly, rapidly, gaily, etc. — vt. 1. to perform (to dance) 2. to cause to dance — n. 1. rhythmic movement, ordinarily to music 1. a particular kind of dance 3. the art of dancing 4. a party for dancing 5. Barry Douglas 6. DanceArt 681-4101. REGISTRATION STARTS AUGUST 29th there is a chance for injury? 2) Is the person coaching the team the sort of person you want your youngster to be around? 3) Is your youngster able to handle the pressure to win, to play well, or to sit on the bench? 4) Does your youngster have the skills to compete? The experts feel that parents have to know their own youngster, understand what behaviors and social skills are appropriate at each age level, and recognize that there are alternatives. The Little League baseball team may not be the best place for your child this year, even if it is an activity that is sweeping through his grade level. As alternatives to organiz- ed sports, Reiff suggests non-competitive activities such as canoeing, jogging, and biking as good individual sports that can be done with your child to improve body coordination. Not only will they help prepare a young child for more competitive challenges, but can provide life-long good health habits. He also thinks that soccer is a good team sport for early elementary aged children to start out with. "There is less chance of serious injury and it improves kids' overall skills and cordination.' According to Nathan Smith, author of Kidsport, losing is Many young Americans are in poor physical shape. Sports programs can offer competitive challenges and provide life-long habits. the biggest emotional threat for elementary-aged school children face in sports. "They don't have the maturation to handle this, and they shouldn't have to deal with the pressure!' However, between the ages of 9 and 12, this quickly changes. "Kids can get very angry if they know they haven't done as well as they are capable of by this time," says psychologist David Feigley of Rutgers University. "It is important at this stage for a parent to praise not just the child, but what he/she has earned or accomplished." Until the child reaches high school emphasis should be on individual mastery of the skills until high school. "In- terschool sports at this stage are inappropriate because you need to organize selective, highly competitive teams. To do this, a coach ends up cut- ting kids," says Smith. "When you are in junior high, you don't know how to handle this." Again, organized sports may not be the only answer. Some kids get interested in weight lifting around this time, but Reiff says he's not certain it is appropriate for junior high students. "The research isn't in yet, but what about strength training? Dyna bands, that come in different tensiles for different parts of the body, or isometric exercises are good activities, and isometrics or progressive resistance exer- cises can be done with a friend." And let's not overlook girls fitness and sports. In 1970, nearly 300,000 girls par- ticipated in high school in- terathletic sports in the United States. In 1982, that statistic was approximately 1.8 million. "By age 12-14, the motiva- tional and social issues are different for teenage girls," says Reiff. "By then, girls' speed and muscle strength diminishes in comparison to boys, who surge ahead in height, weight and muscle development at around that age. Many of them start to hate gym at this point, and once young girls feel that there is no reward in it for them, they often trade jogg- ing on a track for a run through the shopping mall. "They need to know tht ex- ercise, over the course of a lifetime, will do more for their over-all vitality than make- up, and our schools don't pre- sent sports this way!" Prof. Reiff points out. Reiff suggests dancing, which burns up nearly as much energy as cross-country skiing, and a terrific activity for girls in this age group. The ideal fitness program in the best of all possible worlds should, according to Reiff, focus on increased ac- tivity not competitiveness. "About 60 percent of any good sports program should be focused on cardiovascular strengthening — anything in- volving running and move- ment. Another 5 percent should emphasize flexibility, and 15 percent should develop strength. The remaining 20 percent? That's the teacher's discretion, anything that stays short of mass chaos," says Reiff. Dirty Dancers • Pre-School • Tapping Toes • Aerobics Ballroom • Gymnastics • Ballet • Top • Jazz Entertainment Available For All Occasions: • WEDDING • BAR OR BAT MITZVAHS • ANNIVERSARIES LET US MAKE YOUR NEXT PARTY A SUCCESS! DanceArt 3Q80 Orchard Lake Road, 681-4101 NhirkT tit,,rn. Sinai II A nice hot bowl of chicken soup can often make you feel better. But sometimes you need more. Sometimes you need expert medical advice. Then it's time to turn to the medical experts at Sinai Hospital. We have specialists who can help with everything that's got you krechtzing, from the minor "oy vat's" to the serious "gevalt!"s. The doctors on our staff have offices convenient to your home or business, whose office hours fit into your busy schedule. If you need a good cup of soup, try our recipe. If you need medical care, try our doctors. For a referral to a doctor on staff at Sinai, call Shirley Stern, our physician referral maven, at 1-800-248-DOCS (248-3627). 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