As the summer draws to a close, kids are returning home from camp and getting ready for the school year ahead
. Parents are preparing by doing back to school shopping. An often overlooked part of back to school shopping is buying new sportswear and dance gear. It is just as important as new shoes or notebooks. Chances are your child did a lot of growing this summer and now they need some dance attire. You can't have them showing up in run down, ill-fitting dance gear on the first day of dance classes!
Make sure you have new dance shoes. Capezio shoes are the most common brand but any pair that fits well will do. Most kids need a new pair of shoes every year to 18 months to keep pace with their growing feet. The same is true for dance shoes. If you have a space in your home that your child uses to practice, buy some Rosin as well to prevent any slipping and sliding. You can shop online though some people prefer to try shoes on in person. If you really want to be savvy you can have your child try on a pair at the shoes store to find a style and size that is appropriate and then order it online to save money.
Chances are they will also need new tights. Although tights are elastic they are not known for holding up particularly well over time. In all likelihood they have run or tears or have lost some of their elastic qualities. Buy a few pair because an active dancer will run through many pairs of tights. You may also want to buy leg warmers or sweat pants for practicing around the house.
If you are unsure about what exactly your child will need, reach out to their dance instructor. They can tell you exactly what will be needed and where you can get it. If you are enrolling your child in a school dance program, ask school officials what kind of body wrappers or leotards will be necessary. If this is your child's first year in a dance class you should reach out to the instructor so they are prepared for the first day of class.
Dance classes resuming can be the silver lining on the otherwise glum end of summer. Make sure your child is prepared for the first class so they can learn, grown and enjoy.