It would seem that the dance rug is just a toy that appeared after the jukeboxes popular in the 90s. But in fact, it perfectly develops a child's hearing, a sense of rhythm and reaction speed. Today the market offers a large number of models for different ages.
Features:
The musical mat is a special area for children to dance and play with an anti-slip surface. It contains buttons and arrows for advancing while playing and sounding music. For kids, there is a simplified version - a piano or images of animals.
Connect it to a TV or computer with special cables. Included with it is a disc with activities and games of varying difficulty. The better the skills, the higher the level of the child's strength. There is also an opportunity for tournament dances. The set may include several dance floors, which is important if there are two or more children in the house.
Benefits
The rug develops several sides of the child at once. These are children's motor skills, hearing, a sense of rhythm and dance skills directly. The child, playing, trains attention and creativity. For older children, this is a good start for the development of plasticity and softness of movements.
If your child is hyperactive and loves jumping and jumping, then the rug can be a salvation for you, because all the child's activity will be localized in one place.
Sports benefit
Along with dancing skills, the child's muscles and stretching develop and strengthen. No wonder athletes are also engaged in aerobics.
Accuracy and speed of reaction can also be attributed to sports skills. The higher the level of play, the more these qualities are required from the child. Well trained and endurance. The rug can be a good alternative to exhausting workouts for children with heavy weight, playing, it will be easier and more fun for him to lose weight.
Kinds
By appointment:
- professional;
- universal.
By action:
- DDR - dance dance revolution (simple music mat with 4 or 6 buttons in the front);
- PIU - pump it up (an interactive panel with arrows located in a circle with an active center).
By connection method:
- connected to a TV;
- connected to a computer;
- with connection to a game console;
- with connection to various types of equipment;
- wireless.
How to spark interest in a child?
There are no special difficulties here. The child can be lured simply by starting to dance himself. At this moment, the competitive spirit will take its toll and, unnoticed, the child will also join the game. Offer to invite friends and play together.
If this does not work, then take the child with you to the store and let him choose the model he likes for himself.
Tips for choosing
First of all, decide on the material of the rug. The most economical option is a coating similar to oilcloth, but it cannot boast of durability. Therefore, there are rugs with rubber-reinforced buttons. The most expensive ones are completely rubberized with embossed buttons, but they are also the safest - the child will not hurt the foot, and such a dance machine will last much longer.
The underside of the mat should have a non-slip coating and Velcro fasteners.
The older the child, the denser the coating should be. For teenagers, it is better to choose a special platform.
Each mat has a different number of buttons. The most versatile is with 9 buttons. It is suitable for all ages and games. But if your child is still small, he is unlikely to appreciate such a pattern, it is better to give preference to bright children's coatings.
Model overview
- X-tream - the easiest rug for dancing beginners for kids 3-4 years old. Relatively inexpensive and of high quality.
- Hello girl - dance canvas for girls in pink color, has two modes of operation.
- Dance Pad Deluxe Piu - a universal mat with connection to various equipment with a soft insert. In addition to music, there are 8 games in the kit.
- Stay Cool Duplex Wireless - playing surface for two players.
- Dance mat - the character makes certain movements, you need to repeat after him. There is a possibility of multiplayer games for up to 4 people.
Reviews
All, without exception, consider dance rugs useful for both children and parents.
When buying, many are lost with the number of buttons and arrows. Another difficulty is that it happens that the software is not suitable for installation, so when choosing, you should carefully study the documentation. Further, difficulties arise with the setting, the buttons do not obey and all interest in the game disappears.
In dance programs, preference is given to those where the rug itself and its buttons are shown on the screen, but it is more difficult to dance with a character, here the speed of reaction and thought should be even faster.
It is advisable to check whether the rug slips or not in the store so as not to be disappointed and not injured. A big plus for users is the effective burning of calories, the child, while playing, does not have to think about excess weight, both calories and dissatisfaction with himself disappear.
Children's dance mat is a great way to entertain your child. At the same time, while the child is playing, his all-round development takes place, which affects his creative and sports skills, mood and health in general. And below is a video that summarizes the rules for using a children's dance rug.
