We hear this one all the time:School is over, backpacks hit the floor, and suddenly your child who begged to sign up for dance is curled up on the couch declaring, “I don’t want to go tonight.”
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Honestly, even adults feel that way after a long day, who hasn’t wanted to skip the gym in favor of a comfy chair and a snack? Kids just don’t have the words yet to say, “I need a reset before I can do one more thing.”
That’s where routine comes in. Here are five tips we’ve seen help families turn the after school slump into a smooth launch toward dance class:
1. Start with a decompression buffer: Instead of rushing right into “grab your bag, let’s go,” give them five or ten minutes to breathe. Shoes off, snack in hand, maybe a quick snuggle with the dog. A predictable pause helps kids reset their brains from school mode into dance mode.
2. Use a “switch signal”: Kids love cues. Try a special song in the car, a silly handshake, or even a goofy word that only means one thing: “it’s dance day!” Do it consistently and before long, that cue flips the mental switch automatically.
3. Fuel them up: Let’s be real, most “I don’t want to” moments are just “I’m hungry” in disguise. A cheese stick, a granola bar, apple slices with peanut butter, anything with a little protein and a little carb. Don’t forget water too; tired brains are often just dehydrated ones.
4. Keep the routine visible: Make a simple checklist they can see:
snack
shoes
change clothes
grab bag
out the door.
Younger kids love to cross things off, and older kids still benefit from not having to remember all the steps in their head.
5. Celebrate the wins: A little positive reinforcement goes a long way. Maybe it’s a high five, maybe it’s a silly dance in the kitchen, maybe it’s picking a post-class song in the car. Celebrate the fact that they showed up. That’s the muscle that matters most.
Here’s the best part: nine times out of ten, the second your dancer walks through the studio doors, the slump is gone. The music starts, friends wave hello, and suddenly it’s all smiles. We see it every single week.
And that’s the bigger lesson here. Dance teaches kids how to push through tired days, follow through on commitments, and discover that spark of energy they didn’t know they had left. Those are life skills wrapped up in leotards and hip hop shoes.
So the next time your dancer melts into the couch after school, take a breath, grab a snack, and start the routine. You’ll both be glad you did when the music starts and the joy comes rushing back.
See you in the studio, Trevor & Andrea