Esmé is a born dancer. All her life she’s been excited by the music she loves–which is a whole lot of music–and calmed by the music she really, really loves–like the Muppets and the Small Potatoes.
Music has always moved her…even when she could barely move. Here she is a four months old, unable to stop herself from feeling the groove with the Plastic Bertrand song, Stop Ou Encore.
Her skills improved quickly–here she is a six months old, grooving to Paul Simon’s concert in the park.
Does it get more adorable than that? I think not.
I have always felt as though music is a way to build a bridge to Esmé. Music has been a way to get her to focus, to relax, to engage. It is motivation. It is fun. It is learning.
Interestingly, however, when we tried Music Therapy a couple years ago, she really disliked it. She made it very clear to everyone that music was not going to be therapy. We do, however, use music in therapy still to help encourage her. Nowhere has this been more evident than her physical therapy sessions in the Lite Gait system…where we’ve used music to keep her bouncing on the trampoline and walking on the treadmill. She loves the feeling of being free to move without anyone restraining her.
Last week her therapist Stephanie had the idea to play clips of the Yo Gabba Gabba Super Music Friend Show on an iPad in front of Esmé while she walked. Ez completely lost her mind and started busting a move whilst walking on the treadmill.
She was so adorably earnest on there–like she’d been waiting for the opportunity to try out the steps she’s been choreographing for months in her head. She even took some awesome steps along the way.
I’m going to let Esmé’s dancing skills tell the rest of the story…here she is dancing to Devo.
Awesome! Go Esme! So fun to watch, can't help but giggle.
Isn't she so funny? I could just watch this on loop for days!
Esme:
Small Potatoes are really cool.
I listened to them too last Saturday on KINDLING which is an Australian children's station.
Eurovision is another reason to dance.
Music is very beneficial.
Adelaide: Small potatoes are really cool! I watch them on YouTube. Are there Australian kids shows you think I'd like? -Esmé
It is FlutidtPride. You and Esmé share this love!
She is absolutely adorable 😊. I think it is a great idea to use music to help her and motivate her!
Music is awesome my daughter loves it and though she can't move her body the way she would like to she gives it a good go as you say it's great for learning as music 'awakens' both sides of the brain. Keep dancing!
She's just so gosh-dang adorable! go, Esme', go!
Hi! My 6 year old, Esmee, has a 1q4 deletion with epileptic encephalopathy, nonverbal, and ID. I saw a post about your Esme on scary mommy, and was excited they almost share a name.
Thanks snappy2000! I think she's pretty darn adorable myself 🙂
Right? I mean, come on, it is almost unfair how adorable she is 🙂
Hi Nanette! That is so cool! We share great taste in names! How is your daughter doing?
It is really amazing to see what music can do for our kids! Dancing is really so fundamental. Does your daughter have any music she particularly likes?
There are.
The one that nearly everyone recommends: BANANAS IN PYJAMAS.
And there is PLAY SCHOOL.
THE WIGGLES are awesome – they are four or five people in skivvies. Plus Dorothy the Dinosaur; Captain Feathersword the pirate.
DIRTGIRL is full of gardening and creativity.
There is this British set of nursery rhymes on which I work the subtitles and have done for the last fortnight.
READY FOR THIS is about kids and teenagers who dance.
There is also an outdoors/outback show.
BOTTERSNIKES AND GUMBLES and BUBBLE BATH BAY.
Thank you for asking, Esme!
I will try to find more on YouTube.
Oh I will certainly try those all out. I am very, very picky about my tv shows, so I will report back –Ezzy
Another good one is BUSHWHACKED.
It is on National Indigenous TV.
I'm another who is picky about my TV shows, so you and I have that in common, Ezzy!