Kids and Poles: Why it’s a good thing
Children are natural monkeys. I don’t have children myself, but I have plenty of friends and colleagues who do, and I’ve been around my share of other people’s kids enough to see it. Children are tiny little nuclear powerhouses of vivacity, spontaneity and frenetic energy. The spirit and stamina of a 4 year old can uplift you and tear you down at the same time. And it’s not easy for parents these days, this being the modern age of technology and all, where even a 6 year old has her own smartphone and is texting at the dinner table.
Despite these digital distractions, kids yearn to move, to be active, creative, and to try new things. Which is what brings me to my main topic. Each time a mother has brought her child boy or girl, from toddler to teen, into the pole studio that I manage, the children have become FASCINATED by the pole. It’s like this incredibly tall and sparkly tree which, when climbed, leads to some enchanted world! A shiny magic beanstalk that has grown out of the floor and through the ceiling! The natural monkey in them immediately awakens, and all they want to do is grab on and go higher! And forget when they find out about spinning pole for the first time… Spinning pole is like a merrygoround on steroids, and children seem to take right to it! Their little legs and arms grab on for dear life as their mommy or daddy spins them around and shows them how to use momentum to either slow down or speed up, inciting tons of giggles, and occasionally a bit of puke. I hear that comes par for the course with kids on a pretty regular basis.
Not only does exploring the fun of pole dancing help parents bond and create memories with their children, it also helps to develop creativity, athletic ability, strength, grace and discipline. A child with any experience in self expression and imagination will inevitably benefit from it, and poling with their parents will not only nurture those personality traits, but create a desire for a healthy, strong body. Although it is unfortunate that pole dancing is still besmirched as some kind of objectification of the body, the innocence and ambiguity of a child’s mind gives you parents the tabula rasa on which to impress the real joy and happiness that pole dancing brings to your lives, both as mothers and fathers, and as pole dancers.
So my point is, if you have a pole and a child at home, spend some time with them on the pole. Their curiosity will be unavoidable, so you might as well teach them the proper way to execute a crucifix climb before they try to climb using the bottoms of their feet! Break those bad habits early! And if you don’t have a pole at home, see if you can purchase a private lesson or some studio rental time at your local pole haunt to do some polebonding with your babies. In the end, it’s really just about creating great memories with two of your favorite things: Your little Loved Ones, and your Pole of course!
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