Circus Skills = Life Skills

Post by Julianne Sando, Special Events Coordinator at Kidspace Children's Museum

Juggling is a physical skill involving the movement of one or more objects, usually through the air, for entertainment or sport. From ancient times to current, the earliest record of juggling, a panel from the 15th Beni Hassan tomb of an unknown prince, shows female dancers and acrobats throwing balls into the air. Juggling has been recorded in many early cultures including Egyptian, Chinese, Indian, Greek, Roman, Norse, Aztec (Mexico) and Polynesian civilizations. One might have never guessed, but learning to juggle, as an adult or child, has a large number of benefits! Besides the fact that it’s just simply fun, juggling, as well as other circus skills, carries educational, physical, and social benefits which can be used throughout one’s life.

Educational Benefits: Increases and improves mathematical skills, physics, performance and drama, appreciation of the arts, techniques of learning, concentration, imagination and creativity, problem solving, and also proven to help dyslexia.

Physical Benefits: Improves and increases physical fitness, stamina, co-ordination, ambidexterity, flexibility, reflexes, rhythm and timing, balance, body orientation, also a fantastic stress reliever!

Social Benefits: Improves and increases confidence, self esteem, hobbies/interests, teamwork, communication, patience, self expression, persistence, and self analysis.

Soooo…the next time you are feeling bored, stressed, in the need of a work out, or just looking to have fun…try juggling! There is information online, in books, or you can even go to circus school to learn how to juggle.

Read the full article here.