Teaching Dance to Young Children

Dancing is a form of self-expression without verbally expressing ones

thoughts. It is a form of self-art through the motion of the body.

Benefits of Dancing (Rhythm and Movement):

Develops self-esteem
Creative expression
Helps self-identity
Helps with communication skills
Enhances physical, emotional, and social skills
Brings art and music to life
Encourages the love of learning and growing
Allows children to all together move, think, and feel in motion.
Learn teamwork, focus, and critical thinking in new ways.

Key to Successful Dance Teaching

Show Enthusiasm
Dance with them
Use simple words or phrases that will inspire them to follow direction
Sing with the music, if you know the song
JUST HAVE FUN

Fun Dance Songs for Young Children :

Hot Potato-Wiggles
*A simple instructional dance song for
young children.
Step to Hot Potato:
1. When the Wiggles sing Hot Potato,
Hot Potato, with fist clutched pound
on top of the other until the next
move.
2. The next instruction is comb
spaghetti, comb spaghetti. With arms
straight in front, move in a motion of
combing the air as if combing hair.
3. Then a motion of diving forward
when the Wiggles say, Mmmm,
yummy, yummy, yummy. A voice

then sings out, Give me that, give

me that, give me that food, the
Wiggles sway the hand motion from
side to side (though, children find
other ways of coming up with a
different motion)
4. Just like the motion of smashing
with a twist on the wrist
5. Then dive back into the Mmm.
yummy, yummy, yummy and Give
me that food motion.
6. The last instructional motion is back
to Hot Potato again.
Note: The song is a quick song, but is a fun
motion for children.

Chicken Dance
Steps of this dance are divided into 2
sections.
First section:
1. Four beats, snapping the thumb and
fingers together.
2. For the next four beats, wings
formed by bending elbows and
tucking the hands near armpits
(Flapping the wings 4x).
3. The final four beats involve four
claps.
4. Steps performed during these 16
beats should be repeated four times.
Second section:
1. Linking the opposite elbows with
dance partners and skipping in a
circular motion.
2. Once the music changes, children
should go back to the first section.

Twist and Shout-Beattles

There are no instructions for
this particular song.
However, the music
instinctively makes children
to move and twist. Children
will instinctively jump up and
down. Sink into the floor
when the song comes to a
whisper. And jump back into
motion when the music
becomes louder.

Other Suggested Rhythm and Movement Music:

Hap Palmer Learning Basic Skills Through Music Vol. I and II
Greg and Steves We All Live Together Vol. 2
Any Multicultural Music
Disneys Children Songs
Curious George Soundtrack-Jack Johnson
Mickey Mouse Club 1976 soundtrack
Helpful Books:

"Rhythmic Activities & Dance" by Joan Price & Pamela Riemer

"Fun with Action Stories" by Joan Daniels

"Little People's Creative Workshop" by Daune Pitman

"Movement Stories" by Helen Landalf & Pamela Gurke

"Creative Dance for All Ages" by Anne Greene Gilbert

"A Song is a Rainbow" by Patty Zeitlin

"Teaching Children Dance" by Theresa Purcell

Helpful Websites:
Dance for Young Children
http://danceforyoungchildren.blogspot.com/search/label/teaching%20dance
12 Tip for Teaching Tots
http://www.danceadvantage.net/12-tips-for-teaching-tots/
20 FavoriteChildren Songs: Lets Sing, Dance, and Move!

http://www.learningstationmusic.com/blog/2014/01/24/20-favorite-childrenssongs-lets-get-moving/

Notes: