How to Teach Dance to Preschoolers
Dancing has benefits for the health of preschoolers because it is a form of exercise that is fun. Teaching children to dance benefits children physically and mentally. Introducing dance to children when they are still very young will help them develop lifelong interest, as well as develop talent. When teaching children to dance, make sure they enjoy it so they will participate more readily when they see it as a game as opposed to learning.
- Ensure that the dance room is safe and well lit. Remove any furniture or toys and keep only what you need for the dance. A cluttered room will offer distractions for the children and may lead to injuries. The room should also be well ventilated
- Participate in the activity. Young children learn by following your example. Model the actions in which you want them to participate. You have to move around and demonstrate the same energy and enthusiasm you expect from them.
- Keep the children moving and avoid spending too much time on one activity. Spending more than five minutes on one activity leads them to get so distracted that their attention and interest is lost.
- Allow the children to make simple choices such as the colors they want to wear, or the moves they want to make that day. Offering children choices helps to develop their decision making skills as well as allowing them a sense of involvement.
- Offer children positive feedback at every opportunity. Children respond well to being singled out for positive feedback. When you point out good moves the rest of the class will want to emulate and the child will become motivated.
- Refocus their attention by distracting them when they begin to lose focus or fidget. Use sensory objects like scarves or ribbons and have them invent their own moves. A child’s attention span is short and anything can cause them to lose interest in what they are doing.
- Avoid negative attention. A child who feels picked on will withdraw and lose interest. Ensure you do not keep pointing out mistakes that one child is making repeatedly. In some cases, the child might be enjoying the negative attention and will continue doing the same thing repeatedly.