How to Teach Dances to Children
Rhythmic movement is natural for all humans, but children need some guidance when learning actual dance steps. According to "Children and Families Magazine," teaching dances to children promotes physical activity, and it is a fun way of teaching regular school lessons. Choose music that is appropriate for the dance you want to teach and give the children time to explore the movements. More importantly, respect each child's individual learning style, which may be the need to passively watch before engaging in the dance.
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Instructions
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Play the intended music on an audio player for the children to listen to before dancing. If you are singing the music for the dance, sing the words to the melody. Allow time for the children to know the music before learning all the steps to the dance.
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Stand the children up in one line or in several lines if you have a larger class. Have the children open their arms out straight. Explain that this is the distance needed between each child. This prevents children bumping into each other. Relax the arms.
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Reach for the sky by stretching your arms up and down for simple stretches before the dancing. You must perform the moves so the children copy you. Tickle your toes, twirl like a top and sway like a tree.
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Dance the first moves by yourself to the music lowered in volume so the children can hear you. Use your own movements to direct the children and keep verbal directions to a minimum. For example, walk forward four steps and then clap.
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Instruct the children to perform the same moves as you, so for instance walk together four steps together and then clap. Perform the next moves, such as walking backwards four steps and then clapping. Ask the children to copy you.
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Dance the next steps in front of the children and have them dance them after you. Keep the dance lesson short, about 20 minutes at most for children younger than 10 years old. At each meeting review the previous steps, emphasizing their placement within the music, and add a few new steps.
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Dance the entire dance together in time with the music. Praise the children for doing a good job.
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Tips & Warnings
Before starting a long dance routine, teach basic dance moves to the children. Use animals to relate the moves, such as jumping like a frog.
Start with dance routines with lots of repetition and predictable patterns, such as folk dance.
Allow time for free form dance to traditional songs.
Relax and have fun and let the children see that nobody is judging anyone else.
Stop the lesson if you can tell the children are bored or tired.
References
Resources
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