How to Teach Dance Rhythms to Children Using Aerobic Dance Steps
The benefits of aerobic exercise for children are widely documented. According to KidsHealth.org, active kids will have greater strength, a lessened risk of developing Type II diabetes, a positive mental state and a healthy body. Teaching dance rhythms to children using aerobic exercise can be rewarding for the teacher and exciting for the student.
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Instructions
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Create a lesson plan for the class. It helps to know beforehand what you would like to teach. Start the children with easily grasped aerobic moves set to an upbeat song and gradually increase the difficulty level of the movements.
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Choose appropriate music for the age group of your class. For children younger than 10, play a "kids music" album or instrumental popular music. For children older than 10, pick popular chart-topping songs that they all might be familiar with.
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Lead the children in a 10-minute warm-up routine. The warm-up should include moves that increase the body's heart rate and circulation. Effective warm-up moves include shaking parts of the body separately and as a whole, jogging in place, briskly stepping side to side, kicking the legs to the front and sides, and punching out with the arms.
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Play a song with a slower beat the children can easily move with. Ask them to follow your motions as you move with the music. Simple moves in time with the music, such as thrusting the arms up and down, work well here. Add additional moves as the children are more comfortable. Change music tempo throughout the lesson, alternating fast and slow songs.
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Make sure the children are aware of the rhythm of the song. Ask the children to clap their hands or count out the beat of the song as they move.
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Finish by teaching a cool-down routine to a slow song. Ask the children to follow you as you lead them through a series of movements designed to slow down the heart rate. Moves can include standing or seated stretches and walking in place.
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Tips & Warnings
Allow space in the lesson for children to express their own creativity and individuality. Let them choose their own dance steps for a few beats in a song.
Teach children a short routine you can practice together. Children find excitement from learning and applying new concepts.
Always come prepared for accidents and emergencies when working with children.
Don't teach routines too complicated for the age group. Children can lose interest quickly or feel discouraged.
