Preschoolers are bursting with energy, creativity, and curiosity. Engaging them in movement and dance activities keeps them entertained and supports their overall physical, mental, and social development. This article will share a range of creative movement and dance ideas designed to help preschool children develop their motor skills and foster a love for dance.

Getting Started with Dance Lesson Plans for Preschool

Before your little dancers arrive, it’s important to have your materials and dance lesson plans for preschool in place. Tools like hula hoops, tambourines, scarves, and laminated movement cards can add more fun to your lessons. Teaching dance to preschoolers can be a handful, but it is fun!

Tip: Plan your session in a way that starts with a low-energy activity, builds up with something more energetic, and finishes with a calming exercise. This helps maintain students’ attention and ensures they don’t tire too quickly.

Warm-Up Activities

Starting with a warm-up is essential for dance for child development. Keep things simple and imaginative, helping children stretch their muscles while incorporating play and storytelling.

• Butterfly Stretch/Rocking Boat: Pretend to be butterflies flying around or rocking boats on the sea. This fun narrative helps children engage in hip-stretching exercises.
• Mermaid Stretch: Have them imagine mermaids stretching their long tails, strengthening their core.
• Ice Cream Scoops: Children stretch toward their toes, pretending to scoop ice cream. It’s a fun way to stretch their hamstrings.

These exercises encourage children to use their imagination while introducing them to basic movement vocabulary.

Interactive Songs and Movement

Music in your dance lessons can help children connect movement with rhythm and lyrics. Here are some classic songs with movement ideas:

• “I’m a Little Teapot”: Teach side stretches by mimicking the spout of a teapot.
• “Itsy Bitsy Spider”: Turn this familiar fingerplay into a full-body experience by acting out the spider’s climb and the rain’s fall.
• “Hokey Pokey”: This timeless activity is perfect for teaching body awareness, right from left, and following directions.

These songs encourage movement and engage children in listening and following instructions, making it easier for you to guide the class.

Dance Games for Preschoolers

Games can be an exciting way to incorporate structured movement while keeping children entertained.

• Butterfly Flying: Using scarves, children pretend to be butterflies flying around the room. They can take turns “flying” and forming cocoons. This activity helps with coordination and following instructions.
• Hula Hoop Houses: Each child has a “house” made of a hula hoop. They start by lying inside, pretending to sleep, and then follow a series of instructions like “waking up,” “getting ready,” and “visiting a friend’s house.” This teaches them concepts like inside and outside, sharing, and listening.

Freeze Dance and Parachute Play

For a simple yet effective dance activity, try Freeze Dance. Play music and let the children move however they like. When the music stops, they must freeze. This activity encourages independent thinking and listening skills.

Another fun option is Parachute Play. You can practice lifting, lowering, shaking, and moving in a circle using a large parachute. Adding a bouncing ball or stuffed animal introduces coordination and teamwork into the activity.

When creating enriching and educational dance programs for preschoolers, platforms such as the Moververse, TPT, and more offer comprehensive tools and resources to streamline your planning process. From professionally designed dance lesson plans for preschool to a wide range of teacher-specific classroom resources, these options are your quick and easy, go-to solution for bringing creativity and structure to your PE & Arts curriculum.

These programs are built with the development of young children in mind, making it easy to incorporate movement into daily lessons that encourage dance for child development. Sign up today to access various lesson ideas and classroom materials to make your dance classes fun and effective!