I just started teaching a creative movement class for ages 2-3 yrs. old. Parents are allowed to stay and watch or participate with their child during class, but they all just sit a watch and aspect me to work a miracle with their baby. First we start in a circle, and we go around and say our names and say hi to each person, but they don't even want to say their names, so that doesn't work very well. Then we make butterfly wings (Front frog stretch they kinda get this one, with help from me) and we fly, then we put our legs straight and sing good-good toes, and bad-bad toes (pointing & flexing feet which they don't get,) then we bounce in a crouched position and do banana jumps (which they actually get.) Then we stand up and hold hands and make the circle smaller and bigger (they get this) then we play ring around the rosie (which some get and some don't), then we plie (which some get and some don't)Some just stare blankly into space the whole entire time. Then we walk across the floor on our tip toes forwards & backwards (again some get and some don't), then we march across the floor (some get some don't), then we jump and clap across the floor (some get some don't), and lastly we get out the hoola hoops and do bunny hops in them (which some get and some don't) Then I end class with every one sitting in the circle and they get a sticker. I guess my question is what do I do for the ones that don't get it? What am I doing wrong? Any sugguestions?

That sounds just like my baby ballet class! The children are so young, that you mustnt expect them to be able to do everything. At this age they cant usually sit still let alone point their toes etc! But you must keep encouraging them even those who cant do things. If they're trying hard then praise them even if its not quite right.

Perhaps try to introduce something new every few weeks so that you vary the class. This might get the attention of those who are in a day dream most of the time. Then again it might not. In the end a child might just be too young for dance lessons. If a child doesnt participate at all within a few weeks it might be best to suggest to the parent that they try again in 6 months or so. All children are different. It doesnt help the other kids in the class if some dont participate.

I dont know whether any of this helps. I hope so though.

Thanks, for the advice. I'll try to be more understanding that they are only 2 and a 1/2 years old. Maybe in next month we will introduce them to dancing with these pretty pink scarves that I have. I bet they'd have fun with that. I also plan to use pom poms in the future. Thanks again for the encouragement.

I thought I was the only one with this problem! This is my first year teaching creative movement. I had a whole line up of activities and they all went wrong. The kids didn't want to do anything and I spent most of my time chasing them around. I had balloons for them to throw up and try to catch and that turned out to be a disaster ....all they wanted to do was play with them the whole time. They then complained when they didn't get both a stamp AND a sticker at the end. I was so exhausted after only one class. I also have a hard time understanding what they are trying to tell me which makes both them and I frustrated! I am glad to see I am not the only one having problems!

Alot of times with children this young, it is hard to keep them all on task. You have to just continue with what the majority of the class is understanding. If you are doing something and most of the children seem clueless, toss the idea and go on to the next. But, if it's only like 2-3 kids, you can't stop the whole lesson for them. This is when a student teacher comes in handy!
Another pointer is to GO WITH THE FLOW!! I often have a lesson or a goal for the class planned out before I go there, and most of the time I am not able to keep that plan. I find I have to adjust to what kind of a day the kids are having, and what kind of a day I'm having too!
I try to get as much done as possible, while having fun at the same time. I try to alternate between teaching something and doing fun movement songs (like "The Freeze Dance") and I make sure that no matter what they do, as long as they all participated and followed directions that they all get a sticker because to me, it's not worth the crying!
I hope that this made some sense and it was of some help to you!
--Domi

Alot of times with children this young, it is hard to keep them all on task. You have to just continue with what the majority of the class is understanding. If you are doing something and most of the children seem clueless, toss the idea and go on to the next. But, if it's only like 2-3 kids, you can't stop the whole lesson for them. This is when a student teacher comes in handy!
Another pointer is to GO WITH THE FLOW!! I often have a lesson or a goal for the class planned out before I go there, and most of the time I am not able to keep that plan. I find I have to adjust to what kind of a day the kids are having, and what kind of a day I'm having too!
I try to get as much done as possible, while having fun at the same time. I try to alternate between teaching something and doing fun movement songs (like "The Freeze Dance") and I make sure that no matter what they do, as long as they all participated and followed directions that they all get a sticker because to me, it's not worth the crying!
I hope that this made some sense and it was of some help to you!
--Domi

O.K. here is the deal.

These little girls were told that they were going to dancing school and they probaly imagined a ballerina teaching them in a beautiful ballerina costume. ha!

First off kids do not understand that when we are doing butterflies and walking around on our toes we ARE dancing. I used to have this same problem .... I fixed it when I found this website 4dancem.com. They had a whole year lined up of creative movement lesson plans with the music already on cds that you use for the class.

I could not afford the whole thing ... but they sale it in months ... I bought September .... used it and thought I have to have the rest of this my kids ate it up. We danced we had fun, they loved it and I loved it.

The program has the kids dancing from start to finsh non-stop!

I am a mom also ... I know when I take my kids to gymnastics and the teacher spends lit. 5 minutes just talking to my kids and then 10 minutes of stretching I feel like when is gymnastics ... my daughter acutally once said " Mom .. it takes a long time to get started. " ha!

If you are going to start with a circle I would suggest ... ( just my opion ) say we are going to start with our stretches today but first Miss SoandSo has to put on our favorite ballet music!

After you have done that and you feel like they have warmed up then have them say their names. This may help.

Also, I know it is good to have them walk across the room on their tippy toes but... it may not be fun ... think like a child. Here are some things that I have used in the past hope that they help.

Releve walks - put a plastic grocery cart on one side of the room and have the kids line up on the other side of the room give them each an item ( I use cookie boxes that came with the cart ) have them one by one help you buy cookies. They walk across the floor on tippy toes holding the box out in front when they get to the cart have them bend at the waist and put it in the cart. You say " Thank you Suzie, you are a great shopper." and so on.

Sways - I bring baby dolls or stuffed animals ( our ask them to bring their favorite dolly .. have extras just in case though ) after you have taught second position you can teach this.
Tell them to cradle their baby and rock her... show them how to rock just moving thier arms ( no hip action ) then as the do this sing rock a bye baby ... slowly start doing plie with your knees and rocking your toes. ( a sway )

See their are a million different ways to teach things. You have to see it trough their eyes ... after all they pay your check. If they look happy ... mom will be happy.

If you liked this ... which my kids love .. I have been doing these things for years ... e-mail me at lovedanceforce@yahoo.com and I'll be help more.

Just the fact that you are asking is great! Shows that you really care! I am sure that with a little imagination you will do a great job!

Amy

Sounds like your class is fine.....I do a lot more in class, but mine is tap, ballet, and tumbling that takes up a great deal of class time and it keeps their ever so changing attention interested....sounds like you need a little more PATIENCE! Like Dom919 said, GO WITH THE FLOW....stop expecting so much from first of all yourself and most importantly your kids.....

You can compare a lot to 2-3's in dance class and men in general. If you expect to much you'll get frustrated and disappointed. Focus on what they CAN do and go from there.

That's really young, and having parents in the room doesn't help. A few things that help me...

1. Disney. Buy Disney Classics vol. 1. Marches to the Jungle Book Elephant song work wonders. The CD is a great collection of dance-worthy faves that EVERY kid knows.

2. Call walking on demi "princess walks" and put on some cheezy Disney princess slow song, like "A whole new world" or "someday my prince will come".

3. Hap Palmer's, "Walter the Waltzing Worm". This is pure gold.

4. Greg and Steve's "Kids in Motion" again, gold.

5. I call point and flex, 'Crocodile Ears and Bunny Ears". They seem to get it, and you say it kind of sing-songy while they point and flex. Crocodile ears(point) and BUUUny ears(flex).

Don't stay in place for too long, when their attention starts to wane, pick a new activity. I don't think having parents in the room makes your job any easier, what pressure! It sounds like you have a nice framework for a CM class. I'm sure it will get easier as you go.

Thanks to all for their comments. My creative movement class is going much better now, maybe it was just because they weren't used to any thing, but now they all understand every thing. I also bought some new cd's from that website Amy sugguested. Thanks a lot Amy. The cd's were a big hit, I already have all the disney cd's in all the volumns. We started dancing with ribbons last week, and they loved it, we did non stop dancing for 30 min. The kids really seem to be learning releve, plie, pointe, flex, march, jump & clap, twists, hips, sways, high 5th low 5th, chainee turns, frog jumps, etc. we even hoola danced. Any ways, when some thing isn't working I drop it and move on to some thing else. It's actually a lot of fun now. Thanks again for all the great sugguestions.
-Bridget

Hi! I would like to recommend that if you can, maybe enroll in an early childhood development class. It is imperative that you understand where a child is developmentally (socially, emotionally, physically, cognitively) before trying to teach them anything. Teaching is a skill and teaching to children is even more so.
For now i will recommend the following...
-Never try to teach children under 3 without a parent invloved in the activity unless it is for about 20 min ( you will never hold a 2yr olds attention longer)
-dont mix your ages. Have a 3 yr old class and a 4 yr old class. Thay one year makes a HUGE difference.
-tell the parents to wait outside. Them being in the class will only lead to distraction
-You have to have MANY activitis planned and make sure they r creating and exploring their bodies. (barre work whould be limited to only a few minutes for introduction purposes)
- each class should be consistent. The children should know the routine. Tis gives them a sense of control and confidence and security.
-do not bribe with stickers. This doesnt work it isnt fair either developmentally.
-i have many ideas for class if you would like as well
I h ope i helped =)

I'm not going to take early childhood classes that's crazy. Especially when I only charge $15/month for a once a week 30 min. class. To me that's just not worth it. My beginners that are 3-4 yrs. old learn just fine with each other. I have all my classes split up by age and ability, and it works brillantly. Also bribing with stickers does work, and I also bribe with stars. I have this big poster board with 5 stars on it, and if you aren't listening or paying attention I say that I'm going to take one of your stars away. They behave immediately, same with the sticker thing I say be quiet and listen or we won't get any stickers today and they immediately shape up it works every time. Not saying what you're doing is wrong but what I'm doing works for me. My creative movement class is all 2 years old and they are doing very well now, I think in September it was all still new for them all and now since they've been doing it for a while they are all starting to pick it up. Any ways, just wanted to let you know that I appreciate you're advice, but I'm doing much better now.

Hi there!
It's great that you're class is going better now. With time, it will keep getting better. I have to agree with you that taking an early childhood ed class is ridiculous. People who got education degrees think those who didn't can't teach kids well, but I've had moms who are kindergarten and nursery teachers be amazed at some of my activities. Just ignore that comment.
However, the suggestion to "go with the flow" was a great one! These are babies still, you must remember that. They only learned to walk a very very short time ago. The idea is to teach them to develop body awareness, and let them become familiar with rhythm and movement. I think it's amazing that you are trying to incorporate some basic dance vocabulary and technique, but it's not necessary to push it.
I've been a teaching artist for several years now, and among other classes, I teach creative movement and pre-dance. Your scarf idea is a great idea. You might also try letting the children move like animals. Talk to them about the ways the animals move their arms and legs and heads and bodies. Call out the animal, and then tell them to freeze, and then call out a new animal. Put on different types of music, not just kiddie music. Put on lots of instrumental, not too much music with vocals, which forces ideas onto their imagination. Try jazz, classical, opera, everything! Tell the kids to "paint the music with their bodies." It'll be amazing. Tell them to dance like the snow, or the rain, or leaves falling. Tell them to dance like they are different colors. "How does the color red move?" "What about the color blue?" If you think about it, these are very advanced ideas that famous choreographers have used, but little children and toddlers can actually grasp this. Remember, there's no right and wrong!
Also, I sometimes will let parents sit in on the first class if the child wants them to, but then forget it! It's not necessary. They ARE too distracting. Plus, if they watch everything, then they feel they have the right to critique you. Forget that! I let the shy ones' parents stay the first class, and usually I have an open class for the last session. The parents love it. We don't do a full out performance, we simply "show our mommies and daddies what we do in class!"
Another thing is positive verbal reenforcement. After everything, keep telling the kids what a great job they did. No child under age eight needs "constructive criticism" unless their parent(s) specify that they want their child headed down a professional path.
Dance games are also great. Also, teach the kids fun dances occasionally, like the chicken dance or the macarena. Of course, it's not real training, but it will keep them loving your class. The other teacher who said mixing teaching and fun is key was 100% right! If the kids have fun, learn 1 thing each class, and review 1 other thing they've learned, you're doing amazingly well! (The other teacher was also right about not letting 2 or 3 kids distract you from keeping the class going. If the majority are getting it, that's the main thing. And if you keep focused, those straying will probably join up again.)
Just remember, your class is the first experience these little ones will have with dance! You love it, just let that carry over! Help them have fun, and learn to love it too! At age two and three, that's the important thing. (And, if the kids have fun, the parents will keep sending them back to you!)
As for the stickers, I used them when I first taught too. They do work. However, with time, you will get more comfortable and find other methods that are even more effective. But don't let anyone make you feel badly about it. You have the makings of a wonderful teacher. All the best of luck to you!