Just started teaching a creative movement class for 4/5 year olds and also a mommy & me class for 2/3 year olds. Not quite sure how to structure each class since they are so close in age but both have different needs. Also, what are some good combinations/music choices for either class?! So confused

If you let them pick out their own music, the 4 and 5 year olds go GONZO for Taylor Swift. They're also pretty easily fooled by the Kidz Bop versions, haha...

The 4/5 year olds are probably all new, so they need to learn all the same stuff as the 2/3 year olds. They can just learn it faster. After awhile, start focusing in on getting the 4/5 year olds to use their right foot and left foot specifically. Even if you say right and left, they'll just do whatever foot they've got out. So give them some time to get good and comfortable, and start making them focus. Maybe put a sticker on one foot but not the other, so they have a visual marker.

And as always, I have to recommend "Tooty Ta" by Dr. Jean. A little tricky to find, but worth it's weight in GOLD for the 4/5 year olds!

I have totally separate class plans for my 3 year olds and 4-5 year olds. My 3's do a lot more action songs with words I use popular kids music like head, shoulders, knees and toes, hokey pokey, etc. and a few classical music pieces for plies and tendus. My 4-5's do more classical music pieces and ballet exercises and only a few action songs during their warmup.

At 2 and 3 it's more a case of getting them to listen and being aware that there are other people in the room that they might need to avoid rather than teaching them combinations.

I forgot to mention, my 2/3 year olds is a mommy & me class. I did the classes today, the 4/5 went pretty well, but i feel uncomfortable with the parents in there for the 2/3 year olds. most are just video taping their children and it's hard to keep their attention for a long time.

the parents need to be active participants in the class. Use exercises and activities where the parent and child are interacting.

Start class with circle time and have the child and parent sitting together, do some simple sing along songs using hand movements: paddy cake, where is thumbkin, open shut them, etc. Parent and child can face each other and sing together or they can sit on mommy or daddy's lap.

Some simple props can go a long way. If you can get some different color hula hoops or mats or dots spread them out around the room and play music, then the music stops call out a color and the parent helps their child find the right color of prop to stand on. You can progress this by saying a color and a body part or shape, so they would find the color, then put their foot in or their hand or their whole body etc.

Ribbons and scarfs are fun props, have the parents help them make different movements. Big circles, up and down, wiggles, big sways side to side etc. You lead the movements and they all follow along. Coach the parents into doing by queuing them: "ok mom and dad now help them swing the scarf forward and back" .

Many parents are not sure how involved they are supposed to be in this type of class. They need just as much direction as the children. Once they know what to do things should go much smoother for you, you won't feel like you just have an audience in the room

This actually helped a lot thanks. I'm a bit younger so a little intimidated by having the parents in the room. I think I need to guide them a bit more!

I'm quite a bit older and I can still get intimidated by some parents, I had to shoo some of them out of my three year olds class the other night and there was some rumbling in the waiting room outside. Our receptionist is very good though and got them all settled down. The parents are more hassle than the children, always!

^ AMEN TO THAT