10 Music and Movement Activities to Energize Your Preschooler

Decades after we’ve passed preschool age, our movement to music is carefully choreographed (heaven forbid we be doing dances that are deemed uncool) and crafted never to offend.

Boring!

If you want to know what it means to be young, wild and free, just watch somebody preschool-aged or younger get their groove on. When that particular gotta-get-down-to-this jam comes on, you’d better move the furniture — nothing is getting in that kid’s way!

The beat can come from a mind-nurturing classical song, an ear-wormy musical ditty, or (in the case of my toddler) even from the buzz-buzzing of a printer getting out that all-important PDF. For kids, anything remotely musical is fair game.

While it’s super entertaining to watch our kiddos bounce away, it turns out all that shaking and bopping has many cognitive benefits too. Music and movement builds vocabulary, teaches rhythm and rhyme, and is a natural stress reliever.

Punctuate days-in or homework time with these 10 preschool music activities to energize your preschooler’s body and mind.

1. Make and use a drum

Drumming allows children to explore rhythm and to practice an important pre-writing skill.

The ability to distinguish a particular noise (in this case the bangs of a drum) is great preparation for phonics (which involves identifying specific sounds in words).

Grab an empty coffee can and personalize your drum with stickers and the like. Once the drum looks rock n’ roll ready, grab a wooden spoon and you’re good to go.

Allow your child some free drumming to explore volume and form before introducing a particular rhythm, song or activity.

To further bolster those phonics skills, work on syllable discrimination by having your child think of words with increasing syllables. For example, if we were focusing on an animal theme, we’d start by banging out “snake” then “mon-key,” and finally “el-e-phant.”

2. Dance to classical music with silk scarves

Snack on the best brain food around by turning on some soothing classical tunes.

Grab a silk scarf (or a similar substitute like a sarong) and turn on the Mozart Quartet music. Encourage your child to sway however the music moves him.

Your child will be party to the magical sounds of violins and violas all while calming the heck down.

3. Story chants

Combine rhythm and literacy by chanting a story.

A favorite of ours is “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.” This classic tale of going through different obstacles to find a bear (through a wheat field, over a bridge, up a tree and in a cave) has children use their imagination to dramatize events.

It further engages them by not only having them clap out the chant rhythm on crisscrossed legs, but also having them imitate the sounds of each respective obstacle.

Get your swooshing, tongue clicking and screaming on as you go on an unforgettable adventure.

4. Tissue dance

Afternoon math worksheets got you down? Turn the focus on something else with the tissue dance.

Have your child place a tissue on her head and turn on her favorite songs. The rules are simple: she can do any movement she likes, as long as that tissue stays put.

5. Keyword dancing

Give your mini-choreographer a chance to show off his unique (read: extremely ridiculous/gravity-defying) dance moves with keyword dancing.

Have your child plan a particular movement or a series of steps when a particular word or phrase comes up in a song.

My kiddos love doing the same dance move whenever they hear the phrase, “shake it off.” The move they do involves flapping and jumping, which would make it seem like they’re trying to “fly it off.”

To each his own, I suppose.

6. Transition songs

One year in the classroom, I had a particularly clever group with a dogged determination to avoid cleaning. As soon as I would start with “clean up, clean up, every — ”I would see them either doing nothing or shuffling things about. Definitely not cleaning.

The solution came in the form of using a song for this particular transition in our day.

The “Chopsticks” waltz by Euphemia Allen was the answer. It has the fun urgency that dares you not to move in a purposeful manner.

Find a transition (teeth-brushing, cleanup or let’s-get-ourselves-out-the-door-now time) and choose a song. Make sure the song (tone, rhythm etc.) is perfect for the purpose or action you seek.

7. Dance party

You don’t need a special occasion to have a dance party. Choose a time of day where your child needs an energy boost and turn on the tunes. You can choose the length of time for the “party.” I opt for 5-10 minutes. No rules, just dancing!

8. Create ribbon rings

This activity is especially useful if you need a cool dancing prop or if you want to reinforce color knowledge. Also, when the limbs start fluttering and swinging about, these ribbon rings will make sure everyone is safe.

Yes, I’m fully aware that sometimes dancing along preschoolers is like trying to jump out of the way of a goofy bear claiming its territory.

Grab a pair of pipe cleaners and twist them together to form a ring. Add different colored ribbon (measured out to at least 16 inches in length) and secure to the ring with a knot. Repeat until half the ring is covered.

9. Listening for instruments

Do this to catch your breath after a particularly tiring dance party — and to expand your child’s musical knowledge, of course! Grab a seat and start winding that body down.

Play a music or video clip featuring the particular instrument you’d like your child to listen out for. Start with a common instrument like the piano. Then turn on a song and listen closely.

My favorite songs to use for this activity are “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin (because you can listen for a whole host of fun instruments!) and Vivaldi’s “Spring.”

This music activity for preschoolers soothes the body while keeping that growing mind sharp.

10. Body Part Dancing

As mentioned above, when children dance, absolutely no movement is spared.

Give your child a kinesthetic challenge with Body Part Dancing.

Turn on her favorite tune and call out a body part, the only one that will be featured in dancing until the next is called.

For example, you can call out “mouth!” and dancing proceeds by puckering lips, wagging tongues etc. After a while, the next person calls out another body part like, “fingers!” and on and on.

Give those winding arms and those wild leg spasms your kid loves so much a break; think of new limbs to feature.

Check out these other music games you can play at home!