Rhythms and Dances for Toddlers and Preschoolers, 2nd ED

By Susan Kramer

How to teach toddlers, preschoolers and kids of varying abilities and special needs rhythms, floor exercises, large motor skills, expressive dance, kinesthetic mini-lessons, and full dances. With many photos and illustrations, a fun way to build up essential early skills before kindergarten. Basic lesson plan included. Perfect for homeschoolers, dance instructors, and early childhood education teachers. 6,335 words.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781794821309

Book preview

Rhythms and Dances for Toddlers and Preschoolers

2nd Ed by Susan Kramer

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Rhythms and Dances for Toddlers and Preschoolers, 2nd ED

2nd edition published 2021

Copyright 2021 Susan Kramer

SusanKramer.com

All Rights Reserved.

ISBN:9781794821309

Santa Barbara, California USA

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Introduction

By moving exuberantly

In rhythms, patterns

Body-mind harmony develops.

Caught by the camera this 11-month-old child lets go and reaches out, becoming a toddler in her first independent steps. This is an early milestone in a lifetime of reaching out in growing and learning.

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Even these first steps in rhythmic motor skills, using opposition of arms and legs, help develop right-left brain linkage.

Example: walking steps with arms swinging at sides; as left foot steps forward, right arm swings forward.

The nerve endings of sense organs feed the brain information for analysis and reflection through hearing, seeing, feeling, tasting, and smelling.

Allowing the toddler and preschooler to learn with as many senses as possible instills new concepts most smoothly.

Body to Mind by receiving through the sense organs; analyzing;

mind to Body for action.

I. Clapping Rhythms

Our lives are formed of rhythmic pulses.

The body feels and moves in rhythms naturally: walking, running, galloping happen in the sequence of motor development.

Clapping these patterns with the toddler-preschooler is a bonding activity.

Fun and harmonious interactions, partner to child, carry over into harmonious interactions with the child's ever-broadening circle of contacts.

Harmonious interaction at the earliest stages leads to harmony within the individual, and harmonious interactions later as an adult in society.

Rhythms

1. Clapping in 4/4 time

2. Clapping in 2/2 time

3. Clapping in 2/4 time

4. Clapping syllables

Preparation:

Helping a toddler clap rhythms:

Partner sits on the floor, legs straddled if comfortable; child sits cross-legged on floor in front of partner, facing forward, back against partner.

Partner holds toddler's