Freeze Dance

Toddler playing freeze dance at day care

This activity promotes development and learning by encouraging children to express, understand, and regulate emotions by using large muscles to move and balance their own bodies.

Materials Needed:

  • Music player of any variety (phone, CD player, radio, etc.)

Participants: This activity is intended for independent play, adult/child interaction, or 2 or more participants/players.

Directions:

  1. Inform children that when the music is playing they are to move/dance however the song makes them feel. When the music stops, they need to freeze in place.
  2. Play various types and tempos of songs - slow, fast, upbeat, happy, and sad.
  3. After playing, discuss with your child how the music made them feel. Ask if there have been other times they felt those feelings.

Extension: When children start to feel big feelings in other situations, ask them to freeze, take a deep breath, and if able, talk about their feelings. If they are not able to talk about their feelings have them “dance” them.

Bright Horizons
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Bright Horizons
Bright Horizons
In 1986, our founders saw that child care was an enormous obstacle for working parents. On-site centers became one way we responded to help employees – and organizations -- work better. Today we offer child care, elder care, and help for education and careers -- tools used by more than 1,000 of the world’s top employers and that power many of the world's best brands
Toddler playing freeze dance at day care