
Simple moves – For ease of teaching (and safety), look for moves which don’t go far beyond simple clapping, walking, jumping, etc. Two or three moves – Look for something with very few moves, two or three would be just fine. Here are some elements I look for in a movement activity or folk dance to include it with my Kindergarten curriculum.Ĭlear steady beat – Most folk dance music has a strong steady beat, but when doing things with Kindergarten you want the beat to be undeniable. Kindergarten kiddos can do a lot, but give them too much, and they’ll shut down or get goofy. Taking this broader view, you need to look for elements of traditional folk dancing but in a much simpler form. What To Look For In Folk Dances For Kindergarten When I hear music teachers say, “Forget folk dance in the younger grades it’s just not worth it,” I wonder if they’ve given up on movement or if they don’t realize other movement games can still qualify and prepare their kids in the long run. (Check out the best children’s movement books.) Sure, you may not be able to do a lot of the traditional, structured folk dance with these kids, but you are able to prepare with other movement activities. This is an argument many music teachers and experts make, and it makes a lot of sense.īut personally, I prefer to take a broader view.


Often, they struggle with keeping a beat as it is, so adding multiple movements to be the beat may be too much. You may not wish to do folk dancing in the traditional sense with your Kindergarten students. Conclusion Should You Teach Folk Dances In Kindergarten?.What To Look For In Folk Dances For Kindergarten.Should You Teach Folk Dances In Kindergarten?.
