Movement Activities for Infants and Toddlers

Isn’t It Time to Get Moving?

Dancing and moving benefits more than your child’s physical development, and it is more important than ever to prioritize while we are stuck at home during these difficult times. Incorporating movement-based activities into your daily routines can help increase your child’s attention, elevate mood, and help with sleep and appetite.

For all that benefit, getting things moving is easy. Pop in a CD, find the right radio station, or sing the song you love the best. Children love music and your child loves the sound of your voice. They love to move, too, and stepping into an improvised dance can be just the thing to help with physical development, social and emotional learning, listening, and learning.

You’re sure to find household items to add to the fun, things like ribbons, a bucket for drumming, and shakers made from plastic bottles. Having fun while moving is the important thing.

• Music and dance teach your child to express themselves and build self-confidence.
• Movement activities improve physical skills like balance, control, and coordination.
• Engaging movement Improves behavior by helping channel your child’s energies into healthy activity.

For some children, toddler movement activities, including dance, can lead to a life-long relationship with movement, including skills that range from sports to the theater.

Check out Thrive Simply Said’s “Get Moving!” Class

Even in these days of staying socially distance, there are resources to help you learn more about movement activities, music, and dancing with your child. Here’s a great one available this month from Thrive Simply Said.

Get Moving! (Ages 0-3) Parenting Class

Are you looking for meaningful opportunities to move and play with your child? Learn movement-based activities that you can engage in with your child, and how to use them in everyday routines.

You will have the opportunity to ask questions, brainstorm your own ideas, and, most importantly, practice and have fun with your child!

Presenter: Allison Grissom – BFA Dance – MEd Early Intervention, Autism Specialization – Developmental Specialist

Allison Grissom, BFA Dance, MEd Early Intervention, Autism Specialization, Developmental Specialist

Benefits of movement activities for infants and toddlers – February 9th 1:00 – 2:00 pm, EST

• Learn how moving and dancing with your child benefits more than just their physical development
• Observe fun activities and the enjoyable environments that movement activities create
• Discuss the importance of moving for children and adults during these difficult times

Activity ideas and using movement activities during daily routines  – February 16th, 1:00 – 2:00 pm, EST

• Learn specific movement-based activities to engage in with your child
• Observe how to easily incorporate movement-based activities into daily routines
• Discuss how to establish a safe environment for movement-based activities and more easily engage your child

 Review and Practice – February 23rd, 1:00 -2:00 pm EST

• Review the material from weeks 1 and 2
• Practice movement-based activities with your child
• Ask questions, get feedback, and discuss successes and difficulties

Register Today at this link: https://www.thrivesimplysaid.com/product/get-moving-ages-0-3-parenting-class-feb-2021/

Making Music with Household Items

When you think of it, almost anything that is safe for your toddler to play with can be put to the use of making music in a fun, active way. The list can include:

• Balloons
• Plastic bottles
• Spoons
• Cardboard tubes
• Unsharpened pencils

Inflated balloons make great noises when rubbed, tapped, or when a small (safe) object is placed inside and rattled around.

Plastic bottles can be partially filled with uncooked rice, sand, or water to make fun shakers.

The music of spoons is an art in itself. Regular household spoons made of metal or plastic are great for learning to make rhythmic tunes. You can find many videos online for having basic fun with spoons.

Cardboard tubes and even simple paper craft supplies can be used to make a paper xylophone, and those unsharpened pencils become xylophone sticks, or drum sticks to be used on a pan or the bottom of a plastic bucket or wastepaper container.

If you’d like more information, call TEIS Early Intervention at 412-271-8347 or text 412-543-8398 for more information. Our business Hours are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, M-F.  You can also Contact Us via our website.

Reference Links for More Information

Dance Makers | Benefits of Dance for Toddlers

Teaching 1 and 3 Year Olds| 25+ Music and Movement Activities for Toddlers

Recreation and Culture | 5 Benefits of Music and Dancing for Preschoolers

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