Teach-Early-Years-14.1

NAOMI WILKINSON AND NIGEL CLARKE ARE TRAINED DANCERS Let’s get kids moving more! Many of us feel self-conscious about dancing, using phrases like “two left feet” to describe ourselves. This lack of personal confidence can make us apprehensive about teaching dance to children. The good news is that teaching dance in the early years isn’t about complicated choreographed moves. Young children express themselves through movement constantly. Our approach to dance is centred around using different stimuli to help children develop their movement. FORGET FANCY FOOTWORK Focus on imaginative movement ideas, rather than teaching a specific style of dance, with young children. Creating an imaginary environment, such as the ocean, provides ideas for children and lots of jumping-off points for movement. How do we move through water? What happens to our movements if the conditions underwater change? How can we move like a tiny, darting fish or a huge whale? This has been the inspiration for Let’s Move , which comprises four 20-minute films themed around topics like space or the ocean. Created with our dance education consultant and expert teacher, Kristina Scott, each film starts with a fun warm-up using aspects of the movements that we return to later on. Throughout, we encourage freedom of expression rather than specific dance steps, and each film finishes with a cool down for the children before the rest of their day. Use dance to fire the imagination of every child with these ideas from Naomi Wilkinson and Nigel Clarke … EXPRESS YOURSELF Remembering there is no “right” or “wrong” dance is incredibly freeing for both educators and children. Dance is about different ways of moving. It’s about expressing yourself, joy and having fun. You have two left feet? Great, let’s do the “two left feet” dance. There is no wrong movement. Dance is about encouraging children’s expressive movement and valuing their interpretations as unique and important. Think about presenting ideas that each child is encouraged to interpret in their own way. We are fans of paired or group work, so, if someone is struggling, their friend or the rest of the group can step in to help. BE HAPPY Most of us know that having a good boogie is a great way to feel better (even a kitchen disco!); you’re using your body to express yourself, using every drop of energy you can muster. Dance is transformative. It can give children a chance to step away from any day-to-day worries and create a space that makes them feel alive, free and happy. The music you select is also important for helping children to feel positive and to spark their imaginations. Experiment with lots of varieties, whether it’s Beyonce, Queen or Johann Strauss! Create a safe space for children where they can perform to their peers but without the pressure of performances in front of their families. A positive and inclusive approach to dance in the early years can inspire children to explore movement creatively, fostering a lasting appreciation for self-expression and physical activity. Naomi Wilkinson and Nigel Clarke feature in the new BBC Teach resources Let’s Move with Naomi and Nigel! , which can be accessed at bit.ly/4gcSDQW Fun first: Build children’s confidence, enjoyment and engagement. Dance in the early years is not about teaching steps. Choose a theme and some music and explore movement ideas together. Basic skills: You don’t have to be a dancer to teach dance! It’s about showing children fundamental movement skills without inhibitions. Inclusion: Use learner- centred approaches promoting universal, diverse values, and enabling all children to feel successful. Be aware of stereotypes and always use language and examples that avoid them. TOP TIPS Teachearlyyears.com 23