Dance, Move & Copy
1-2 Years, 2-4 Years, 4-6 Years
A fun movement-based activity using an interactive dancing toy to encourage children to watch, copy and respond through whole-body movement. As the toy moves, lights up or plays music, children can imitate its actions, create their own dance moves and enjoy an energetic break from seated activities.
Learn what you need to do for this activity
Learn what is needed in order to do this activity
Learn how you can adapt this activity and reuse
Learn the Benefits of this activity
What do you do:
Turn on the dancing toy and watch what it does.
Encourage your child to copy its movements.
Move arms, bend, wiggle, turn or dance together.
Pause and restart the movement.
Let your child create a move for you to copy.
Finish with slower movements to calm the body.
What's Needed:
Interactive dancing toy
Safe open space for movement
Music, if desired
How to Adapt
For younger toddlers: Keep it completely playful. Let them watch, bounce, clap, wiggle or move however they naturally respond to the toy and music.
For older children: Turn it into a copy-and-memory challenge by creating sequences of two, three or four movements for them to remember and repeat.
Make it more open-ended: Let your child become the dance leader and invent their own movements while you — and even the rest of the family — copy them.
Benefits of the Activity
Develops gross motor skills
Supports balance and coordination
Encourages imitation
Develops listening and attention
Supports body awareness
Encourages movement and self-expression
