Before you begin implementing dance activities into the preschool classroom, you must teach the children about personal space. Young children often do not understand the concept of space and its relationship to people and objects. To help the children understand this concept, put them together in an open space on the floor. Instruct them to hold out their arms and spin around, making sure they don't touch anyone else. This is their own personal space. You can also illustrate this concept by having the kids imagine blowing a big bubble and then stepping inside it. The children must move around without popping their bubble on another child or an object.
Some games that are appropriate for preschoolers require the students to dance. A game of freeze dance helps young children learn to listen to directions while also having fun. Play music for the children and allow them to dance freely around the room. At random, turn off the music and yell, "Freeze!" The children should stop in whatever position they are in at the time you tell them to stop. Restart the music so the children can resume dancing. Musical chairs is another game that can be altered to include dancing. Instead of marching around the chairs, the children should dance around the chairs until the music stops. Once the music stops, each child should sit in a chair. Make sure you set one less chair than the number of students. The child who doesn't get a chair is out for that round. Other common preschool dancing games include "Ring Around the Rosie," "London Bridge is Falling Down" and the "Hokey Pokey."
Dance can be used to help preschoolers with hand-eye coordination and both large and small motor skills. Providing the children with objects to use as they dance increases spatial awareness and encourages the use of additional muscles. For instance, give the children streamers or scarves to carry around and wave as they dance. Lay bubble wrap on the floor and allow the children to dance around on the bubble wrap, popping the bubbles. This makes a lot of noise, but the children often enjoy it.
For some children, music becomes an important part of their life as they grow older, either through instrument lessons, choir performances or general musical education. Introducing music awareness at a young age sets a solid foundation for future music interest and education. Play different types of music to the preschoolers and ask them how each type of music makes them feel. Have them close their eyes and dance to the music to illustrate how it makes them feel. For instance, soft, gentle music might make the students feel happy and light, resulting in a more graceful, flowing dance. A harsh, loud song may make students feel angry and they may do more stomping than dancing. Ask the children to imagine an animal that would go with the song they hear.