EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT

Lesson 24: Creative activities in ECE center

Dancing and creative Movements

Functions

1. Has great potential for self expression because it stimulates the child’s imagination.
   
2. Offers many opportunities for emotional release.
   
3. Moving to music involves the use of the entire body which can be very satisfying to the children.

Preparation

1. Decide the kind of music and familiarize yourself with its possibilities.
   
2. Familiarize with records or cassettes which offer a good range of rhythm and movement
   
3. Clear the furniture to make more space for children to move around.

Procedure

1. Avoid other activities going on at the same time.
2. Don’t let all children participate at once.
   
3. Encourage individual ideas and be sensitive to the children’s response.
   
4. Move freely along with the children.
   
5. Offer relaxing as well as vigorous experience.

Clear up

1. Inform that closing time is near.
   
2. Provide a quiet response to the music at the end.
   
3. Help them to put on socks and shoes.
   
4. Return the room to its usual order.

Variations

1. Occasions add a great deal to dancing.
   
2. Scarves, long sweaters, balloons help to overcome self consciousness in the children at the beginning
   
3. Ethnic costumes of various cultures and traditions, materials offer a rich resource for creative movement.
   
4. Instruments can also vary the experience.
   
5. Dancing outdoors often attracts children’s attention.
   
6. Body movement activities ex: moving like birds, animals, aeroplanes etc attracts children’s attention.