Preschool Dance Party

Recently I hosted a fun little dance party for the preschoolers in my Friday Funday program. Kids love to dance, so giving them the chance to live it up with their friends, complete with disco ball, is the perfect wake to spice up chilly or rainy days.

There are so many great songs out there for kids, with new artists adding albums every day. And since you can download music directly to your computer or phone, it's so easy and fast to create your own custom playlist.

I love to start with classics. Everyone loves "The Hokey Pokey," and the version by Dan Zanes & Friends on Family Dance is fantastic. I also love "If You're Happy and You Know It" by the Big Kidz Band on Indian Elephant Tea. The camp classic "Father Abraham" from Lisa Loeb's Camp Lisa is a great track too. You can also find many versions of "The Chicken Dance," "The Limbo" and "Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" to enjoy.

Another fun participation dance to try is They Might Be Giant's “Clap Your Hands” from the album No. And Raffi's "Shake My Silles Out" is lots of fun to act out. And don't forget great rock and roll songs like Chubby Checker's "The Twist," "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang, "Y.M.C.A." by The Village People and "Walk Like an Egyptian" by The Bangles. Or download a pop hit like “I Like to Move It” from the Madagascar soundtrack and groove.

For some modern dance tracks check out Yo Gabba Gabba's Music is Awesome for fun songs like "Get the Sillies Out." Or try The Fresh Beat Band for danceable tracks like "Music (Gets Me Movin')."

Whatever music you put on, there are some great games you can play too. Kids always love Freeze Dance, where you randomly stop the music and they freeze. You can play Hot Potato too, passing a balloon, ball or other object. Or just get everyone into a circle and give each person the chance to share their moves and take the center. If you have musical instrument, be sure to take those out and let the kids jam along with the tunes.

I can't wait for my next preschool dance party. Until then, my kids and I will have to dance around our kitchen at home. (Making dinner is always more fun that way!)

Musical fun with Brook Falls Farm

The Highlands Festival was full of wonderful music, with some really great bands gracing its two stages. But on Sunday, KLC hosted music for the kids and let them play along, thanks to our friend Deb of Morning Door and Brook Falls Farm.

Here's Deb making shakers with our first group.

We started by making musical shakers made from recycled materials. First we cut brown paper, collected from Amazon shipping boxes, to the proper size to wrap around a toilet paper rolls. Then we decorated the paper with markers and stickers. Next we wrapped the paper around the roll and used string, rubber bands or tape to seal the bottom. We added a few tablespoons of birdseed to the roll (rice or dried beans would work too) and sealed it on top. To finish of our shaker, we added feathers to the ends.

Then is was time to sing along with Deb and her musical friends. She brought lots of great instruments to try out as well -- lots of tambourines and drums!

We'll see Deb again really soon. On Saturday, October 5, she's hosting her own event: The Middleville Music Festival! Deb also offers great music lesson -- guitar, piano and voice -- for kids in and around Stillwater, NJ!

Go Fly a Kite

A few weeks ago, the weather report said that it was going to be really windy. Since it was a Farmers' Market day, I thought kites would be an excellent idea!

We used paper bags to make box-style kites. The process is really simple. Decorate your bag. Punch four holes in the corners of the open end of the bag. Tie string in each hole, then take those four strings and knot them together at end opposite the bag. Tie on a long piece of string for you to hold. Then add lots of fun streamers to the closed end of the bag (using glue or a stapler). Voila! A kite!

Kites are a great way for kids to explore aerodynamic forces. Kites work by blocking the normal air flow, forcing the air around the kite. Air passing under the kite is moving more slowly than the air over the kite, creating lift.

Of course, I knew that one craft is never enough, which is why I brought a bunch of silly face stickers too. That way we could make puppets!

It was a lovely day, made more wonderful with music. My daughter, Caitie, especially loved the band. That young man in the center of the picture below is her fourth grade teacher!