TODDLERS: AGES 1-3

Welcome to our materials for Diaper Dancers and Tiny Tots classes. Using this program can immediately help you become an even better early-childhood dance teacher.  

It is imperative for all teachers to follow the lesson outlines and teach all skills listed for the class in the order they are presented. Having consistency between teachers is what keeps our program strong and successful.  Please take time to read over this material so you can better implement the curriculum into your classes! 

Diaper Dancers Class Details: 

Diaper Dancers is a parent participation class all year long.  

• • They must be turning 2 between Sept 1-August 31 of this season.

  • Follow the Stage 1 Lesson Plans

  • Always end your class with "I Love You" 

Diaper Dancers is designed for babies and their parent/caregiver. Babies have so much fun exploring music and movement as soon as they can walk! 

• Develop coordination, creativity, and posture

• Variety of different dance styles

• New fun themes every month

• 30 min class 

• Attire – Girls: leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, hair pulled back.  Ballet skirts are optional. Boys: white t-shirt, black athletic shorts or sweats, bare feet. 

Tiny Tots Class Details: 

Tiny Tots is a parent participation class through January, and then in February we transition into an independent class.

• • They must be turning 3 between Sept 1-August 31 of this season.

  • Follow the Stage 2 Lesson Plans

  • Always end your class with "See You Later, Alligator"

Tiny Tots class description: 

• Begin to explore movement and rhythm

• Develop coordination, creativity, and posture

• Variety of different dance styles

• 40 min class

• Attire – Girls: leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, hair pulled back.  Ballet skirts are optional. Boys: white t-shirt, black athletic shorts or sweats, bare feet. 

How to Effectively Use the Toddler Dance Curriculum:

ADD HERE This curriculum builds fundamental __ skills. Instructors are expected to ensure quality in classes and material being taught. There is one lesson plan each month that can be adapted for both age groups. Modify and enhance lesson plans as needed based on the level of your classes. If you do need to make adjustments, be sure you are including all focus skills from the lesson plan or a progression towards building that skill to ensure consistency in progress between classes. Keep them moving! Add in brain breaks/movement games when the class is beginning to get distracted!  Water breaks are not allowed.

We follow the same lesson plans and use the same playlists for both PS and PK. Access lesson plans, playlists, and video trainings above!

Class Structure:

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TODDLER INSTRUCTORS:

Curriculum Expectations

• Our lesson plans, skills, themes, & timelines must be implemented. Be prepared!

• Review lesson plans resources on Curriculum Website & the printed Classroom Manual

• Review timeline and use of space for 45 minute class: Diapers dancers is now a 35 minute class.. We will ponder the tiny tots class length for this year and decide if it is age appropriate for 2024-25 season

  • Start class in a welcome circle that includes saying everyone’s name

  • Transition songs “It’s time to put the bells away, bells away, bells away. It’s time to put the bells away, in Ms. Amy’s class.” Using your name is important!

  • Ending class with “I love you”

  • Ending the class with the “Tiny Tots Goodbye Train” from Discovery Dance Place lesson plan LINK HERE

    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fzk1HHBTOg

• Monthly curriculum emails with videos and material are sent out. Use it!

• How to access videos and Discover Dance material

• Monthly concepts 

  • Pages go home first week of month. These are stored in the folders IN the classrooms.

  • Review favorite themes and activities

• Where to find music playlists in spotify

Parent participation expectations

• We send a welcome email to parents so they know what to expect. Make sure you’re following those guidelines!

  • Be very clear from the beginning so parents know to stand and actively dance with their child. AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY CLASS you should review your policies by announcing: “Welcome to Tiny Tots! Parents, this is a participation class! We need YOU to dance with us! Wandering is normal at this age and does NOT bother me. Let your kid join us when they are ready unless they are in danger or bothering someone else. If you are engaged in the class, they will catch back on quickly. Stay positive and use words of praise for the best outcome and atmosphere in our class. Let’s DANCE!”

• Educate parents about repetition. It’s important to have a set structure for kids to feel more comfortable and more confident to know what to expect. Our lesson plans focus on building skills to the same songs. Some songs we might use all year long! Some songs follow our concept for the month. Hopefully this is a good talking point to help parents know what to expect and not think you aren’t prepared when you’re doing the same things all year long!

• Street shoes must come off, socks aren’t allowed unless they have grip, barefeet is best.

• Your focus is on teaching the parents and the parents are teaching the kids. Teachers interact with the kids, but you’re directing the parents how to connect and direct their kids. Parents are there to facilitate a focused classroom for you. Stay professional… you don’t need to learn about their lives, but you HAVE TO their names! You’re not there to make friends, but to make professional connections.

• No phones! Leave them in the basket. Enjoy the time with your dancers and be in the moment!

• Guests- We only want ONE participant per student.

• How to make the transition for Tiny Tots in January

• What to do when you have a dancer who is NOT ready for being independent. Three weeks to move them.

• Use talking points from Discover Dance

Special Studio Events/Programs for this class type:

• Parent observation/participation week- NOT FOR TODDLER CLASSES

• No christmas performance

• Recital

  • Tiny Tots are independent

  • Diaper dancers are with their parents kneeling behind them and prompting them

  • No dad dance for toddler age group

Performance expectations for teachers and parents     

• Important skills to have mastered/introduced as Toddlers      

• Diaper Dancers moms shouldn’t stand up.. They should hide behind their kid!

• Hello Hello will be the first song of recital for tiny tots

• Diaper Dancers will be I love you