What is it?
For my purposes, a circle dance is any coordinated movement-based dance that is typically done in a circle. The feel of these are similar to old-school folk dances or line dances where there’s typically a “caller,” or someone who calls out what movements to do. There are so many songs and games that apply to this category and it’s great for a variety of age-ranges. I typically use them as a small component of a larger storytime, especially with our baby and toddler groups. Let’s get into the why and how!
Why do it?
There are plenty of physical benefits to movement and dance, especially with little ones. One of the big reasons I encourage dance in my baby and toddler groups is that it aids in the development of the vestibular system, one of our internal senses that controls our balance and motion. Movements such as being rocked, gently swung, rolling, crawling, walking, and running are all fabulous ways to provide input for this system that helps us remain balanced, feel safe when moving, and coordinate eye and head movements. Doing our circle dances allows very young children to experiment with movement without the risk of falling.
The physical benefits are fantastic, but did you know things like movement and music also strengthen early literacy skills? Music, in its’ nature, nurtures phonetic awareness (think about alliteration, rhyme, etc), but when paired with movement it’s a powerful tool for pre-learning. If children are exposed to concepts while singing, it is easier for them to learn when formally introduced. For example, abstract concepts such as “fast” and “slow” or “short” and “tall” can be hard to introduce to the very young. However, when you map those concepts onto movement, it gives kids another sensory input clue to add to what they know about their world.
Examples
1.) I love using songs that repeat a lot, enabling the caller to assign a movement to each repetitious part of the song. Take the song, This-a-Way, That-a-Way by Ella Jenkins. Start by having the caregivers stand in a circle, holding their little ones against their chest, facing the inside of the circle. If the children are a little older, they can also be side by side with their grownup.
It has three main phrases in the song. I typically pair up the following phrases with these movements:
- “This a way, that a way all day long” – Have caregivers sway gently side to side.
- “Here comes another one, just like the other one” – Have caregivers slowly turn in a small circle.
- “Strut, Mr. Leroy” – Have caregivers lean forward, effectively dipping their child down a bit.
This video explains another short song I sometimes use to do a circle dance at the end of some of my storytimes. Unlike the one for Ella Jenkins, this is one I and the caregivers sing together as we dance. Though I typically use these for my ones and twos groups, you can scale it up for preschoolers and invite them to do the movements themselves.
2.) Another way I introduce circle dances is to find songs with good bouncy beats and to do movements in 8 counts. John McCutcheon has a lot of great songs for this purpose, especially in his season albums. For this I start with everyone in a circle, holding their little ones against their chest, facing the inside of the circle.
- For the first 16 beats (two 8 counts so that they can get used to it), I have the caregivers bounce in place
- 2nd 8 beats – Bounce inwards so that the circle gets closer and so that the little ones are closer and a little more face-to-face with other little ones.
- 3rd 8 beats – Have the caregivers bounce in place.
- 4th 8 beats – Bounce backwards, expanding the circle again.
- 5th 8 beats – Walk to the right, keeping the circle intact.
- 6th 8 beats – Face the center and bounce in place again.
- 7th 8 beats – Walk to the left, keeping the circle intact.
- 8th 8 beats – Face the center and bounce in place again.
- Repeat as needed!
3.) One of the easiest ways to implement a circle dance is to use a drum and the tune of “The Farmer and the Dell” for the following song. Start with everyone in a circle and introduce the song, saying ‘We’re going to try out some movements as we tap on the drum. When the drum stops, everyone will get a chance to tap “stop!” on the drum.’ You might use some of the following movements: walking, tip-toeing, bouncing, dancing, sliding, etc.
We’re movement to the drum
we’re movement to the drum,
Hi-ho the derry-o,
we’re movement to the drum!
We’re movement to the drum
we’re movement to the drum,
Hi-ho the derry-o,
we’re movement to the drum!
And the drum says….STOP!
4.) The last way I might use circle dances during storytime is to use a song that has specific movements right in the lyrics. Lyrics might ask the listeners to bounce, twirl, walk, tiptoe, fly like a airplane, etc. Some of the artists I use for this type of dance include Nancy Kopeland, Greg & Steve, Laurie Berkner and more.
So that’s pretty much it! It can be intimidating when you’re first trying it out, but it’s so much fun when the caregivers get into it and the babies are laughing and giggling.
Librarian Ginny 