Play Follow the Leader and teach your child to move in straight and curved pathways. Young children often go full blast in a straight line, so the curved path may be a little difficult at first. You can pretend to be the mouse while your child pretends to be the cat that is stalking behind. Another idea is to drag a string behind you while your child pretends to be (again) a cat chasing yarn.
Series of Movements
Try to teach your child a series of movements that you make up such as, bend, then stretch to the sky, then gallop to that corner, then bow. You can add more complicated movements as your child gets used to the idea. If it is too difficult for your child to remember the movements in order, make it simpler. Following three and four step directions is useful in any area of learning, and dance is no exception A great way to entice your child to do this is practicing to put on a little show in your living room. Make Dad or Grandmom watch the show!
Inventing New Movements
Turn on some music and watch as your child creates his own new movements. Ask him to teach the movements to you and notice whether or not he can re-create the same movement again and again. This activity can be done anywhere, even on a trampoline. Jump way high in the air and strike a pose! In the same vein, see if your child can create his own series of movements, such as walk across the room, spin twice, then sit down with a flourish. Ask your child do recreate the same movement again so that you can learn it too.
Independent/Autonomous Dance
When your child is playing alone, watch to see if she will create movements of her own accord. Even with a playmate, do they dance? Put on shows? Encourage them to do so by turning on some upbeat music and providing some rhythmic instruments like drums, sticks or tambourines. Let them know that you are a willing audience if they’d like to put on a dance show.