Make the Perfect Dance Party for Toddlers {a guest post from Mariana Ashley}

Make the Perfect Dance Party for Toddlers

Does your toddler love to dance? If they have a birthday coming up, try forgoing the Chucky Cheese party and make your very own dance party instead! This is easy enough to do at your own house or a public space. Check out these ideas for a dance party your toddler will absolutely love.

1. Make Your Own Costumes

No dance party is complete without some crazy costumes to play in. There is no need to drop tons of money to get some dance gear; you can easily (and cheaply) make your own! Check out some easy D.I.Y. videos to create tutus, circle skirts, and princess tiaras.  Also, don’t forget about the boys! Try setting up a station to make your own cardboard masks or make prince crowns beforehand for partygoers opposed to anything girly.

2. Hit a Party Store or Outlet for More Dress-Up Gear

Head to a wholesale party store or your local salvation army to collect anything that might be fun for partygoers to play dress up in. Plastic necklaces, old hats, boas, streamers, funny hats, colored sunglasses, and any other miscellaneous items can add tons of life to the event.

3. Create a Makeup Studio

Get some non-toxic face paints, set up mirrors on a low table, and have a few parents play makeup artists throughout the day. They can help the partygoers apply their own makeup, or they can add some adult touches, like cool face paint designs. Try suggesting easy designs like hearts or stars so your resident makeup artists don’t have too much on their plates.

4. Make the Ultimate Dance Floor

You can use any space in your house, preferably the area with the most free space available. Hang streamers from the ceiling and get as many helium balloons as you can to let float throughout the room. Get some big plastic bins and fill them with noisemakers, shakers, streamers and other fun toys that dancers can grab when they’re getting their groove on.

5. Play Dance Videos

If you want to have an ongoing dance area throughout the party, try playing several dance DVDs geared toward kids. They will have real dancers that the kids can copy and music that will be upbeat and appropriate for their age group.

6. Play Movement Games

A great way to add a group activity into the mix is to play a game that takes up space and involves moving around. Games like Simon Says are really fun and can be hilarious. You don’t need to make it competitive at this age. Just have fun with it and give everyone a prize when you’re finished.

7. Play Copycat

Put on some music and do some simple dance moves, like stepping from side to side, jumping up and down, clapping your hands, and turning around. Have all the kids copy what you do and try to keep up as the moves get faster and faster. Keep it light, and hopefully everyone will be laughing and having a great time by the end.

8. Have Emergency Dance Breaks

Every time a particular song comes on, everyone has to run to the dance floor and freestyle until it’s over. Pick a song that is very recognizable, and play around with it. Maybe you can have surprise dance breaks in the middle of different games or right after the birthday girl blows out her candles.

By-line:

Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031 @gmail.com.