The purpose of the book is to help teachers develop an understanding of dance in the preschool setting, sense when dance can be a natural extension of classroom activity, and develop skill in planning and leading meaningful dance experiences. The first chapter of this book discusses what dance in preschool education is about and its importance for young children. In the second chapter, the content of movement is presented; these elements are the building blocks from which dance activities are created and provide reference points for developing ideas into class activities. The third chapter discusses general preparation for dance activities, and chapter 4 offers a step-by-step description of the process of developing an idea into a class session. Chapters 5 and 6 discuss the reality of teaching a dance class, and the final two chapters give suggestions for adapting material to particular groups--the very young, the handicapped, and parent-child groups. The appendixes include resources and strategies for recorded music, ideas for use in lessons, children's literature, sample original stories, sample lesson on a specific movement theme: curved and angular lines, and suggested resources for further reading. (JD)

When an alligator shows up to class one day, Mrs. Iraina and her ballet students are very suprised. But she is able to follow along, so they decide it's okay for her to join. The class starts calling her Tanya and even creates a new dance to showcase her larger-than-life talents and big, swishy tail: "The Legend of the Swamp Queen." Tanya has the starring role.

Grade level: k, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, p, e, i, t.

The creation of a professional therapist and former dancer, Danceplay brings to parents a new and wonderful way for interacting with their very young children--even before verbal exchange has fully begun. Designed for eighteen-month--to four-year-olds--and their mothers and fathers--it is a stimulating approach to fostering a child's social and intellectual growth through creative physical play. The exercises, based on the insights and knowledge of developmental psychologists, progress from simple movements suitable for the eighteen-month-old, to sequences involving complex ideas and actions for the four-year-old. Levell One begins with stretching adn limbering and gradually moves to an exploration of the body and its parts. In Level Two the child learns to distinguish self from environment through a variety of danceplays. And the focus of Level Three is integration, as games, music, and movement develop the ability to percieve a situation as a complex experience. Touching is emphasized throughout, and the fun and sharing add immeasurably to the everyday interaction between parent and child. Charming line drawings illustrate an easy-to-follow text, and necessary equipment is limited to simple household items. It is difficult to imagine an easier, more pleasurable way to help your child develop as he or she grows.

This book presents dance/movement therapy as a window into the emotional and internal experience of a baby with a medical illness, within the context of treating the whole family system and using the DC 0-5 as the basis for formulating the clinical situation. This book fills a gap in the literature, bringing a variety of fields together including infant mental health, infant and child psychiatry, nonverbal-movement analysis, and the creative arts therapies. Grounded in a biopsychosocial perspective, dance/movement therapy is introduced as the main treatment modality, using nonverbal expression as a means of communication, and dance and music activities as intervention tools, to support the child and family. Vignettes from both during and years after the medical experience are presented throughout the book, taking into consideration the subtle and more obvious effects of illness on the child’s later emotional, social, and behavioral development. They illustrate the expertise of the authors as infant mental health professionals, drawing upon their work in hospitals and private practices, and highlight their unique perspectives and years of collaboration. This exciting new book is essential reading for clinicians and mental health professionals working with infants and their families.

Introduces a creative movement program to foster confidence, creativity, and problem-solving skills in children ages three to eight.