Music and movement activities for preschoolers are magnificent ways to make learning fun while boosting essential skills.
If you’ve got a busy little one who’s constantly on the move or you just want to help them focus their energy in positive ways, I think you’re really going to love these ideas. I’m sharing my tips and ideas based on my experiences with my boys in our homeschool preschool. Over the years, I’ve discovered so many benefits of using activities with music and movement for both my preschoolers and me!
Our Homeschool Preschool Experiences with Music and Movement
With five busy boys under one roof, I quickly learned that sitting still for long stretches just wasn’t going to happen. And honestly, sitting still wasn’t really my goal for them. I wanted my boys to move, groove, and feel excited about learning.
So, I leaned into what worked for the boys and me. Music and movement activities gave them a chance to get their energy out and I was able to sneak in a whole lot of learning fun.
When I was in high school, I had the pleasure of being a summer camp aide and helped my mom teach preschoolers in a full day program. From those experiences, I had a mental library of songs, fingerplays, and movement games tucked away.
I was so excited to pull those ideas out to use with oldest as part of our preschool at home fun. We’d sing songs about animals, seasons, letters, and shapes. Sometimes we’d dance around the room or our yard. Other time, we’d tap out rhythms with instruments (or wooden spoons or sticks). And we always had a blast!
As we got into different fun preschool themes, I made it a habit to gather fun songs and movement activities to match. It became a sweet part of our relaxed homeschool preschool routine that I continue with my other boys. Music helped my boys build confidence, body awareness, coordination, and much more.
Now that my boys are older, one of my favorite things is when one of them randomly starts singing an old preschool song and everyone joins in. Hearing your 22-year-old belt out 5 Green and Speckled Frogs when they’re getting the pool ready and find a new friend is adorable! It’s those moments that remind me how powerful music and movement can be – and how the things we do with love and joy truly stick.
Benefits of Music and Movement for Preschoolers
Music and movement might seem like just fun and games. There is, however, a whole bunch of learning going on! These playful activities support your preschooler’s development. Here are some of the amazing benefits when you weave music and movement into your homeschool preschool days:
- Builds Gross Motor Skills: From hopping and twirling to clapping and marching, movement activities help strengthen large muscle groups and improves coordination.
- Boosts Brain Development: Rhythm, rhyme, and repetition aren’t just catchy. These parts of music help with memory, sequencing, and language development.
- Encourages Self-Expression and Confidence: This is actually one of my favorite parts of music and movement! When kids sing, dance, and move freely, they develop a sense of self and grow more comfortable expressing emotions and ideas because it feels safe and fun.
- Helps Concepts Stick: When you pair movement with concepts like numbers, letters, days of the week, months of the year, and body parts, your child is more likely to remember and understand.
Tips for Using Music and Movement in Your Homeschool Preschool
Here’s some good news: You don’t need to be a music teacher or have a bunch of materials to enjoy music and movement with your preschooler. Here are some of my favorite things that worked for us:
- Keep it Simple: Start with songs you already know, like “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” or “If You’re Happy and You Know It.”
- Use What You Have for “Instruments”: Pots and wooden spoons can be super cool DIY drums. Scarves and dish towels are perfect for dancing or waving to the beat. Look around your home and do a bit of outside the box thinking. My boys loved using empty oatmeal containers and tissue boxes to bang on.
- Add Music Breaks into Your Day: We still do this! A quick song and dance can make you feel so much better, get some wiggles out, and boost energy.
- Make a Theme-Based Playlist: Build a playlist on Spotify or YouTube with songs that match your current preschool theme (like animals, weather, colors, etc.). It’s also great fun to pair songs and movement activities with books that you’re enjoying.
- Include Books and Fun Resources: Enjoy books with music and movement themes. Eric Carle’s From Head to Toe book was always one of our favorites for getting up and moving. And we would have loved these Preschool Dance Party Cards!
- No Musical Talent? No Problem!: It’s totally okay if you have two left feet or can’t hold a tune. Your enthusiasm is what counts. Your preschooler doesn’t care if you’re off-key. So, let loose and sing and dance right along with them!
A Fun Way to Enjoy Music and Movement Activities for Preschoolers
Music and movement were such a beautiful part of our homeschool preschool adventures and I truly believe they can be for you, too. These activities don’t require perfection or a big budget.
Whether you’re dancing to a silly song in the living room, marching around the backyard, or banging out a beat on pots and pans, you’re creating powerful learning moments and precious memories with your child.
And if you’d love a helping hand with planning out your preschool fun, I’d be honored to have you join me in Preschool Enchantment—your go-to program for making learning magical, relaxed, and full of delight (with plenty of wiggles and giggles along the way!)
Do you have any questions for me about these music and movement activities for preschoolers? Please let me know – and share your ideas in the comments area at the bottom of this post!
