Overview

Preschoolers should engage in 60 minutes of structured play and 60 minutes of outdoor play. Finding structured activities that can be done indoors and in small spaces can be challenging. Music and dance may just be the optimal choice! University Nevada Cooperative Extension has created some music and dance opportunities that can be downloaded and used as part of a curriculum, as a teacher-led, structured activity or as an activity to break up sedentary time. The music is multi-genre, has healthy messaging related to physical activity and healthy eating, incorporates math, science, music and creativity and other Pre-K standards and teaches children fundamental and perceptual motor skills that help them become active adolescents. Music and dance is fun, it doesn’t exclude children who are less skilled, it can be done at school or home, with friends or family and it promotes brain development and social interaction. The dances below can be taught using multiple platforms including audio mp3 with and without instructional voiceover, a dance instructional video, written lyrics and dance instructions or music videos for practice and family shared entertainment.

Water

View Water Instructional Video
Download Water Song Audio
Download Water Song Instructional Audio
Water Lyrics and Credits

I Am A Seed

I Am a Seed was written and filmed in Mesa, Arizona in partnership with Native American, Tony Duncan. The media project is part of a larger nutrition-garden curriculum developed by UNR Extension in collaboration with Garden Farms to promote fruit and vegetable consumption and teach young children how to grow vegetables in their preschool garden. The yoga-like movements promote mediation and relaxation in children to help them self-regulate emotions such as feeling anxious or sad.

Boogie Oogie Slide

View Boogie Oogie Slide Instructional Video
Download Boogie Oogie Slide Audio
Download Boogie Oogie Slide Instructional Audio
Boogie Oogie Slide Lyrics and Credits

I've Got Moves

View I've Got Moves Instructional Video
Download I've Got Moves Audio
Download I've Got Moves Instructional Audio
I've Got Moves Lyrics and Credits

Pack It Up

View Pack It Up Instructional Video
Download Pack It Up Audio
Download Pack It Up Instructional Audio
Pack it Up Lyrics and Credits

Supposed to Polka

View Supposed to Polka Instructional Video
Download Supposed to Polka Audio
Download Supposed to Polka Instructional Audio
Supposed to Polka Lyrics and Credits

Ven Conmigo

View Ven Conmigo Instructional Video
Download Ven Conmigo Audio
Download Ven Conmigo Instructional Audio
Ven Conmigo Lyrics and Credits

Yebo, Let's Go

View Yebo, Let's Go Instructional Video
Download Yebo, Let's Go Audio
Download Yebo, Let's Go Instructional Audio
Yebo Let's Go Lyrics and Credits

All 4 Kids Chant

View All 4 Kids Chant Instructional Video
Download All 4 Kids Chant Audio
All 4 Kids Chant Lyrics and Credits

Lindsay, A. 2020, Healthy Kids Resource Center: Music & Dance Section | Healthy Kids Physical Toolkit, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno

Learn more about the author(s)

Anne R. Lindsay
Anne R. Lindsay
 

Also of Interest:

 
A boy holding radishes
A Balanced Diet
A balanced diet gives your body all of the essential nutrients it needs to stay active, healthy, and strong. Learn how you can balance your diet to get the energy you need throughout the day.
 Buffington, A., Lindsay, A. 2021, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno, FS-21-106
signiture
Healthy Kids Resource Center: Policies, Procedures & Partners Section
Find links to Federal and State policies and regulations
 Lindsay, A. and Taylor, S. 2020, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno
A black dog catching a treat in the air.
Women in science: a Q&A with CABNR pet food mercury researchers
Professor Mae Gustin and fellow researchers Lindsay Chichester, Sarrah Dunham-Cheatam, Adriel Luippold and Margarita (Maggie) Vargas-Estrada talk about their work and answer related questions
 Andrews, A. 2019, Nevada Today
 

Associated Programs

master gardeners in garden

Master Gardeners of Washoe County

Master Gardeners provide free, research-based horticulture information to Nevadans.

Master Gardeners at tabling event

Master Gardeners of Nevada

Program trains local gardeners to provide research-based horticulture information to Nevadans

an array of alternative crop plants

Alternative Crops

The alternative crop program is evaluating the potential new crops for the state of Nevada.