Preschool Ribbon and Streamer Dancing

by Kelly Pfeiffer
This lively dance activity uses ribbons or streamers to keep preschoolers fit indoors. Preschoolers need physical activity everyday. Ribbon and streamer dancing is a fun indoor fitness activity that keeps preschoolers moving, twirling, leaping, jumping, swaying and more.

Getting Started

1. Cut a ribbon or crepe paper streamer to a length of 3 – 4 feet long, depending on the height of the preschooler. (Tell your preschooler to hold the ribbon or streamer at one end and raise their hand as high as they can. If more than 6 inches of ribbon or streamer is lying on the floor, cut more length off. It’s easier for preschoolers to dance with a ribbon or streamer that doesn’t get stepped on often and doesn’t get too tangled while moving around.)

2. Turn on your choice of music.

Let the Dancing Begin

It’s that simple. Preschoolers will dance indoors and stay fit while they twirl streamers and ribbons in the air, high and low, side to side and all around. Preschoolers can stand still or travel around while dancing with their ribbon or streamer.* Keep preschoolers focused on this creative dance activity by changing the type and speed of the music for each new song. Also use this streamer rhyme to demonstrate ways preschoolers can move streamers in different ways.

Variations

1. Try all different types of music: fast, slow, classical, rock, salsa.

2. Tie two colors of ribbons or streamers together.

3. Have preschoolers lie on their backs and tie a ribbon/streamer to each ankle. Play music and see how preschoolers use leg muscles to make colored streamers move.

Holiday Themes

Match the streamer or ribbon to holiday colors and use holiday music. Here are some fun dance activity examples that preschoolers will love:

a. Christmas carols and use red or green streamers

b. Hanukkah music and use blue streamers

c. Kwanzaa songs – black, red, green streamers

d. Valentines Day Dance Activity: Love songs - red streamers

e. St. Patrick’s Day: Irish songs – green streamers

Wheelchair-Bound Preschoolers

Even special needs preschoolers in wheelchairs can use ribbons and streamers for upper body exercise. Wheelchair bound preschoolers need physical activity too for healthy development. Ribbon and streamer dancing is an indoor fitness activity that works for many preschoolers with special physical needs.

Indoors or Out

Ribbon and streamer dancing can be done outdoors too, but is an especially great indoor fitness activity for rainy days, extreme cold weather days or other times when preschoolers must stay inside.

Dancing with ribbons and streamers is a simple but high interest fitness activity that raises the heart rate and develops coordination skills. Preschoolers will enjoy ribbon and streamer dancing over and over again as long as adults change this creative dance activity a bit each time.

Since ribbons can get wound around a preschooler’s neck, supervise this activity. Keep your eyes on active preschoolers.