Dance Your Heart Out
Here's What To Do
Help your child find their pulse (two fingers on the inside of their wrist) and notice how fast their heart is beating. Ask them to see if they can notice how their heart feels in their chest.
Search "dance along videos for kids" on the Internet. Pick one you like, then place the device where everyone can see it.
Press play. Try to follow along and match the dance moves on the screen (adults too, go ahead and have fun!)
Keep going until you need a break. See if your child can notice anything different about their heart rate now that they've been dancing.
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Feel your pulse and see if you can feel your heart beating. Is it slow or fast?
Engage:
- "What song would you like to dance to?"
- "Let's see if we can dance along with the people on the screen. Can we match what they're doing?"
Encourage:
- "No worries if you're not doing the dance 'right.' This is all about moving and having fun. You can make up your own steps instead!"
- "If it's hard to understand by watching on the screen, watch Dada instead."
Reflect:
- Feel your heart now. How did it change after dancing? Why might it be good to make our heart go faster when we exercise?
Not quite ready?
Instead of copying videos, ask your child to copy your dance moves. Your dance can be very simple like clapping your hands, stomping your feet, and spinning in a circle.
Ready for more?
Try copying more difficult dance videos. Notice how they change your heart rae.
As your child masters this skill...
They will know another fun way to move their body, and will understand the effects exercise has on their body.