As I’ve mentioned before, our Summer Reading Club theme this year is Funny Business. What better excuse to throw a Silly Songs Dance Party! I was completely inspired by magnanimous Angie at Fat Girl Reading who shared her Baby Dance secrets including her playlist! A lot of these songs I stole from her, but the rest I either already knew or found by going through the Music CDs in my collection.
When creating this program outline, I knew I wanted to have a mix between recorded music and just us singing. I also knew I wanted a mix of high energy and low energy songs because let’s be real – 1 hour of dancing is a lot for both me and the kids! I definitely over planned – this outline is probably enough for two hours, but I’m glad I had lots of options to choose from because I wasn’t sure exactly how many kids would show up or how old they would be. We did advertise this as a family program, and I got kids ages 2-12 joining in.
Logistics wise, all I did was clear out a large space in our program room for the dancing part. I had two tables along the side with a display featuring Music CDs and books about dance and music. Then I had one table up front where I could put the CD player (yes, I’m old school), my water bottle, the egg shakers, and my program notes. Then I had a flip chart on an easel with the lyrics printed for all the oral songs. Easy peasy.
Here’s what we did! When possible, I’ve provided links that allow you to listen to the songs.
1. Welcome Song
2. Warm Ups
Body Talk by Greg and Steve on Kids in Motion
This is a great song to begin with because it is slow paced and has the kids go through each of their body parts and warm them up.
Shake My Sillies Out by Raffi on More Singable Songs
It’s a Beautiful Day by Kathy Reid Naiman on Reaching for the Stars
3. Let’s Jam
Bananas Unite
Baby Shark
We are the Dinosaurs by The Laurie Berkner Band on The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band
Laurie Berkner is my all time fave. We marched around the room and it was awesome.
Wiggy Wiggles Freeze Dance by Hap Palmer on Two Little Sounds
This song is quite fast paced, but the kids were busting up laughing just trying to freeze at the right time.
Baby Bumblebee by The Countdown Kids on 50 Silly Songs
Hurry, Hurry Drive the Fire Truck
The kids needed a little break at this point, so we sat down for this one. I added in a dramatic play element – we put on our seatbelts, got dressed in our fire gear, got a call about a fire, slid down the fire pole, and then sang this song.
Herman the Worm
I’m Gonna Catch You by The Laurie Berkner Band on The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band
My 3-year-old niece is obsessed with this song so it was no surprise that it was the best song of the whole program. We acted out the whole thing; the kids loved chasing each other around.
Alice the Camel by The Countdown Kids on 50 Silly Songs
Horns to Toes by Adam Bryant and Sandra Boynton on Rhinoceros Tap
One of my new favourite songs! We pointed out all of our body parts as we listened. Such a great beat.
4. Dance Games
Cha Cha Slide by Kids Bop Party Pop
Simon Says with Dance Moves
We only played this once but I would say things like, “Simon says shake your hips,” “Simon says do the running man,” and other ridiculous things.
The Freeze by Greg and Steve on Kids in Motion
I’ve Got the Music in Me by Greg and Steve on Fun and Games
Jump Up, Turn Around by Jim Gill on Jim Gill Sings Moving Rhymes for Modern Times
The Princess Pat
I lead the kids in this action, repeat after me song. It took them a few times to get the hang of it, but definitely worth trying again.
5. Egg Shakers
Shake it to the East by Kathy Reid-Naiman on Reaching for the Stars
Let’s Shake by Dan Zanes on Catch That Train!
Going to Kentucky
Shake it to the East
Shake Shake the Mango Tree
6. Closing Songs
I Really Love to Dance by The Laurie Berkner Band on The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band
See You Later, Alligator
And here are some of my other favourite songs that I put on my mix CD to play while people gathered for the program and for a bit afterwards:
Down by the Bay by Raffi on Singable Songs for the Very Young
Mr. Sun by Raffi on Singable Songs for the Very Young
Bumblebee by The Laurie Berkner Band on The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band
Rocketship Run by The Laurie Berkner Band on The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band
Pig on Her Head by The Laurie Berkner Band on The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band
Apples, Bananas, Peaches, Tomatoes by Hap Palmer on Two Little Sounds
What Are You Wearing? by Hap Palmer on Two Little Sounds
The Ants Go Marching by The Countdown Kids on 50 Silly Songs
Found a Peanut by The Countdown Kids on 50 Silly Songs
Shoo Fly by The Countdown Kids on 50 Silly Songs
Mariposa Ole by Dan Zanes on Catch That Train!
What Does the Fox Say? by Kids Bop Party Pop
Peanut Butter Jelly Time by Kids Bop Party Pop
I Love it by Eric Litwin on Rockin’ Red
I Can Shake My Shaker Egg by Eric Litwin on Rockin’ Red
Hip Hop Body Rock by Eric Litwin on Rockin’ Red
Now I’d love to hear what your favourite songs are to play at dance parties for kids of any age! Please leave a comment with your favourites.
This is wonderful! I am also in the process of planning a program like this (inspired by Angie) and it is very helpful to see what other people are doing.
Thank you! I’m always looking for ideas from other people too. Let me know if you find any amazing songs I missed!
Hi,
I Love the Body Talk song, but I am having a hard time finding it available digitally how did you get the song? Thanks Lacey
Hi Lacey,
I got that song from the Kids in Motion music CD in my library’s collection. Seeing as how the CD is from 1987 (!), it’s likely the only way to get the song.
Your age range was huge – 2 yrs to 12 yrs. How did that work with the toddlers/babies and older kids? Did you require an adult with each child? Was this a registered program or just drop in?
Hi Chris, I answered most of your questions on the other dance party post. With regards to the age range, I actually had 12-year-olds dancing right next to 2-year-olds and it went fine. I don’t know, maybe I just had really laid back and easy going tweens that day, but they interacted very well with each other. The older kids were very helpful in modeling some of the dance moves for the younger kids. Most dance parties I’ve seen on other blogs are targeted to a younger audience, so I think it can work both ways.
Hello, I have a question. We have done dance parties in the past at our library. But this year our library is changing their policy and having every parent that has a child participate sign a liability waiver. Is this something that you are required to do also? We have never done one in the past, so this is all new to us. Thank you for your time!
Huh, no I’ve never even heard of that being done. Sorry I can’t give any feedback or advice. This sounds like a great thing to put on the Storytime Underground Facebook Page. There are thousands of librarians there and one of them may have also experienced this. Best of luck to you!