5 Tips for teaching tap to 3-year-olds

I will never stop shouting it from the rooftops — tap class is for preschoolers too!  Tap class has the power to make young children fall in love with movement, just like ballet and gymnastics do.

But, you might ask – How can I keep a room full of little kids engaged with tap steps alone?   How on earth do I control a group of preschoolers with noisy, slippery shoes on their feet and still teach them something?

These are very real, very valid questions - but do not fear! My on-the-job research, thanks to 25+ years of teaching tap to all ages, has helped me to narrow down the best methods for preschool tap class, and I am going to share them with you.  Tap has so many learning benefits to offer, and I think every child deserves the chance to feel in awe at the sounds their feet can make.

Finding the right approach to your preschool tap class will change depending on the age of the dancers in the class. Today, let’s focus on the youngest bunch - the three-year-olds.  

Who They Are:
Three-year-olds are curious, imaginative, and are learning to be independent.  They are growing their conceptual understanding of things like shapes, colors, and directions (on, off, in front, behind).  They are eager to try something new and they love to celebrate a job well done.

Tap Class Strategies for Three-Year-Olds

Tip #1 – Circle Up
For engagement and focus, a circle formation cannot be beat, especially for three-year-old tap class. A circle format allows the teacher to see and connect with every dancer and also allows the dancers to see the teacher clearly.  At this age, I don’t often worry about the students using the same foot as me when trying a skill, but when I need them to be in sync, we put colorful scrunchies around our ankles and I ask them to “use their red foot” or “use their blue foot”.

Tip #2 - Start Sitting Down
Three-year-olds thrive on routine, and one helpful routine you can use is having your dancers immediately sit down (in the circle formation, on dots or on floor tape marks) when they enter the studio for tap class.  I like to use this time for a variety of things: to go over our rhyming class rules; to briefly introduce our lesson plan theme for the day; to do a Hello song to greet each dancer; and most importantly, to “wake up” our tap shoes!  (Click here to see exactly how we wake up our shoes in my classes and click here to see how I teach my class rules.)

Tip #3 - Keep It Simple
A little bit goes a long way in three-year-old tap, when it comes to skill exercises and combos.  When I feel myself trying to add too much or make a pattern too layered, I stop and remind myself that for three-year-olds, straightforward is the best path.  Focusing on one skill at a time for several repetitions gives three-year-old dancers the best opportunity to catch on, follow along, and succeed. Less is more!  

Tip #4 - Train Their Musical Ear With Props
Not every part of tap class needs to be feet-focused.  A large part of learning to dance is understanding how movement relates to the music.  Using musical props is a great tool for this.  When the dancers need a break from movement (or when energy is getting too high), sitting and using egg shakers, bell bracelets, and rhythm sticks allows the students to learn in a different way. Put on a familiar song and use these props, or even a small drum and mallet, to play the downbeat while singing along.

Tip #5 - When In Doubt, March It Out
In between exercises that require more concentration or motor planning, it is a great idea to march around the room. Traveling around the dance room re-engages the students and gives their bodies a “brain break” and the physical and predictable input they need after doing harder work.  While marching, the students also practice stepping with the downbeat and moving in relation to one another in space. Some simple marching ideas include: playing a Stop & Go listening game (march while the music is on, freeze in place when the music stops); practicing marches forward, backward, or sideways; and - always a fan favorite - playing follow-the-leader, giving each child a chance to be the marching leader around the room.

Now you’re ready to dive in and see the wonder and joy in action when your students feel the power of making sounds with their bodies! 

Get my free Benefits of Tap Dance printable poster PDF and social media graphic here!

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