Tap to Togetherness Positive family development Tap dance instruction Age range 2-6 years old Families participate together Goals Learn about different ways of moving. Incorporating music and dance into their daily lives Practicing healthy behaviors Developmental research project that brings together families with young children to learn about tap dance while enjoying a positive physical and engaged activity together.

Some Reminders This is not dance class Mastery is not the goal Healthy Fun Family Engagement Mastery is not the goal Tap to Togetherness is an opportunity to engage with children, and not a “dance class”. Dance is the activity used to encourage parents and children to have fun together. There is nothing wrong with adults and children learning the steps and building on the dance skills they have learned, but mastery is not the goal here. Sessions are meant to take advantage of dance as a fun and healthy activity.

Basic Steps/ Music Stomp and Stamp Step Singing in the Rain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCMkj-LiIPQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1Ious59qPo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFb0EUIkYac Singing in the Rain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1ZYhVpdXbQ Have fun, Learn something new together, And to explore your creativity by putting the steps together in difference combinations.

Basic Steps Step and Clap Step Conga Salsa Reggae https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-15PIJNpyE Conga Salsa Reggae https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ4JdQWh_jY Have fun, Learn something new together, And to explore your creativity by putting the steps together in difference combinations.

Basic Steps Shuffle Step Spoonful of Sugar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D582WY2Et4 Spoonful of Sugar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLkp_Dx6VdI Have fun, Learn something new together, And to explore your creativity by putting the steps together in difference combinations.

Tap to Togetherness Technology Influence Play music Learn some of the dance steps. There is a body of new literature about the concept of families being together but alone- sitting in the same room, but individualized because you’re engaged in things that aren’t communal. Technology often drives the disconnect. The Tap to Togetherness project, leaders encourage families to use their smartphones to play music and dance. This means leveraging the technology to engage family members.

Tap to Togetherness Bring music and dance into the home. Get the energy out (among children) and then go on with evening process. Adults rekindle their former interest in dance and enjoy dancing with their children Improvement in child motor skills, balance, and the ability to follow directions Shared activities with families help build social emotional development skills in young children, provide social competence for them, and improve parent and child engagement.

Tap to Togetherness- Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih-VpWM5z38&feature=youtu.be

Presenting Learning and knowing the steps Have fun, be creative, and be very engaged with the audience. Have a way to play music Evaluation

Audience? FCE Award? Audience FCE Awards Library/ Story Hour Parents as Teachers Head Start Educational Leadership Action Who could you present this to? Where? Groups?