As we approach the last 3 months of the year, it’s common for preschool dance classes to become quieter. Families often get busy, and it can be challenging to maintain the same level of engagement from your little ones. However, this time of year also presents a fantastic opportunity to inject some creativity into your Mini Movers classes, using seasonal themes to retain students’ interest. The best part? It doesn’t need to take up too much time or require complicated planning!
Now is the time to start thinking about creative ways to keep your students engaged and excited, and we’ve got some super simple ideas for you. Planning just a few fun activities in advance can make all the difference. Teachers should start by booking in dates for their celebrations—Halloween and Christmas party weeks—well ahead of time, rather than announcing them just a week before.
Top Tip from Jess: Plan Ahead and Get Parents Involved
A great tip is to send out a Mini Movers newsletter to parents as soon as possible. In this newsletter, highlight when these exciting themed party weeks will take place and include all class dates leading up to Christmas. That way, parents will know what to expect and can keep the excitement alive with their children at home. This also gives you the chance to remind grown ups during classes—”Don’t forget, everyone, our Christmas party is in 4 weeks!” Building that anticipation works wonders for attendance and engagement.
Retain Your Early Years Students With Halloween and Christmas Themes
Here are some fun, simple ways you can use seasonal themes to create a special atmosphere in your classes and keep students coming back through the busy months:
- Themed Props and Costumes
- Bring some Halloween magic or Christmas cheer into your classes with themed props. Think mini pumpkins, witches’ hats, or bat wings for Halloween, and jingle bells, Santa hats, or snowflake wands for Christmas. Swapping out your regular props for these festive versions keeps classes fun and fresh for little ones.
- Create Special Party Weeks
- Turn entire weeks into themed celebration weeks—like “Halloween Party Week” or “Christmas Celebration Week.” Decorate your studio and encourage students to dress up. These themed weeks make the classes extra special, and children won’t want to miss out!
- Simple Themed Crafts
- A small take-home craft after class, like a colouring sheet or a simple DIY paper decoration, keeps the theme alive and gives kids something fun to do at home. It’s a great way to keep them engaged outside of class time.
- Social Media and Photoshoots
- Host a mini photoshoot during your themed weeks and share the adorable pictures (with permission) on social media. It’s a great way to show how fun and engaging your classes are, both to current students and prospective ones!
- Incentivise Attendance
- Offer small rewards like stickers, prizes, or certificates to students who attend the themed weeks. It’s a simple but effective way to encourage regular attendance and get them excited about participating.
By planning ahead and getting creative with your themes, you can keep your classes exciting, boost attendance, and deliver fun, engaging classes.
New Mini Movers Dance Content for You!
For our Mini Movers Dance subscribers, we’ve just added four brand-new routines to keep your classes fresh this season, subscribers can access them here. There’s two fun Halloween-themed dances and two Christmas routines to help you create magical, engaging sessions that little ones will love. Incorporating these dances early on will help students become familiar with the moves, giving them time to build their confidence before the big celebrations.
If you’re not yet a Mini Movers subscriber, now is the perfect time to join our community. With fresh content and ideas delivered every three months, you’ll always have new ways to keep your preschool classes exciting.
Interested in becoming a Mini Movers Dance teacher? Check out our Mini Movers Dance page to learn more about how you can access our growing library of dances and resources!
