Jingle Stop and Go
What you need
- jingly music on a phone or speaker
- a shaker of bells with the lid taped shut
How to do it
- Clear a space away from the tree and put on a jingly song.
- Dance and shake the bells together while the music plays.
- Pause the music and freeze like a statue, then start it again and dance.
- Swap jobs: let your toddler press pause while you dance and freeze.
Why it matters
Stopping the moment the music stops takes real listening and body control, and it is very funny.
What they're learning
- Listening
- Hearing the music stop and freezing right away is careful listening.
- Body control
- Holding still mid-dance takes balance and control.
- Being in charge
- Pressing pause for you gives them a turn at running the game.
What to look for
Watch for them freezing a little faster each round, and peeking at you to check. Stay close, nothing in mouths.
A tip
Check the tape on the shaker lid before you start. Loose bells are small enough to choke on, so they stay sealed inside.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: hold hands and freeze together
Harder: dance fast to loud music and slowly when you turn it down
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Gross motor activities · Activities for 2 year olds · Toddler activities with jar lids