Action Word Dance Party

A clear, safe floor space

Music player (optional but fun)

Clear a safe space. Put on upbeat, toddler-friendly music if you'd like.

Start with something familiar: "Let's CLAP!" Clap your hands and encourage them to copy.

After 10-15 seconds, call a new action: "Now let's STOMP!" Stomp dramatically.

Continue: "SPIN!" "JUMP!" "WIGGLE!" Say each word clearly before doing the action.

Add silly commands: "FREEZE!" — toddlers find the sudden stillness hilarious.

Ask your toddler: "What should we do next?" Name whatever movement they offer.

Mix fast and slow: "FAST stomping!" then "Slooow stomping."

Wind down with calming actions: "Let's sit... let's breathe... let's rest."

Action words (verbs) are some of the trickiest for toddlers to learn because they're abstract — you can't hold a "jump." By pairing the word with the action in their own body, you make it concrete and memorable.

Don't worry about perfection. A toddler's "jump" might be a knee bend. A "spin" might be a wobble. Name what they're doing and celebrate it.

This is a sneaky way to burn energy on a rainy day. Five minutes of stomping and jumping will tire out even the most energetic toddler.

Try adding animal-themed actions: "Let's WADDLE like a penguin!" or "SLITHER like a snake!" This builds both action vocabulary and animal vocabulary.