Your kids are likely on their phones. Your mind is probably on work or something that needs to be done around the house. Everyone's in their own world. But here’s a simple fix: put on some music and see what unfolds. Home dance sessions don't need perfection or planning. They just need to happen.

Start With Make-Believe

Kids are natural at playing pretend. Let’s use that!

Act out stories through movement. Read a page from any book and dance it. "The Wild Things" stomping around, a cat sneaking through the house, birds flying south. You don't need special books or complicated plots. Pick whatever your kids are already reading at bedtime. If they're into dinosaurs this week, be dinosaurs. There's no wrong way to dance a story.

Play dress up! Grab scarves, hats, old Halloween costumes. Kids will dance more when they feel like someone else. A cape makes anyone braver. Don't overthink this part. A pillowcase can be a superhero cape. Kitchen towels make great flowing skirts. Let kids raid closets and see what they come up with.

Make a family dance together! Each person teaches one move. Put them together. Add to it each week. It doesn't matter if it looks good. It's yours. Start simple. Maybe mom shows everyone her favourite stretch, dad brings back his old breakdancing move, and kids add their latest playground discovery.

Use whatever you have as props. Ribbons, kitchen towels, and pom-poms from old crafts. Different objects make you move differently. That's the point. A long scarf makes you want to twirl. Shakers make you want to march. Watch how your kids' movement changes when you hand them something new.

Not into the creative stuff? That's fine.

Just Have a Dance Party

Sometimes, you need to go bigger and create an event that everyone gets excited about. Dance parties work because they have clear boundaries: a start time, a special atmosphere, and permission to be loud and silly. The key is making it feel different from regular life without requiring hours of preparation. Most successful family dance parties happen when parents commit to being just as ridiculous as the kids.

Make it feel special. Turn down the main lights. Put on string lights or use flashlights. Move the coffee table. Let kids make signs. The setup matters. It doesn't have to be elaborate, but changing the usual environment signals that something fun is about to happen. Kids can be in charge of "lighting effects" with flashlights.

Pick a theme. 80s night. Superhero songs. How about songs from Disney movies? Maybe songs about colours or nursery rhymes? Themes give shy kids something to focus on besides feeling awkward. They also solve the "what music should we play" problem. With 80s night, everyone dresses up, and you play hits from that decade. Having boundaries actually makes creativity easier.

Play games while you dance. Freeze dance is classic. Copy the leader's work, too. Draw emotions from a hat and dance them. "Confused" and "tired" are hilarious to watch. Games keep everyone engaged when attention spans start to wander. They also help shy family members participate without feeling watched.

Record some of it! Kids love seeing themselves dance. Take pictures or make a short video. You don't have to show anyone else. Having some record of your family dance parties becomes precious later. Plus, recording gives everyone a goal to work toward if they want one.

Dance parties feel like too much work? Try this instead.

Make Your House Dance-Ready

This approach is about making spontaneous dance easy and natural, not formal sessions. It's about removing obstacles and building small, consistent habits. The goal is a home where movement feels welcome and not scheduled, which is ideal for families finding consistency tough or feeling intimidated by organised activities.

Clear up some space! push back furniture and put down a rug so no one slips. You're not building a dance studio, just ensuring no one trips. A small area works if everyone can move freely.

Get a decent speaker that connects easily to your phone and doesn’t cut out. Music stopping mid-song kills the mood. Good sound matters; you don't need anything expensive, just reliable room-filling sound.

Make it part of regular life! Dance while making dinner, during chores, or take 5-minute dance breaks. Don't make it a big production. When movement is routine, it isn’t forced. These micro-moments add up.

Let everyone participate their way. Some lead, others copy. Grandpa might dance from his chair or run the music. All participation counts. The goal is involvement, not performance.

Here's What Happens

Why do we cherish family memories? Often, it's the simple, unplanned moments. The laughter echoing during a Disney movie-like moment in the kitchen or the thrill of everyone attempting a goofy new spin. What truly sticks isn't perfect choreography but the precious feeling of being connected.

So, why not try something small this week? Just one song, perhaps while making dinner, or let your kids teach you their latest moves. We’d love for you to tell us all about your family's fun dance activities on your next visit!