Below is an outline of learning objectives, strategies, and skills for teachings to use when teaching beginner ballet to 3-5 year olds.

1. Learning Objectives:
2. Teaching Strategies:
3. Skills Overview:

Learning Objectives:

1. Inspiring exploration, expression, and creativity
2. Introducing ballet concepts and terminology
3. Learning proper classroom etiquette / behavior 
4. Working on coordination, balance, strength, and flexibility 
5. Learning the basics of rhythm and counting music 
6. Understand the foundation of ballet technique (i.e., turning out, pointing toes, etc.)

Teaching Strategies:

1. Start off class with an icebreaker or short activity to get everyone in the mode of listening, taking turns, and participating.
2. Combine center skills together into 2-3 exercises to keep their attention longer (i.e., doing plies then port de bras at the end) 
3. Take time to learn what motivates each child. Every kid is different, some really care about getting their stamp at the end of class, while others want to be the line leader, etc. 
4. Always start new skills with hands on hips (for balance), then add in arm positions once footwork is mastered
5. Mix in fun dance-related activities in-between ballet exercises 
6. Teach with proper terminology! While you can explain a step using more age-appropriate language, don’t avoid using the proper ballet term.
   1. With enough repetition and demonstration, they will be able to memorize the terminology!

Skills Overview:

1. Feet and arm positions: 1st, and 2nd positions
2. Tendus 
3. Piques 
4. Degages
5. Releves
6. Eleve
7. Demi plies 
8. Arabesques 
9. Port de Bras
10. Posse 
11. Eschappe 
12. Sautes (in first and 2nd positions), using arms once ready
13. Jetes
    1. I usually lay out 4 dots and have them do small jete leaps over the dots.
    2. Start with a tendu and have them jump onto their working leg to understand the movement of a leap 
14. Changements 
15. Chasses 
16. Skips (with posses)

To see a full list of terminology for 3-5 years old beginner ballet, click here.