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Move and play · Wild and Tumble activity

Little maypole dance

Round and round, under and over! Dance around a mini maypole on May Day.

  • 15 min total
  • Low mess
  • Ages 3–5*
  • Outdoors
  • Spring, May Day
Let's do this

*Illustrative age guidance. Your child's development and circumstances matter more than a number.

A tiny plan for your day

Estimated time: 5 min to set up · 9 min to dance · 1 min to tidy. It's fine to stop early.

Before you start

What you’ll need

  • A broom handle or sturdy stick, held upright by an adult or pushed into soft ground
  • A few short ribbons or fabric strips tied to the top
  • Music or a singing voice

Let's begin

Five simple steps

That's the whole activity. Tick each step off as you go, and stop whenever you like.

  1. Each dancer holds the end of a ribbon.

  2. Walk round the pole in a circle, all the same way.

  3. Now try weaving: one goes under, one goes over.

  4. Watch the ribbons wrap around the pole.

  5. Turn around and unwind it again.

All done!

That's every step. However it went, you made a little moment together.

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