? for Dance Moms-

[CindyCharming]

My daughter's recital is coming up and I'm one of the backstage moms. I'm drawing a blank as to what I can bring to entertain them. Any ideas? What has worked for you? They are asking for no food, nothing messy of course, and there are 10 girls in her class (3-5 year olds). Their recital is pretty short, no more than an hour and a half.

Thanks for any ideas!

 

[momof1princess]

my DD is older (almost 13), but we're allowed to bring them non-messy snacks (pretzels, goldfish crackers, etc.) and bottled water or juice boxes. the recital is held at what is normally considered supper time, so the girls have to have something to eat. we also let them bring their mp3 players, nintendo DS/gameboy (etc.) and someone usually brings DVDs. our recital is held at a junior college auditorium which also has classrooms, most with TVs and DVD players. someone usually brings a portable DVD player with appropriate DVDs, in case there's not one in the room. i am the class mom this year, and i've already sent a letter asking for appropriate snacks and entertainment. our recital is also usually about 1.5 hours.

 

[kacaju]

coloring books and crayons

 

[Ceila]

When my DD was that young, I brought tissue paper and pipe cleaners and the girls made tissue paper flowers. I also brought foam stickers and construction paper, which they had a lot of fun with. And when it got reallllly boring, I plugged in the laptop I brought with me and popped in a Disney movie!

We weren't allowed to bring anything to color with, since the crayons or markers could get on their costumes, and only water to drink (no food).

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

Our studio has the 3-5 year olds dance first.....and them sends them out to sit with Mom and Dad

I know that's not your decision to make, so maybe a dvd for them to watch. Our girls aren't allowed to eat in costume, only water. Alot of the little girls bring Nintendo ds or something.

 

[CindyCharming]

Unfortunately, nothing to play a dvd on so that's out. I like the foam stickers and paper idea though, that would work! They have a recital on Sat. and Sun. so maybe I can find some other non-messy craft for the second show. Can't wait until they're old enough to be satisfied with an MP3 player or responsible for their own Nintendos!

 

[surfergirl602]

what we did is brought a blanket for all the girls to sit on, crayons and coloring books or pages. We didn't do snacks or drinks because that meant having to go to the bathroom, and because of allergies.

 

[debyc]

I second the foam stickers and construction paper idea, I've been the recital mom for a class of 3 year olds and I did this-- they loved it, in fact after the dance they didn't want to go with their parents they wanted to stay and finish their pictures

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Try circle games. Sit them in a circle and try the ABC game with animals, or colors... Duck, duck goose. The secret game - one girl starts with a saying and see how it ends. Farmer in the dell. Hope that helps.

 

[golfgal]

Unfortunately, nothing to play a dvd on so that's out. I like the foam stickers and paper idea though, that would work! They have a recital on Sat. and Sun. so maybe I can find some other non-messy craft for the second show. Can't wait until they're old enough to be satisfied with an MP3 player or responsible for their own Nintendos!

Bring a laptop or a portable DVD player. If you don't have one, ask some other parents to bring one.

I can't believe your studio wants the little kids backstage for the recital


Originally I was going to suggest a deck of cards and some starbursts because that is what DS15 and his friends did when he took hip hop but they were older

 

[tiggger1]

I can't believe your studio wants the little kids backstage for the recital :

at my daughter's studio all the kids are "backstage" backstage for us is a classroom attached to the stage.. so technically they are not backstage. The owner does this because it would be a nightmare trying to make sure that all the kids are where they needed to be for their number. so they are dropped off before the school and the parents pick them up at end of the recital. no one that isnt a approved volunteer gets backstage or near the kids during the show. They do it this way because the studio have over 300 kids and 3 shows!!!

we bring a giant sheet to sit on. blank paper or copies of coloring pages crayons and color pencils. only water backstage and we do have a tv pack stage that they can watch the show

 

[golfgal]

at my daughter's studio all the kids are "backstage" backstage for us is a classroom attached to the stage.. so technically they are not backstage. The owner does this because it would be a nightmare trying to make sure that all the kids are where they needed to be for their number. so they are dropped off before the school and the parents pick them up at end of the recital. no one that isnt a approved volunteer gets backstage or near the kids during the show. They do it this way because the studio have over 300 kids and 3 shows!!!

we bring a giant sheet to sit on. blank paper or copies of coloring pages crayons and color pencils. only water backstage and we do have a tv pack stage that they can watch the show

DS's studio was about the same size, 3 1/2 hour long recitals . They had the little kids go first then the parents came to a staging area after they performed and took them home or into the theater to watch if they had older siblings or just wanted to watch. They were not in the finale. The little kids only performed in one of the 6 shows they put on so they didn't have to be there for every show too. It kept things a lot more sane.

 

[CindyCharming]

We are in a big classroom type room too, wish we were able to watch the show on a tv though, that would be nice!

This is just a small program the studio runs throught the community center. The majority of the performances are from girls under 8, probably half are the 3-5 age group. Like I said it's no more than an hour and a half, probably closer to an hour.

 

[robinb]

My DD's recital is this weekend (2 shows). You really don't need anything to entertain them. They will be so excited that they will entertain themselves. You will spend most of your time getting ready ... getting dressed and doing her hair and make-up. At my DD's studio you are allowed to leave after your number.

One thing that is popular at my DD's studio is little gift bags. I got some loot bags from the Dollar Store and will fill them with an assortment of candy. I think I also might buy some balloons to tie around the bags.

I snapped an adorable picture of my DD and her class a couple years ago. If their costumes include a long ballet skirt, you can replicate it. The girls sat in a circle with their skirts spread out around them and reached into the circle and out of it like a flower opening. They did it all on their own and it looked so pretty I took a picture of it.

 

[tiggger1]

DS's studio was about the same size, 3 1/2 hour long recitals . They had the little kids go first then the parents came to a staging area after they performed and took them home or into the theater to watch if they had older siblings or just wanted to watch. They were not in the finale. The little kids only performed in one of the 6 shows they put on so they didn't have to be there for every show too. It kept things a lot more sane.

because there are 3 different recitals they are not that long. I think they are just over 2 hours. We have it at a local community college that only seats 700 people so if we let the little ones in the audience we wouldnt have much room for the audience! Most of the time, the parents are more upset than the little ones. The main reason is safety. with roughly 150 kid ( at least 50 or so under 5) in each recital its hard enough to make sure they all get one stage let alone they go home with the correct person. When the kids are dropped off, someone will check them in and one parent gets a bracelet. At the END of the show, only people with bracelets are allowed to come back and get their child. It keeps the craziness down. Which I greatly appreciate because I work backstage with all the kiddos making sure they get onstage!!!

These happened a few years ago... (all during the same weekend!)
I had a mom trying to sneak into the dressing rooms with a hot dog smothered in ketchup and nachos/cheese for their 3 year old who hasn't gone on stage yet.. we have also had parents try to get there 4 year old to "sneak" out so great grandma so and so can take pictures..2 minutes before they needed to be onstage..I had a mother scream at me because I wouldn't let her 12 year old SON into the girls dressing room to give his sister a water ( I offered to give her the water...I also offered to have the girl come to the door to get the water, she was mad I wouldn't let him inside to go look for her....sorry lady I have 100 girls changing backstage!!!

Since they got so strict, there have been less stressful!!! for the volunteers and the kids!!!

 

[AmandaSparks730]

My recitals are a bit longer...usually 2-3 hours.

When I was in the "big room" with all the 4-12 year olds, they had a monitor set up showing the action onstage (with no sound. Every year, no sound!). Many girls brought coloring books or things to read. On dress rehearsal nights, some of the older girls brought homework to do, because our dress rehearsals are almost always on Thursday nights.

Now, I'm in the smaller (MUCH smaller) room next to the stage, with the older girls. We don't even bring anything to do anyone, just cell phones and cameras

And in the smaller room, we have audio, but no visual. Ironically.

 

[CindyCharming]

My DD's recital is this weekend (2 shows). You really don't need anything to entertain them. They will be so excited that they will entertain themselves. You will spend most of your time getting ready ... getting dressed and doing her hair and make-up. At my DD's studio you are allowed to leave after your number.

Well, I was backstage last year and coloring books and crayons didn't cut it so that's why I'm asking. I should have taken notes last year, I didn't pay attention to what the other groups did! All the girls need to be ready before they come so getting ready doesn't take up any of our time.

I have foam stickers and paper and some circle game ideas, hopefully those will do the trick!

 

[Bunless]

I can't believe your studio wants the little kids backstage for the recital

As the director of a dance school, the idea that students WOULD be allowed in the auditorium during a performance just makes me shiver in fear for our art form.

It is just not done. To do so treats a dance concert as if it were something not important. Children coming and going in the audience disrupts the performance. It takes away from those who are on the stage.

I know that there are schools out there that allow the students in the auditorium during their concerts, but, honestly, those are not schools that I would recommend anyone going to for any reason. It is a really, really big indicator that those in charge aren't very good at what they do.


NOW, as far as things to do backstage. Arts and crafts are good, just be careful about the glue. I used to hate the idea of kids just sitting in front of a DVD player, but my goodness, they're so quiet backstage when they're plopped in front of one. The educator in me hates it, but I tell you, it's a wonderful, wonderful thing. Beg, borrow, or steal something to use to watch a DVD.

 

[robinb]

I know that there are schools out there that allow the students in the auditorium during their concerts, but, honestly, those are not schools that I would recommend anyone going to for any reason. It is a really, really big indicator that those in charge aren't very good at what they do.

 

[Bunless]

Not really. It's just about offering respect to those who are performing.

When students (or anyone else) are coming and going from an auditorium, those on stage aren't being respected for the hard work that they have put into the dance that they are performing. It is distracting for the audience, it is distracting for the dancers on stage.

There are some schools who will let the students come into the auditorium at intermission as long as they aren't in the second act, which I don't have a problem with.