Get Your Groove On With The Curious George Dance Contest!

My toddlers LOVE monkeys. They each have several stuffed monkey toys, monkey outfits, and even monkey costumes. Their bedding? Yep, that has monkeys on it, too! I guess you can say we're bananas for anything playful!

While they love monkeys of all colors, shapes and sizes, who is their favorite primate pal? Curious George, of course! He's fun, he's clever, and he always brings some monkey mischief to the table, all while promoting hands-on learning and exploration. While I don't allow the kids to watch a whole lot of television, Curious George is a program I am always happy to turn on for them.

I am thrilled to announce that the world's most beloved little monkey, Curious George, is having a Dance Contest! How cool is that?! Parents can upload a video of their little ones dancing to the Curious George theme song and have the chance to win some fantastic prizes in the process. Whether your child likes to spin, twirl, do the moon-walk or the robot, or just likes to show off their monkey moves, this is a great way to promote creativity and an active lifestyle.

Why is dance so important for little ones? Fitness is one reason! Kids who are active early on enjoy healthier lives overall. Dance can improve muscle strength, flexibility, and endurance. Dancing is such a fun way to exercise, but there's so many more benefits to shaking your groove thang.

Did you know that dance also encourages creativity and self-expression? This is so important, since being able to express one's feelings through creative arts can be a wonderful tool for dealing with emotions in a healthy, constructive way. I would much rather have my kids do an "angry dance" when they're mad than destroy my house during a tantrum.

Dance is also a fantastic way to promote the early learning of letters, colors, shapes, numbers, and other skills needed for school readiness. Kids can go up and down, side to side, over and under, and since kids are active learners, they will have a better understanding of these concepts. They can also contort their bodies into shapes and letters! Numbers can be taught as well by having kids follow a simple rhythm and beat, such as 1-2-3-2-2-3, etc. 

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Now through April 2, 2012, parents and guardians of kids aged eight and under can send in videos of their child’s moves to CuriousGeorgeDanceContest.com. A panel of judges will choose ten finalists based on their creativity, enthusiasm, and originality. Then, starting April 16th through April 30th, George’s friends and fans–the public–will vote for the winner. All finalists will receive a Curiosity Kit, filled with a Curious George book, game, DVD, and other fun George merchandise. Contest entries will be accepted through April 2, 2012. For complete rules and
regulations, and to submit your child’s video, visit CuriousGeorgeDanceContest.com.

“We love to see how kids are inspired by George’s contagious curiosity and unending enthusiasm,” says Senior Vice President of Animation Production for Universal Studios Family Productions Ellen Cockrill. “Through movement and dance, kids can be creative, curious, and may even discover a new passion or artistic outlet. We’re excited to see what kids come up with.”

I am surely going to enter my Sophie! Will you enter, too? Simply click the banner below to get started!

ABOUT THE CURIOUS GEORGE TELEVISION SERIES
CURIOUS GEORGE the television series is designed to inspire kids to explore science, math, and engineering in the world around them in a fun and entertaining way. Based on the best-selling Curious George books by Margret and H.A. Rey, the daily series on PBS KIDS expands George’s world to include a host of colorful characters and original locales, while maintaining the charm of the beloved books. Each half-hour episode includes two animated stories followed by short live-action pieces showing real kids who are investigating the ideas that George introduces in his stories. The series encourages inquiry and curiosity, promotes hands-on exploration, and shows parents and caregivers how to support children’s science and math-related play.

More Monkey Fun on PBS KIDS and pbskids.org!

For more Curious George fun, tune in weekdays to PBS KIDS (check local listings). Also, check out the Curious George website at pbskids.org/curiousgeorge which encourages kids’ creativity through games, printables, and video clips. Additionally, dance related activities, in both English and Spanish are available at pbsparents.org/curiousgeorge

***Disclosure: This post is sponsored in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and WGBH. All opinions are 100% mine and have not been influenced in any way. All Curious George images:CG (R) & (C) 2012 Universal Studios and/or HMH. All Rights Reserved. FOR PROMOTIONAL USE ONLY.***