How do you keep the attention of preschoolers? Be silly. Make noises. Sing songs. Do dances. Play instruments. And stick out your tongue like a frog catching flies.

The Puddingstone Project’s new school show, unveiled in 2013, packs a dozen performance and participation pieces into 45 minutes, leaving time for the children to ask questions about instruments, movement and why Beth keeps changing her shoes. The show is perfect for toddlers to children through third grade and can be tailored to the needs of preschools, elementary schools and libraries.

Reaction from audiences has been great. It’s amazing to see the kids eyes open wide when they realize that they are carrying around all the instruments they need to make a rainstorm, or that household objects can become a orchestra in their hands. They watch traditional waltz clog movement performed in wooden shoes to nontraditional music played on an electronic TrapKat. They jump up and catch scarves floating through the air or sway side-to-side to an island-inspired tune played on tropical-colored boomwhackers. And they ask the important questions, like, “When did you start dancing?” (answer: 5) and “How many instruments do you play, anyway?” (answer: more than you have fingers and toes).

All songs and dances are created by Beth Wright and Kevin G. Anderson, longtime Dayton-area artists who have toured the world with more than two decades of experience each performing and teaching to audiences of all ages. The show can be booked for Dayton-area and beyond — we love to take the show on the road! Contact us for availability at puddingstoneproject[at]gmail.com and watch clips of the show by clicking on the video tab above.