As a toddler, your dancer has responded to music by smiling, swaying and maybe even clapping. Between the ages of 1 and 2, large motor skills improve enough that toddlers can start bobbing to the beat. Simply listening to music encourages more creative ways of thinking. Learning to hear the beat also helps children improve coordination and sense how their bodies fit into their surroundings, all while encouraging creative expression. Dance encourages children to use their bodies to express emotion and explore the ways their bodies can move.