Learn the Running Man Step

If we don’t have a big open space or a smooth floor, what can we use instead?

Clear a hallway, move furniture aside to make a 3-by-3 foot area, or wear flat-soled shoes so you can still 'slide your right foot straight back about one foot length keeping the toes on the floor' and hop safely.

My child keeps losing balance when they 'push down with the left foot to hop upward lightly'—how can we fix that?

Have them fully shift weight onto the supporting leg first, relax and slightly extend the arms for balance, and practice smaller slides before trying full hops so they can reliably 'bring the right foot forward and place the ball of your foot down'.

How can we adapt the Running Man steps for younger or older kids?

For younger children remove or minimize the hop and hold a parent's hand while they 'lift your knee up toward your waist', and for older kids increase tempo, add more pronounced knee height, or count faster '1-and-2-and' to challenge rhythm and endurance.

What are simple ways to extend or personalize the activity after practicing the four slow repeats?

Create a short routine by adding arm styling from 'Relax your arms down at your sides' into swings, change directions, speed up the '1-and-2-and' count, and record and 'Share your finished Running Man step on DIY.org' to show your version.