It’s time for the big day! You’re ready…right?! Your little one(s) have worked so hard for months and the time has finally come to show off their new moves! It’s nerve racking, exciting and exhausting all rolled up into one fun package. I love my daughter, and I love that she loves to express herself through dance. But I have to be honest, I am SO glad when it’s finally over! It’s not that I don’t enjoy it, it’s just a lot! I feel like the parents are more exhausted than the kids after the big show(s)!
Our dance studio is non-compete. But that doesn’t mean they don’t bust their bums and put on a fantastic recital for hundreds of guests. The instructors are so amazing, we are very lucky to have this opportunity in such a small community. They do a fantastic job with communication and every year they send out a checklist of what we need to bring to the recital. The checklist is great; I love checklists because well…it keeps me in check 😂. But over the years (8 years to be exact), I’ve come up with some additional things to bring or do that may have been overlooked in the past. Let’s get into it!
You can download my checklist here for FREE!
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- First and foremost, let’s talk about your home – I don’t know about you, but anytime I’m gone for more than a few hours I want my house nice and clean/organized. So finish up the laundry, dishes and have some quick meals ready in the fridge so you don’t have to worry about it when you get home!
- While we’re talking about home, don’t forget about your animals! Make sure you have a plan for them if you’re going to be gone for several hours or more.
- Some common no-brainers that your studio has probably told you:
- Costumes, tights & shoes
- Hair accessories & makeup
- Tickets
- Snacks & drinks
- Pain reliever – whether it’s liquid or pills, bring it. In fact, take some before the recital as a preventative, all of you! The lights and music are so loud and bright. If you have a child(ren) that’s sensitive to these things, it would be a good idea to take something before!
- Phone chargers and earbuds/phones. We have these iWalk chargers and they are fantastic! They’re compact and you can still use your phone while they’re plugged in.
- Get the iWalk charger here
- Get the Earbuds here
- Get the Headphones here
- Eyeglass cleaner – If you or your little has glasses this is a must-have. I bought this multi-pack and have one in my purse, car, bathroom and her bookbag. They’re OK. They get the job done when you’re in a pinch!
- Pen/highlighter and paper – I bring a pen to mark the program on when she needs to go back stage for each act (she’s in multiple). It really helps!
- Garment bag – I bought this 2-pack and love them! I like how they have two smaller zipper pockets on the outside to store smaller items like papers, hair accessories or even shoes and tights!
- Hair finishing stick – Just get it. They work great for those little baby hairs and fly-a-ways. It’s better than stinking up the whole room with hair spray! I bought this 2-pack and keep one in her makeup bag and one in my bathroom.
- Deodorant – No one likes a stinky kid. Bring a travel-size one so they can be fresh and clean all day.
- Portable fan – Depending on the venue, you may want to consider this! I like this portable one because it’s compact, has a couple of speed settings, is quiet and it doesn’t feel like you cut your finger off if you bump the blades (yep – you bet I tried it 😜)!
- Recital pictures – If you had recital pictures taken prior to the show, bring a wallet size with you so you can reference the hair and any accessory placement!
- Makeup remover – Kids makeup is gonna smear, guaranteed.
- Q-Tips – Not only are Q-Tips great for makeup corrections, you also may be noticing their unsightly earwax since you’re helping them with their hair for the first time since….???
- Portable steamer – Again, depending on the venue and how long you’ll be gone you may want to bring one. Get one here.
- Change of clothes – Bring a pair of comfy clothes for them to slip into during sets and/or after the show.
- Slip-on shoes – Have some sandals or Crocs so they can put on/off easily.
- Robe – If the studio requires a cover-up between sets, get a thin, silky robe for them to cover-up with. I like this one.
- Extra hangers or heavy duty hangers – I made the mistake last year of using plastic hangers while carrying the garment bags. Well, one broke…so that was fun trying to carry it back and forth to the car 🙄.
- Extra tights – Tights through our studio were fairly inexpensive. If the same goes for you, buy an extra pair. You would be amazed at what they snag them on while waiting for their next set!
- Take pictures – Capture the moments before their performance and not just during and after. Take pictures of them lining up before their set with their crew, while they’re doing their hair, when they walk out of the dressing room. I know it sounds weird, but I think of it as taking pictures of the bridal party before the wedding. It’s those little things that when you’re in the moment you don’t think about, but when you see them after – it was a big deal!
- Makeup bag – I’m a big fan of BAGSMART items and this smaller one is perfect for everything you need
- Don’t forget a hair brush/comb/pick, extra ties, bobby pins, bun, scissors, toothbrush/floss & mini sewing kit! Here are a few things I keep in there:
- Don’t forget a hair brush/comb/pick, extra ties, bobby pins, bun, scissors, toothbrush/floss & mini sewing kit! Here are a few things I keep in there:
- Busy bags – If you have really little littles, consider bringing “busy bags” to keep them occupied! Go to your local dollar store and pick up some cheap, pencil case vinyl zipper bags and fill them up with crayons, little coloring books or paper, toys, fidgets, whatever they like! Let’s try to keep them off screens!
The MOST important things – Patience, calmness and encouragement. Please, please, please – do not get frustrated, yell or stressed out in front of your littles. This is their day, not yours. Take the time before-hand to prep as much as you can so you can make the experience as stress-free as possible. They’re getting up in front of (potentially) hundreds of people…when’s the last time you did something like that? Take a breath, smile and say “I love you, I’m proud of you, you’re gonna do great”!
Don’t forget, you can download my checklist here for FREE!
What are some other things I may have missed? Comment below!
