When I was a stay-at-home mama, my eldest and I began a tradition we call "morning dance party", which is precisely what it says on the box: we take a few minutes out of an often hectic morning to pump up the jam and kick up our heels. We sometimes take turns teaching each other dance moves, and inevitably we end up holding hands and twirling in a circle until mama is nauseous and announces it's time to freestyle.

In recent years, with an early start to my work day, our dance parties were relegated to the weekend, but now that I'm home (hurrah!), we're back up and moving! My girls have to be out the door for school at 8:30 am, and I'm making it my goal to have us all set for 8:00 am, when possible, so we have plenty of time to jump, jive, and generally have an awesome time together before we head off to our busy days (sorry, downstairs neighbours, but we're having too much fun).

If you have a few minutes, or can make a few minutes, I highly recommend that you turn up the beat and dance yourself into an amazing morning. It's a great way to start the day in a positive way, get active, and introduce the small people to the music of your youth. Might I suggest some Motown Philly?

And listen, this is not just a family thing. On your own? Dance like nobody's watching, because they aren't. (P.S. Morning Dance Party's equally vivacious cousin is Saturday Night Try On All Your Fancy Clothes And Dance Around Your Bedroom Party).

Jump for Joy is a new series on JTTG about small, simple ways to boost the joy in your life.