Spreading Kindness at Competitions: How to Make Dance Positive Pins!

If you’ve been to a dance competition lately, you might have noticed a fun little trend—decorated clothespins clipped onto dancers’ bags. These adorable "Positive Pins" aren’t just for looks; they’re a way to spread kindness, encouragement, and team spirit throughout the competition.

We made ours for my dancer’s competition this week, and I wanted to share how you can make your own! I found my clothespins and charms on Amazon (links below) and can’t wait to pass these out to teammates and other dancers.

The Tradition Behind Positive Pins

The Positive Pin trend started as a simple but meaningful way to boost morale during competitions. Dancers and even parents decorate these small wooden pins with motivational words, stickers, charms, and team colors. Then, they either exchange them with friends or secretly clip them onto other competitors’ bags as a little surprise.

The idea is to remind every performer that they are seen, supported, and celebrated—because, at the end of the day, competition is about growth, passion, and the love of performing.

How to Make Your Own Positive Pins

Making your own Positive Pins is easy, fun, and a great pre-competition activity to do with your dancer.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Materials:

✔ Wooden clothespins (I found mine on Amazon—link below)

✔ Paint, markers, or washi tape for decorating

✔ Stickers, rhinestones, or glitter (optional)

✔ Small charms/beads (Amazon link below)

✔ Hot glue or strong adhesive

✔ A positive message or dancer’s name (handwritten, use beads, or printed on small labels)

Instructions:

1️⃣ Decorate the Clothespins: Paint, color, or wrap washi tape around the pins in fun patterns. Add team colors or sparkle for extra flair!

2️⃣ Add Your Message: Write short, uplifting phrases like “You Got This!,” “Shine Bright!,” or “Believe in Yourself!” You can also personalize them with your dancer’s name or initials.

3️⃣ Attach Charms & Embellishments: Using hot glue, attach small charms, rhinestones, or stickers to make them unique.

4️⃣ Clip & Share: Hand them out to teammates or clip them onto dancers’ bags throughout the competition for a fun surprise!

Why Kindness Matters at Dance Competitions

Competitions can be nerve-wracking, and sometimes, the pressure can feel overwhelming. That’s why small acts of kindness—like giving or receiving a Positive Pin—can make a big difference. For both dancers and moms, modeling kindness at competitions creates a positive environment and reminds everyone that it’s about more than just scores and trophies.

✨ For Dancers: Receiving an unexpected boost of encouragement can ease nerves and build confidence. Plus, it helps create friendships between dancers from different studios!

✨ For Dance Moms: Encouraging this tradition teaches our kids that competition isn’t about tearing others down—it’s about lif

ting each other up. When we show kindness to other parents and dancers, we set the tone for a supportive and uplifting atmosphere.

Join the Tradition!

If you’re heading to a competition soon, why not bring some Positive Pins along?

Whether you give them to your dancer’s team or surprise another competitor, it’s a simple way to make someone’s day.

We'll be sharing ours this weekend and can’t wait to spread some positivity!

It’s important that dancers hand out positive pins rather than attaching them to someone’s costume, hair, or belongings. We want to make sure pins aren’t showing up on dancers as they head on stage, and it’s just as important to respect personal boundaries and avoid touching other people’s things.

Links to the clothespins and charms I used:

Instead of writing a message you could also use beads like those below:

🔹 Affiliate Disclosure:Hey there! Just a heads-up—some of the links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you make a purchase (at no extra cost to you!). I spend a lot of time researching, curating, and updating these lists. Your support means so much and helps me keep sharing the best finds. Thanks for being here! 💕

Have you participated in the Positive Pin tradition? Let me know in the comments!