Spring Themes for 2018

The Spring Session will begin the week of March 19th and run until the second week of June.  We'll enjoy 3 engaging, interesting and research-based units together designed to grow and nurture your child across all learning domains. 

Foundations for children from birth to age 1: Infants will delight in the variety of music and enjoy being moved in many different ways though steady beat exercises, dances, creative movement, lap bounces, massage and more.  Babies will be exposed to rhythms and sounds through instrument exploration and play. Sign language, stories, listening & vocal play are incorporated to enhance early literacy & communication.  Social and Emotional development take center stage in Busy Days as we use music to foster the bonds between infants and their closest caregivers. Next, we’ll go on a Nature Walk as we explore the world and stimulate baby’s senses with music as a backdrop to a multi-sensory feast of developmental activities.  In Nighty Night, we’ll explore songs and activities about the night sky, with a focus on activities that will enhance your baby’s developing vision. 

Level 1 for active crawlers & walkers up to age 2: Get ready to say, Hello Day!, as we greet the morning with all of our senses and explore high & low through creative movement, fun activities and instrument play that helps develop fine-motor control.  You never know what adventures you’ll have when you’re On The Town With Bear. We’ll explore around the city & out in the country to see what there is to see.  Rain or Shine will have us discovering the relationship between math & music as we explore learn through sensory play.

Level 2 for preschoolers 2-4 years of age:  Sing, create, imagine & explore: there’s lots of work to be done around the house (or den, or nest or borrow) in Home Sweet Home from cooking, to hammering to painting and cleaning up, we’ll have lots of musical fun in our classroom community.  After that, we’re On The Go which is the perfect unit for active preschoolers who never sit still.  We’ll chug, zoom, bounce and stop-and-go because it’s non-stop learning with this vehicle-themed unit.  For our last unit, we’ll head to the Wild Animal Park where we’ll take a musical trip to visit a diversity of animal habitats and discover a wide range of animal friends. 

Level 3 for preschoolers 3&4 years of age:  This drop-off style class for 3&4-year-olds fosters your child's growing independence while actively engaging their senses in a rich multi-sensory musical experience.  Parents/Caregivers & Siblings join for Sharing Time during the last 10 minutes each week. Enjoy Home Sweet Home, On The Go and Wild Animal Park this spring.

Mixed-Age: Each Kindermusik family class is a happy shared experience full of singing, moving, cuddling, family jams, and more.  Whether you’re bringing one child or more, you’ll love the time to explore, discover, share, make friends, and just be together as you learn and play.  From newborn to Grandpa and everyone in between, there’s room in a Kindermusik class for everyone!  This spring we’ll explore Home Sweet Home, On The Go and Wild Animal Park. 

Happy & Healthy Classroom

Dear Friends:

With the cold and flu season ramping up, I want to remind everyone of the Kindermusik best practices for keeping our classes happy and healthy for little ones to explore.

Your health and wellness is very important to me and a lot of behind-the-scenes effort goes into ensuring your experience in our hands-on environment is a happy and healthy one. Instruments and other hands-on items are brought to class clean and are thoroughly cleaned after each class. Soft items (scarves, infant plush blankets, small plush toys, puppets) are washed in warm water with mild detergent and thoroughly dried in the dryer. Additionally, carpets are vacuumed weekly and handles and hard surfaces are sanitized on a regular basis. Hand sanitizer is available in class beside both doors to use after wiping noses or cleaning up messes.

Being a member of our Kindermusik community means that you have access to make up classes in the event you need to take a sick day. If you or your child is unwell (fever, green nasal discharge, tummy issues, etc) the best place for you is at home where you can rest and recover. A clear runny nose or slight cough doesn’t necessarily indicate illness as these often accompany teething. As your child’s primary caregiver, you know them the best and I trust your judgement in deciding if they are too unwell to attend class. 

If you do need to take a sick day, you can feel connected to class by listening to your CD, doing a little dancing, some snuggling, rocking and bouncing and engaging your little one using the At Home materials available through the “my.kindermusik.com” portal. Crafts, recipes, movement opportunities, work sheets, stories and bonding activities are just some of the things you will find when you explore your At Home units.

What else can you do? Please consider washing hands (you and your child(ren)) before and after classes (or use the available hand sanitizer) and leave your shoes in the hallway.

Thank you for all you do to keep our classroom a healthy and happy environment. 

January 2018 Themes

Registration for January 2018 will open November 18th through the studio link

January Unit Details:

The Winter session of Kindermusik will run 6 weeks in length beginning the week of January 8.  Enrollment includes a 1-hour in studio experience each week, CD of unit music and online enrichment resources through my.kindermusik.com for at-home exploration with our unit theme all week long. $75/child + $37.50/each sibling in same or different class. 

Foundations for children from birth to age 1: A classic favourite, filled with the sounds and sights of the farm, our unit Old McDonald, this January is packed with fun animal-themed activities that emphasize focus, listening discrimination, memory and cognition.

Level 1 for crawlers & walkers up to age 2: Nothing could be better than our unit Playtime! this January which is all about fun and predictability.  Do it, then do it once more.  That was fun, let’s do it again!  This unit is a non-stop play-fest that stresses the developmental value of predictability, repetition and play.

Level 2 for preschoolers 2-4 years of age:  Get ready for lots of ribbity-hopping, trumpety-stomping, and oinkity-rolling this January! Animals a-Dancing uses the movements and sounds of frogs, elephants, and pigs to emphasize how many movements you can make with your body and how many sounds you can make with your voice. You will love moving every which way while singing the songs of our animal friends.  

Level 3 for preschoolers 3&4 years of age:  This drop-off style class for 3&4-year-olds fosters your child's growing independence while actively engaging their senses in a rich multi-sensory musical experience.  Parents/Caregivers & Siblings join for Sharing Time during the last 10 minutes each week. Enjoy Animals-A-Dancing this January.

Mixed-Age: Each Kindermusik family class is a happy shared experience full of singing, moving, cuddling, family jams, and more.  Whether you’re bringing one child or more, you’ll love the time to explore, discover, share, make friends, and just be together as you learn and play.  From newborn to Grandpa and everyone in between, there’s room in a Kindermusik class for everyone!  This January we’ll explore Animals-A-Dancing.

Schedule at a glance (click to enlarge): 

I’d love to talk to you about your family’s unique needs. Please contact me at any time.

Jingle Jangle Playdates - Week of December 18th

The Jingle Jangle playdate is full of wintry songs, snow flakes, snowmen and jingle bells. This one-hour lesson will have you dancing, singing, playing instruments, exploring and having a wonderful time with your little ones creating magical memories.

Each family will receive a handout listing the songs from class along with a gift card ($10 value!) to download 10 songs from play.kindermusik.com and each enrolled child will receive a bell instrument to keep. Cost is only $15/child +$10/sibling.

Many day/time options for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and families with children up to age 5. See all options & reserve your space here: https://www.kindermusik.com/studio/52446/

No previous Kindermusik experience required.

Parents LOVE Kindermusik classes too!

All you have to do is look around the classroom during a Kindermusik class, and you’ll see why children love Kindermusik so much — from beloved class routines to pint-sized friends to favorite instruments to that teacher they absolutely adore.  Look a little closer, and you’ll notice that the adults are really loving “their” Kindermusik too.  Here are some of the surprising reasons why.

You’ll Receive Great Parenting Support

This support comes in many different packages.  Sometimes it’s that hug of empathy when your child is having a bit of a rough day.  Sometimes it’s that spontaneous celebratory cheer of delight when your child takes his first steps in class.  Sometimes it’s sharing the joy as another child sings for the first time.  Sometimes it’s that interesting fact about child development or that musical tip you can take home with you.  And then at home, you can find all kinds of musical parenting insight and support through the Home Materials.

You’ll have a Social Outlet, Too

Let’s face it.  Parenting a young child can be lonely sometimes.  It’s tough work too.  And that’s why so many adults tell us that they look forward to coming to Kindermusik as much as their child does!  In class, Kindermusik parents meet other adults with children – and challenges – that are similar.  And there’s nothing that inspires community and connection more than the circle dances and social activities that are built into every class.

You’ll Gain Tremendous Insight into your Child’s Heart and Mind

There’s something about being in a music class with a proven curriculum that’s been so carefully rooted in child development.  Being in a Kindermusik class opens various windows of understanding as you observe your child in the weekly class setting, interacting with other children and adults, participating and engaging in his/her own way, and even listening to the teacher.

You’ll Know – or be Able to Adapt – a Song for Nearly Every Situation

From the “toys away” song to that one lullaby that works every time, you’ll have a whole playlist of songs and rhymes to make day-to-day routines and transitions a little easier.  Best of all, these will be the kinds of songs you’ll enjoy singing – songs that bring a smile, soothe, distract, or inspire play.

You’ll Feel Really Good about Being Able to Enjoy an Activity with your Child that has Such a Lifelong Impact

It isn’t every day that the things you do with your child can strengthen your heart ties with each other or create the feelings of connection and stability that being in Kindermusik does.  And knowing that you are fostering a lifelong love of both music and learning makes being in Kindermusik all the more special.

You might think that you enrolled your child in Kindermusik because the Kindermusik experience is so good for him or her.  But after over 30 years of bringing children and families together in the Kindermusik classroom to enjoy and make music together, we can say with confidence that Kindermusik is just as good for the grownups who participate as it is for the children they bring to class each week.

Article Source: https://www.kindermusik.com/mindsonmusic/why-kindermusik/the-surprising-reasons-why-grownups-love-kindermusik-too/

Kindermusik: For every age & stage

"Every stage, or “season,” of early childhood has its triumphs and its challenges. At Kindermusik, we believe that music and movement should be a huge part of both the celebrations and the everyday moments of each stage of childhood."

Tune in this week as we highlight the new Kindermusik Ages & Stages class levels

Music: For Every Stage of Childhood

Every stage, or “season,” of early childhood has its triumphs and its challenges.  At Kindermusik, we believe that music and movement should be a huge part of both the celebrations and the everyday moments of each stage of childhood.

That’s why Kindermusik classes are not just filled with happy music and delightful activities for kids, but are also full of practical tips and musical helps for parents.  And it all comes packaged in such a way as to also give you invaluable insights into the way your child will grow and develop into the special individual he/she is meant to be.

Babies need nurture.
The first years are all about connections and learning.  A lullaby will become a beautiful ritual before nap time.  A sweet little finger play makes bath time extra fun.  A quick dance around the kitchen provides a needed distraction around supper time.

In Kindermusik, we’ll teach you all of the songs, fingerplays, and dances you need, but we’ll also give you the time to settle in and savor these precious early years.  The window for learning is open the widest right now, and there’s nothing more powerful than music and movement.

Toddlers need engagement.
Busy brains and busy little bodies need something to keep them active. And yet they thrive on predictability and routine.  Despite attempts to be fiercely independent, these busy little people still need you and they still need lots of cuddles.  And they do love their music!

We’ll help you add plenty of activity to your week – in class and at home.  And we’ll give you the music to dance to, the songs to sing, and the lullabies to hum, along with the insights you need to better understand this beautiful little person that is your child.

Preschoolers need adventure.
More than at any other stage, play is your preschool child’s work.  Play is how they’ll learn best.  The preschooler enjoys action and adventure, and he/she is eager for the kinds of rich experiences and interactions that will best help get him/her be ready for school, for music lessons, and for life.

Pretend play, big imaginations, socializing, and new musical concepts – all of these and more are how this stage of Kindermusik helps your child thrive and flourish.  Best of all, Kindermusik allows you to be part of the grand adventure of preparing for some very exciting transitions.

Big Kids need opportunity.
Your child seems so grown up all of the sudden, but he/she is not as grown up as you might think.  Now more than ever, your child needs to move, to explore, and to have fun even while being challenged with new ideas and ways to learn.  Your child is more than capable of learning the more specific musical concepts that will continue to foster a love for music and prepare him/her for that next step to formal music instruction.

As we capitalize on your child’s love of learning and making music with friends, we’ll also keep you involved through pressure-free music-making and simple activities at home.  You’ll learn right along with your child, and you’ll have the resources you need to make time for music and enjoy time with your child.

We’d love for you to come see for yourself how Kindermusik meets your child’s musical and developmental needs at every stage in early childhood, from newborn to age 7.

Blog Source: https://www.kindermusik.com/mindsonmusic/benefits-of-music/what-you-need-for-your-child-when-your-child-needs-it-most/

Are you familiar with our NEW & IMPROVED siblings policy?

Are you familiar with our Siblings policy? Here is the newly updated and improved siblings policy & family enrollment discounts:

• Baby Siblings under 3M attend FREE with enrolled older siblings in ANY class. This allows your family to keep their routines while your family adjusts to the new addition.
• Baby siblings up to 6M attend FREE in Mixed-Age classes.
• Tag-along siblings do not need to be enrolled online, but please do let Mrs. Deb know with a quick note, message or phone call if you are bringing a tag-along sibling to class so that age-appropriate props & instruments are provided for your family.
• Ready to enroll your second child in a class? New for Fall 2017, siblings attend for HALF PRICE in ANY class. Enroll your first child in one class, and after that, costs will be automatically reduced during online enrollment at the check out by 50% for subsequent enrollments in the same OR different class.
• Example: Enroll your preschooler in Level 2 for regular price, and enroll your infant in Foundations for half price.
• Example 2: Enroll both your children in Mixed-Age. The first child is regular price and the second is half price.

Questions about your unique family situation? I would love to discuss the many options available to you. Please contact me at anytime.