Can you imagine waking up to this face in the morning?

Best wishes for a Happy New Year!

Hope you don't wake up on the 1st feeling like this dog looks!

Newbies Needed

The folks at Revival Arts Studio are looking for a few tiny models to capture in their newborn innocence. They are developing new promos for 2007 and need some fresh babies to put on them. If you have a little bundle of joy under 5 weeks, give them a call. They will come to your place and you can relax while they artistically photograph your baby.

The session is on them and you’ll receive 15% off their regular product prices. Please pass the word on if you know someone who has a newborn.

604-864-6339
Email Revival Arts Studio

Jason has taken some beautiful shots of my babes, and his wife Darcie is a fabulous Kindermusik educator, although she has cut back substantially to help Jason out with his booming business.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

I'm going to turn off the phone and run away from the computer for the next few days. We're escaping to our cabin up near Sun Peaks for the holidays, but will be back on the 27th to take all of your registrations!

Have a wonderful holiday season, and I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year!

Who likes the dentist? My son!

We went to the dentist last week, and I can't say enough about him. Dr. Gerry is the best! We've been going since Jacob was around 18 months, but Dr. Gerry suggests that children see him by their first birthday.

The waiting room is THE most kid-friendly one I've ever seen (my husband likes it too). And then there is the room. Nemo went nuts in there. Kids have lots to look at (ie: distractions) while they lay in your lap. Dr. Gerry is in and out of the mouth so quickly, and yet has a good grasp on what is going on in there. When I asked about the staining on Jacob's front teeth, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that it was from all the broccoli I gave him when his teeth were developing. (Ah, the guilt that I was able to let go of!)

Dr. Gerry is all about preventative dental health. The last thing he wants to see is a 3 year old that needs a general anesthetic to have a cavity filled. He's very good about letting you know what to do (complete with various tricks so that you can ACTUALLY do it), what to avoid, and what to look for. And all without being too preachy!

I highly recommend going in for a visit!

Pacific Pediatric Dental Centre
Dr. Gerry Pochynok
206-2609 Westview Drive, North Vancouver
604.983.2253

VILLAGE: Zoom Buggy Week 7

FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING

Balance and Stability: In order to develop balance and stability, babies age 1-2 should practice walking in different directions and in different patterns. Non-walkers begin to develop the sense of balance by experiencing varied movements in an adult’s arms.

Sense of Self: An individual’s identity is based upon his sense of self. “Selfhood first comes about as babies learn that they have a personal physical identity. They obtain this knowledge by exploring their own bodies, and then experiencing their bodies in interaction with objects and other people…Opportunities [for exploration and play] help the baby develop his skills and thereby increased his independence…expanding his understanding of himself.” Baby Steps, Claire Kopp

Music Appreciation: By providing a stimulating music environment, you can nurture your baby’s natural capacity for music appreciation and music making.

Sense of Humour: Early laughter usually erupts as a response to a pleasant sensation (patting the tummy, etc.) or physical exhilaration. As your baby develops a sense of anticipation, the unexpected may elicit a laugh. Laughter is a wonderful stress-reliever!

Touch: Research suggests that touch is as important to your baby’s growth and development as are eating and sleeping.

OUR TIME: Milk & Cookies Week 14

FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING

Turn-Taking: A basic competence required for successful peer-group interaction is turn-taking. This very important skill can be developed through consistent exposure to activities which require the toddler to wait while another is engaged in an intriguing activity. Throughout life, turn-taking skill is required for successful social interation.

Rocking & Listening: Although many people “listen” to music throughout the day, listening is often relegated to being a “background” event. Setting aside a special time for rocking and listening provides moments invaluable to the development of both emotional security and music appreciation.

Family Time: Here, There, & Everywhere Week 9

FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING

Timbre: The distinctive quality of a sound (voice, instrument, or sound in nature) is called its timber (pronounced “tam-ber”, as in tambourine). There are so many different kinds of sounds: voices, instruments, and animal sounds each have their own timbre. Timbre is the quality that allows you to distinguish the sound of the saxophone from the sound of a trumpet. Children learn how to distinguish sounds and how to produce the subtleties of language and music by experiencing a wide variety of sounds and their small yet important differences.

Emerging Literacy: Children begin the process of learning to read long before they enter formal schooling. Families play an important part in this process. For decades, research has shown that children whose parents read to them become better readers and do better in school. But reading to children is not the only activity that helps children become better readers and learners. Activities such as telling stories and singing songs may also encourage the acquisition of literacy skills.

Social Interaction: As children grow, they must learn to play with others. Sharing and taking turns are difficult lessons to master, but as children spend more time playing together, they begin to recognize other’s feelings and advance from parallel to cooperative play.

Wrapping Paper & Bags

Jacob & I decided to make our own Christmas bags today. (OK, I decided and he went along with it.)


We tried using paint brushes, but hands were so much more effective for applying mass quantities of paint on paper.



The results! Later production runs tend towards various shades of brown, although I'm sure the recipients will still feel the love.

Skate at Home!

Our Imagine That! class has been skating for the last two weeks. Very fun! Put a couple of paper plates on the floor (upside down works far better!), stand on them, turn on the music, and skate! Great for gross motor skills, balance, and cross-lateral movement. Even better for laughs!

Watch us skate!

REMINDER!

Just a reminder that next week is the last week of the fall session. Be sure to register for the winter session now! Early bird discount applies only until December 22nd, and classes are filling quickly! See the class schedule for times and locations.

VILLAGE: Zoom Buggy Week 6

FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING

Play is Learning: Your baby’s natural play is her way of learning and is essential to her cognitive development. Hands-on activities with everyday materials aids in making sense of the physical sensations that she experiences.

Thought and Movement Processes: You baby processes thought, and therefore acts upon that thought, more slowly that do you. When possible, give your baby the time and opportunity to act for himself (such as reaching for an egg shaker).

Pattern Repetition: Information is more easily absorbed by repetition of a movement or a vocal pattern. A repetitive activity can help your baby learn a movement, such as twirling and swirling, and can help him begin to associate body parts with labels.

Left & Right: In order to know the difference between left and right, your baby must first feel, in her body, the difference between left and right.

OUR TIME: Milk & Cookies Week 13

FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING:

Development of Musical Language Vocabulary: The child’s musical language vocabulary can develop through incorporating descriptive, labeling words (loud, quiet, steady beat, etc.) into the activity.

At Home: Refer to page 31 of the Home Activity for fun at home drum play ideas.

Cooperative Games: Cooperative games require the group to play together as a whole. Cooperative games help children to form a cohesive group; teach cooperation skills, turn taking and sharing; decrease aggressiveness; and a non-threatening context for modeling and rehearsing social skills.

IMAGINE THAT! Hello Weather Week 13

FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING

Balance: Balance ability improves as children learn to use internal and external cues to help them remain upright. The internal cues come from muscles and joints. The external cues are primarily visual.

Play: Human play fulfills several biological needs: expression of emotions, for enhanced communication and stress reduction; social contact and bonding, exploratory learning with challenges, feedback, and joyful satisfactions of success which activate the brains reward system; playful expression, the link from the inner worlds to the real world. Play is the foundation for creativity.

Laughter: This activity is bound to bring bundles of laughter from both parents and children. Laughter increases while blood cell activity and changes the chemical balance of the blood. This is believed to boost the body’s production of chemicals needed for alertness and memory. Laughter reduces stress, and low stress enhances the brains receptivity to learning. According to researchers, laughing also boosts the body’s immune system for three days – the day of the fun and the next two!

Family Time: Here, There, & Everywhere Week 8

FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING

Animal Sounds: Animal sounds help children explore and expand their speaking and singing vocal ranges. Their simple structures (one or two syllables with simple vowel and consonant combinations) and repeated nature make them fun and easy for children to imitate, and the wide range of sounds (high and short bird sounds, long and low moos, middle-range sheep and duck sounds) allow children to expand their vocal capabilities.

Steady Beat: Moving to a steady beat, a child develops a sense of timing, which is fundamental to the ability to organize and coordinate movements. It’s easy to imagine how this might apply to a child’s walking with a steady gait and (in the future) learning to pedal a bicycle. This type of coordination even plays into tasks such as typing on a keyboard. Music relies upon steady beat as much as or more than any other activity, making it a great way to build these skills.

Locomotor Movement: Locomotor movements move the body from one place to another. The growth and refinement of these skills improve balance, steady beat, and coordination. Our bodies are built for motion and designed for efficiency in movement. But to achieve such efficiency requires many of our joints and muscles to work together, which is not easy at first. Because it is so complex, a large percentage of the human brain is dedicated to gross- and fine-motor coordination and balance. This means that by exercising locomotor skills, children exercise much of their brains.

Oops!

Sorry, folks!

I should have put the link to the class schedule up! That would have made it easier for you to find a class...

Here it is: Winter Schedule

The perils of blogging at midnight and/or with screaming baby and toddler who has discovered the joys of online Sesame Street...

Can you believe it?

OK - this guy has WAAAAAY too much time on his hands.

You've got to have the sound turned on for this one. It's amazing!



Compliments of Darcie Brown at The Little Brown Music Studio.

Village - New Classes!

NEW 7 WEEK SESSION STARTS JANUARY 22nd!
Newborn - 18 months

With an introduction to sign language and highlighted by the concept of a family's daily rituals and routines, The Rhythm of My Day is designed to help parents incorporate music into many of the regular routines found throughout their daily life. Lesson focuses also highlight several other key concepts like diversity of sound, stop and go, syncopation, and singing. Favorite activities and songs featured in The Rhythm of My Day include Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Golden Slumbers, Walk All Around and Ally Bally.


NEW 7 WEEK SESSION STARTS MARCH 26th!
Newborn - 18 months

Hickory, Dickory, Tickle and Bounce is focused on further feeding a baby's language development through the rhythmic nature of nursery rhymes. You and your child will also discover plenty of implied movement activities throughout the semester with many additional movement concepts - like up and down - incorporated into the literature book. Favorite songs and activities from Hickory, Dickory, Tickle and Bounce include Peek-a-boo, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Beat the Drum, Roll That Ball, Sulla Lulla, and The Blackbird.

REGISTER BY DECEMBER 22nd TO RECEIVE THE EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT

Our Time - New Classes!

NEW 14 WEEK SESSION STARTS JANUARY 22nd!
18 months - 3 years

Creatures of the animal kingdom, whether furry, web-footed, hoofed, winged or whiskered, are the subject matter for Fiddle-dee-dee. Animal sounds, which are so appealing to children, naturally prompt imitation and provide abundant active listening and vocal play material. In the context of moving like animals we will focus on concepts such as high, low, smooth, bumpy, fast, and slow.

On the At Home CDs you'll hear a clear emphasis on the stringed instrument family, with instruments such as the mandolin, banjo, lute, classical and folk guitar, harp, string quartet and double bass.

ENROLL BY DECEMBER 22nd TO RECEIVE THE EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT

Imagine That - New Classes!

NEW 14 WEEK SESSION STARTS JANUARY 22nd!
3 1/2 - 5 year olds

Meet the Busy Places and Friendly Faces of Cities! - where we will co-create a city that's familiar, yet like no other. And a city that's really many "cities" in one. There's a city of music of songs, recorded works and city sounds. There's a city of the imagination - of three- and four-year-olds being whoever they imagine themselves to be today: a broom man, or maybe an opera singer? There's a city of stories - of lost dogs and found dogs and of a globe-trotting photographer. Best of all, in Cities! Busy Places ~ Friendly Faces, children from all kinds of communities will find commonalities with their lives.

ENROLL BY DECEMBER 22nd TO RECEIVE THE EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT

Family Time - New Classes!

NEW 14 WEEK SESSION STARTS JANUARY 22nd!
Newborn - 7 years

This winter/spring, go Here, There, Everywhere with your family. The five sub-themes center around different family outings: a visit with a friend, an outing at the park, a trip to the city, an afternoon at the aquarium, and a day on the farm.

You’ll sing, play, and move through these destinations with some of your favorite Kindermusik songs and activities – ball play to Over the Waves, jamming to Gee, But It’s Great to Meet a Friend, picnic pretend play in Going on a Picnic, dancing to Water Come a Me Eye, and more.

This unit’s stories are Flip-Flap, Sugar Snap! and Jingle-Jangle Jambourine. You’ll explore different ways to move like animals in Flip-Flap, Sugar Snap!, and in Jingle-Jangle Jambourine you’ll follow a girl who has lost her jambourine during the day’s outings (to the very same places visited in the curriculum–what a coincidence!) as she looks for it, finding at home at the end of the story.

Families will receive hand and finger puppets of Wags, the dog from the Jellybean Band, and they’ll have two jambourines to enjoy in the classroom and at home–one green and one purple. As in Our Kind of Day, each family will receive two home CDs; Sing, Play, & Grow; and two Jellybean Band books in a clear vinyl bag.

ENROLL BY DECEMBER 22nd TO RECEIVE THE EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT

Sign & Sing - New Classes!

NEW 5 WEEK SESSIONS START JANUARY 22nd!
6 months - 2 years

A different approach from other sign language programs. Through songs, toys, and loving playtime between you and your child, Kindermusik Sign & Sing shows you more than 50 signs your child can use to communicate with you.

Using research-proven methods shown to speed language development in hearing children, you'll see how sign language can ease frustration and enhance long-term learning abilities for your child.

Hearing children who know signs, learn language almost twice as fast. As early as 11-14 months old, hearing children exposed to sign language put little sentences together faster than non-signing children, who do not begin to combine words into short sentences, such as "Da-da car" until the average age of 20 months._Study conducted by Dr. Michelle Anthony and Dr. Reyna Lindert, Signing Smart program founders.

ENROLL BY DECEMBER 22nd TO RECEIVE THE EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT

May the Bells Ring On!

Connor has been attending Kindermusik Village With Seniors classes since the summer. One of his favourite instruments are the baby bells. He loves them so much, his mom bought a couple to take home. Apparently, he wouldn't let them go - not even for his nap!

If you would like to have some instruments at home, I am happy to sell them to you. I have lots of Kindermusik eggs, baby bells, small scarves, chiquita shakers, and rhythm sticks. Just send me an email and I will get them to you asap!

Kindermusik Egg Shaker $4

Baby Bells $4

Small Scarves $3

Chiquita Shakers $4

Rhythm Sticks $3

VILLAGE: Zoom Buggy Week 5

FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING

Steady Beat: Your baby loves listening to the steady beat when played, sung, or chanted. The draw of the steady beat may be its similarity to the heartbeat that she experienced up close for 9 months!

Freedom of Choice: Adult and baby will flourish in an environment where choices are given, movement is incorporated within the activity, and adult learns to adjust the stimulation to match baby’s temperament.

Vestibular System Stimulation: It is important to stimulate the vestibular system, the part of the brain that handles balance and the sense of gravity. Stimulation can occur through swinging, twisting, swaying, rocking, etc..

Experience: Your baby processes information from his personal experiences. He naturally responds to the stimuli in his environment, learns from past experiences, and adapts appropriately. Consistency of experience allows your baby to develop an increased comfort level within a group setting.

OUR TIME: Milk & Cookies Week 12

FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING:

Inhibitory Control: Activities which encourage children to move or stop moving in response to a cue help children develop inhibitory, or internal, control. The ability to control body movement is an important step toward developing self-discipline.

Social Competence & Satisfaction: “A child’s social competence and satisfaction cannot be viewed as isolated from the rest of her life. Studies show that children who participate in some type of high-level intellectual activity at some time during the day increase the richness and complexity of their spontaneous play. The child who engages in meaningful activities, is less prone to be discontented in other areas of her life, including her social relationships.” Fostering Children’s Social Competence: The Teacher’s Role, Lilian G. Katz and Diane E. McClellan

Fine Motor Skills: Fine motor skills may be developed through games requiring focus on finger movements. These skills are essential in increasing the child’s ability to turn pages of a book, use a crayon, hold a toothbrush, or use a spoon.

IMAGINE THAT! Hello Weather Week 12

FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING

Phonemic Awareness: The small units of speech that correspond to letters of an alphabetic writing system are called phonemes. Thus, the awareness that language is composed of these small sounds is termed phonemic awareness. Phonemic awareness is crucial in laying the groundwork for learning to read and write. In “All the Day Long”, the children are led to concentrate on a specific phoneme and to discover how it sounds and feels when spoken in isolation. Looking in the mirror supports their understanding of the articulation of these sounds.

Communication: Music is another abstract system of communication. By combining pretend play and movement with music, you are strengthening the power of that communication.

Family Time: Here, There, & Everywhere Week 7

FOUNDATIONS OF LEARNING

Recognizing Patterns: The world is full of patterns. Learning to recognize patterns means information – language, music, and movement – can be decoded, organized, and remembered more easily. As children develop pattern-recognition abilities, their learning potential is greatly enhanced because their brains are building skills in prediction and categorization, which can be applied to any new information they encounter.

Pretend Play: Imitation is the first stage of pretend play. As a child learns to imagine and imitate everyday life experiences, he is actively experimenting with the social and emotional roles of life. In their early years, children are just beginning to understand the difference between fantasy and reality. Imaginative play and acting out both familiar characters and fictional ones helps children begin to internalize this important distinction.

Visualization: Children have a natural ability to visualize with colourful, vivid images; rich imagination; and detailed action. Music provides a focal point which encourages children to relax and visualize. Next time you’re listening to music with your children, ask them to close their eyes and think of images, shapes, and colours. With each breath they take in, ask them to picture their bodies becoming filled slowly with a soothing colour. Activities like this help develop focus, concentration skills, and memory while reducing stress and anxiety.

What Newborns are Telling Us

I don't have TV, so I missed the Oprah show where they talked about how to hear what your newborn is telling you. But here's the video clip! As the mother of a 7 week old, I'm hearing these things a lot! I will definitely be paying more attention to what Piper is saying...

Another One...

OK - You have a Kindermusik mom to blame for this one!

The famous Olympic skier Picabo Street (pronounced Peek-a-boo) is not just an athlete.
She is now a nurse currently working at the Intensive Care Unit of a large metropolitan hospital.

She is not permitted to answer the hospital telephones any longer. It caused too much confusion when she would answer the phone and say: Picabo, I.C.U.

A good clean joke is hard to find these days ---pass it on! (Admit it...you're smiling)