A Stocking Stuffer that Isn’t More Stuff…
This year for the holidays, consider a gift that takes up no extra room on the toy shelf, offers more value than the shiniest plastic toy, and supports music education in your local community. Plus, it is sure to hold your child’s interest for longer than any other present they unwrap. This year, consider a gift certificate for classes with “Kindermusik with Joy”.
You can’t put a price on your child’s growth and development. And despite what songs and movies might say, money can’t buy you love. But, our award winning early childhood education program will put a smile on your child’s face, a love of music in her heart, and give you both memories to last a lifetime.
For more information on how to purchase a gift certificate for someone you love, contact, Joy Granade or Darcy Maret at kindemusikwithjoy@gmail.com or 913-322-3703. Classes for newborn to 7 yrs.
Out and About in KC: Favorite Holiday Activities for the Under 5 Set
by lalofont used by Creative Commons License via Flickr
“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, doorbells and sleighbells, and warm woolen mittens, brown paper packages tied up with string, these are few of my favorite things.” Gets you in the Holiday spirit doesn’t it. I have such great memories of watching The Sound of Music with my family at this time of year growing up. Well, here are some Kansas City favorite things to do with the under 5 crowd during the Holiday Season, with a little something for everyone I hope. (Recommendations come from both our family and several other families in the Kindermusik program. If you have others you’d like to share, we’d love to hear them. Just add them in the comments here or on our Facebook page.):
Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Holiday Luminary Walk
Dec. 2-3, 5 – 8:30 pm
Now while I can’t say I’ve been to this special walk, the Gardens themselves are lovely, and I have been to similar walks in other states and loved them. Admission $7 per person. Kids 5 and under free.
Journey to Bethlehem at 2nd Presbyterian Church
Friday, Dec. 2, 7-9 pm
Saturday, Dec. 3, 5-7 pm
I have driven past the sign on Brookside Boulevard for years, but only two years ago did our family decide to find out what “Journey to Bethlehem” is all about. I must say I was very impressed with this 45-min walk-through of the story of the birth of Christ. We felt truly immersed in the story as we turned in our “census” to the Roman rulers, “bought” things at the Bethlehem market, and then were led by a shepherd all over Bethlehem to see the exciting events of that first Christmas. As an additional treat, I recently learned to one of our longtime Kindermusik families is involved with their two kiddos as performers each year. My kids loved it. However, I recommend attending well diapered and fed as you may have to stand in line for quite a while. Admission free to all.
A Very Important Christmas Pageant and Birthday Party for Jesus at St. Andrew’s Episcopal
Sunday, Dec. 18 – come see the pageant from 9:15-10 am and stay for a Birthday Party for Jesus
The angel squadron has been gathered. News of peace and joy are to be shared with a young girl named Mary, with shepherds on the hill, and the whole world. And this isn’t just any news. This is the VERY IMPORTANT message announcing the story of the birth of Jesus Christ!
Come watch as the children of St. Andrew’s Sunday School classes present this year’s VERY IMPORTANT Christmas pageant from 9:15-10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, in the undercroft! (After attending St. Andrew’s All Hallow’s Eve Party, the super fun “Boo Bash” last year I would expect this to be a delightful time. Glenda, the Children’s Minister at St. Andrew’s is so lovely and welcoming.)
Dec. 3, 9: o0 am – noon – Fun with Santa and Mrs. Claus
Enjoy a Chris Cakes style pancake breakfast when you come out to meet Old St. Nick. Afterward, make a craft to take home, join Mrs. Claus for storytelling and admire the Victorian display in the conservatory. Then bundle up for a ride on the outdoor mini-train (weather permitting). Reservations are required.
Call for reservations: 816-697-2600 x209 Members age 4 & under $5, Members age 5-12 $6, Members 13 & up $8, Non members age 4 & under $7, Non members age 5-12 $9, Non members age 13 & up $13
Dec. 10-11, 5:30-7 pm - Luminary Walk
Another fabulous garden to check out is Powell Gardens, though it is a bit of a drive, so you might plan to go and stay for a while if possible. Having been to other events they have held in the past, I feel sure their Luminary Walk will be beautiful. Enjoy live holiday music, homemade cookies and hot chocolate by the fireside and a walk along a candlelit path to the peaceful Marjorie Powell Allen Chapel. Admission $7/adults, $6/seniors, $3 children 5-12, children under 5 free, free for members. While you’re at the Gardens, be sure to ride the Trolley (really our favorite part.)
Every year we make a trip during the Holiday season to Union Station to see the enormous 8,000 square foot holiday model railroad exhibit. There is also a fun train ride around a huge Christmas tree at the end of the Grand Hall and special events going on all the time. Admission to the Model Railroad Experience is free. Other charges may apply to special appearances, exhibits, and train rides. (p.s. Memberships are great and can give you some nice discounts if you have a kid who likes Science City, like we do.)
Hope these ideas will help you create a few special family traditions to share for years to come!
Thanksgiving Road Trip – Kindermusik Style
by WishUponACupcake via Creative Commons License/Flickr
Don’t Forget!
There will be no classes the entire week of Thanksgiving, November 21-26.
But just because we’re closed doesn’t mean you can’t take Kindermusik on the Road. We’ve got some perfect ideas for filling the long hours for a trip to Grandma’s. You’d be amazed how much time a Kindermusik CD or two and a few of your favorite activities can fill.
Tips:
- Load up your CD player or iPod/MP3 Player with Kindermusik Favorites.
- Give every activity a try. You might be surprised at which ones appeal on the road. I know I was shocked to find out that those same “Warm-Up Exercises” from the Village class I couldn’t ever get my little guys to sit still for brought peals of laughter when they were restrained in a carseat!
- Don’t be afraid to shout out a little Kindermusik in the airport. People love it, and anyone would much rather see a singing, giggling child than one who is whining or fussing. (Yes, I have been known to break into actual Kindermusik dances while waiting to board a plane. Anything to keep a crying child soothed. Plus, it worked.)
- Remember, everyone gets tired of sitting too long, and adapted fingerplays and movement activities are great for getting the blood flowing as well as raising everyone’s spirits. If you’re in Village, think about trying the “Pig Jig” chant or “Toodala”. Kids from Our Time might get a kick out of “Johnny & Katie”, “The Frog in the Bog” or “All By Myself”. Imagine That! kids might love “Three Blue Pigeons” (as a fingerplay) or even making up silly words with the song “Allee Galloo.” Even circle songs like “All the Day Long” or “Ha, Ha, This A-Way” can be done in the car or on a plane, though it sometimes means stomping into thin air.
- Last but not least, use your favorite lullabies to help soothe your little one to sleep.
With a few songs from class you can turn a long day on the road into a time to build memories and make connections you’ll share together forever.
Easiest Reenrollment Ever!
The Story: An Old Complicated, Stressful System
Usually at this point in the semester we start putting up signup sheets and sending out emails reminding you to reenroll. There are special weeks for currently enrolled families and new families and families with siblings and families changing classes, and it is all very complicated. We always have a huge number of waiting lists for classes (12 this semester), so people scramble to call the day we open enrollment to get into the class they want or to save their spot, and it’s more than a little stressful. Oddly, with all the stress and scramble and complicated procedures the end result is this: Between 70 and 80% of our current families reenroll, and most of those families reenroll for the exact same class day and time.
Okay, so that seems a little silly to make you go through a rather stressful, complicated process to get almost exactly where we started. So, we thought we’d simplify things a little for everyone.
A Simple Solution: Your Space is Saved Till You Tell Us You Don’t Want It
Since 7 or 8 out of 10 of you want to reenroll, we’re just going to reenroll everyone. And then the 2 or 3 of you who don’t want to reenroll can just tell us, and we’ll open those spots up to new families.
Starting Oct. 31 (Halloween) you can bring in your $65 deposit (per child) to reserve your spot for Spring. No need to sign anything. You’re already reenrolled in your current class day/time/agegroup for Spring. If you’re signed up for automatic payments online, we will run your credit card for the charges on Nov. 14. (Want to be set up for automatic payments? Just tell us. We’ll be happy to help.)
Enrollment will Open to the Public and Become Available Online November 16.
Questions?
We need to move up to the next agegroup. What do we do? No problem! We actually have already been making a list of kids who need to move up. We’ll be talking to you during these next two weeks to find the best fit for you for Spring in terms of day and time. In many cases we should be able to get you into a class on the exact same day just at a different time. Piece of cake.
We need to switch days. Can we still do that? Absolutely. We will do our best to help you find another day that fits your schedule for spring. Just let us know. To ensure we get your request, call 913.322.2151 or email us at kindermusikwithjoy@gmail.com
We aren’t able to continue for Spring. What should we do? While we are sad you won’t be able to continue classes with us for Spring, we completely understand that sometimes life intervenes. We request that you notify us before November 14 via phone at 913.322.2151 or via email at kindermusikwithjoy@gmail.com. That’s all you have to do. If we haven’t heard from you by then, we’ll assume you plan to continue, and you will be charged the non-refundable $65 deposit for Spring.
Spring Schedule: January 17 – May 7
(No classes March 12-16 for Spring Break.)
Doing things this way will also allows us to release our Spring Schedule slightly early. As you’ll notice when you follow the link, there will only be a few changes. In order to accommodate the large number of toddlers we have moving up, we are adding two new Our Time classes (ages 18 months – 3 years) : Tuesdays at 10:15 am and Fridays at 9:15 am, and we are moving the Friday 9:15 am Village class (ages 0-18 months) to Wednesdays at 11:15 am.
Look at Me! Look at Me!
“Becoming a careful observer of young children reminds us that what might be ordinary at first glance is actually quite extraordinary. A string of “ordinary” moments for a child becomes like a bead on a necklace, each one unique, though related to the others, combining to create a work of wonder.” – from The Art of Awareness by Deb Curtis and Margie Carter
When you look at your child, what do you see? Perhaps it’s the shiny blue eyes that mirror your own. Maybe it’s that familiar nose or the dark, wavy hair. And maybe you see a budding teacher, artist or musician. But what else do you see?
Every day your child is doing something or saying something that provides a beautiful window into her developing traits and personality. During the preschool years, your child’s wondrous individuality is truly beginning to form.
Christopher was thrilled about the classroom “trip” to the imaginary Grasshopper Park. When the children were asked what animal they saw in the park, the other children responded with bird, squirrel, dog, cat, skunk. Christopher, on the other hand, saw a dinosaur — the same dinosaur he saw on a recent family trip to Science City. And that’s how it goes in class, whether your child is 6 months or 6 years, we want to encourage a lot of individuality, creativity, and personal expression as we work to foster a classroom that truly “follows the child.”
Following the Child is a Montessori concept expressing the idea that children learn best when they are allowed to lead and even direct the learning experience. What does that look like in the classroom?
- A baby claps his hands at the start of class leading the teacher to say “Are you ready to clap hello today, Will?”
- Teachers constantly monitor and choose to extend activities, repeat activities, or move on based on the reactions and inclinations of the children.
- Babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids are all given the opportunity to explore and discover how props or instruments might be used on their own. “Look at how Sarah is rolling her sticks on the floor. Sam likes to use his sticks to tap his knees. Eli is making the letter L with his sticks.” The kids ideas are then incorporated into the following activity.
- Older toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids begin to add to stories and songs creating new ideas and verses.
- Movement exploration is often built from the kids’ ideas and extended from there.
And the kids love it. Not only does it mean class often moves in a direction that interests them, but the validation is satisfying. Listen to the rising confidence in your child’s voice as she expresses her opinions during class. Such expression will help her as she begins to pick out different sounds while listening to a song and then describe which sounds she likes and why. Take note of his original thoughts and ideas – and how he relates a concept to a previous learning experience. Then watch his face light up as his idea is utilized in class. Sometimes the teacher even thinks their ideas are important enough to write them down! That must mean his ideas are really special!
Kindermusik allows your child to express his thoughts, actions, and imagination in his own way. There is no right or wrong. By soliciting and incorporating a child’s ideas and feelings into each lesson, we are affirming that their thoughts and ideas are important and worth exploring. Each little success is noticed and celebrated.
And you can “follow the child” at home, too. Now’s the time to “stop, look, and listen” as your child begins to cross the street of independence and individuality. More importantly, you can cross the street with him by taking some steps to help nurture his budding originality. For example:
- Let your baby take the lead as you play peekaboo, determining how long the game goes one, whether you hide or she does. When her interest wanes, let her show you what she wants to play next.
- Listen closely and respond to your toddlers thoughts and ideas – let her lead the way when it comes to navigating around the zoo…or let her make up the rules to the game.
- Encourage the “process” by allowing your preschoolers to “try,” then offer positive reinforcement for his effort.
- Solicit your big kid’s opinions on various subjects – why does she like or dislike a certain song or type of music?
Not only does “following the child” provide greater creativity, independence, and problem solving skills, but it also helps you stop and tune in more fully to all those moments you share together helping you make memories that last a lifetime.
The Green Hour for Little Ones
photo by gemsling used with Creative Commons license via Flickr
Leaves, feathers, rocks, and birds. These themes keep popping up these days in class. That means, it’s time to get outside.
In the last few years, parenting experts and health experts alike have been championing “the green hour” with the recommendation that children get outdoors for an hour each day in order to experience a happier and healthier life. Truly, time outside often provides exercise as well as necessary Vitamin D and helps children and adults sleep better. You can’t beat it. Well, here this week are a 10 fast and fun things to do with your sweet ones out of doors.
1. Go on a nature walk. Kids of all ages adore nature walks. Whether you have a small or large yard, take a walk around the block, or head to a park, there is always something new to discover: blades of grass, sticks and stones, tiny bugs, mud puddles, dewdrops, spider webs, sirens, airplanes, and on and on. Follow your child’s lead as you explore. This week you might especially enjoy exploring leaves – touching them, talking about the colors, and of course crunching them with hands or even more fun, with stomping feet!
2. Start a collection. Find a place in your home to share natural treasures. Toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids especially love bringing bits of the outside in to enjoy, and they never seem to care whether they’ve found flowers or weeds. Pull out a vase, a jar, or a bowl to fill with some of the prizes from your explorations. This time of year you might even go to a pumpkin patch together to gather gourds or pumpkins to decorate your home, but even rocks, twigs, and colorful leaves can make great displays to which your children will be delighted to contribute.
3. Pull out the sidewalk chalk. Use sturdy cardstock or old file folders to make stencils or draw free form. Use the opportunity to talk about shapes, colors, and even letters.
4. Start a leaf fight. As the leaves slowly begin to pile up in your yard, take the opportunity to get outside for plenty of jumping in leaf piles and having good ole leaf throwing fests.
5. Visit a garden. We often forget about gardens this time of year, but Kansas City is full of beautiful gardens with great activities for kids. Two of our favorites include Powell Gardens and the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Powell Gardens has fun scarecrows on display through the end of October. Both gardens also have nature trails if you’d prefer a traditional hike.
6. Plant flowers or herbs. As the seasons change it can be a great time to plant bulbs for spring, mums for fall, or even transplant herbs to bring indoors for cooking. Let your kids help. They love having permission to get dirty and get a chance to learn a little science along the way.
7. Take a trip to an orchard or pumpkin patch. The metro area here is ripe for harvest. Some favorite pumpkin patches with games, rides, food, and even trains include: Carolyn’s Country Cousins, Faulkner’s Pumpkin Farm, or for a more traditional pumpkin patch without all the frills check out Pumpkins Etc.. If you prefer apple cider and apple doughnuts alongside or instead of your pumpkin picking check out Weston Red Barn Farm, Louisburg Cider Mill, or Schweizer Orchards.
8. Put out birdseed. Whether you simply sprinkle a bit of seed on your deck or build your own bird feeder, sharing some seed guarantees you’ll have birds (and perhaps a few squirrels) come to visit your yard. Be sure to set food near a window where you can see and enjoy the show! When the birds stop by for a visit, talk about their colors, different bird songs, and what they might do or eat. You could even draw some pictures or sing some of your favorite bird (and even squirrel) songs from Kindermusik.
9. Go see the animals. Perhaps you caught a glimpse of some of your favorite farm animals when you were at the orchards or pumpkin patches, but if not, you might think about taking a trip to Deanna Rose Farmstead or even the Zoo. And if you’re taking a baby along, be sure to look up some of your favorite animal signs with this handy online video dictionary before you head out. Animals are always great motivators for teaching babies to sign!
10. Watch the clouds. We all need to stop and rest and just soak it in for a bit. What better way than to look for cloud shapes with your cuties. While preschoolers and big kids are more likely to help you pick out shapes and pictures, even babies and toddlers might sit for a minute and rest with you and talk about the sun and the sky and the clouds.
So, get out and enjoy this amazing weather. Whether you use one or ten of these ideas, you’re sure to make memories that last a lifetime!
Leaves and Tickles for Lunch
photo by simonnjulia used by Creative Commons license via Flickr
I was quietly reading my new book when I was attacked. A handful of leaves was suddenly thrust in my face followed by tons of giggles. Up goes the book. Up comes tired mom, and I’m off for a leaf-throwing tickle-fest with my three year old. It was utterly unproductive in the midst of what needed to be a productive day. It was utterly unplanned in a week full of dates and clocks and schedules. And it was exactly what we both needed. Tickles and leaves postponed our lunch as we soaked up the sun. It was perfect. And I thought, “Wow. I should find a way to do this everyday.”
I’ve read a lot of parenting books emphasizing the importance of giving your child presence in an activity. Taking time to spend a moment together with your child when they have 100% of your attention can greatly improve behavior, aid in development, enhance that all important bonding. But the truth is, it just feels good. Somehow to me it always feels like one of those moments when time stands still because you’re absolutely head over heels in love with the little person in your life. Who doesn’t love that feeling? So, I made a decision today to find a way to make space for these moments every day. I know it will happen when I carve out some time to do a little bit of nothing together. No agenda. No aims to get in as much good for your brain activities as possible. No distractions like phones or the internet or the TV. No demands for a snack or a nap. Just a few minutes to just be 100% together.
How ’bout it? Got a minute to try it now. I know that’s where I’m headed. See you after my next leaf fight.
A-ha! Lukey’s Got a Rockin’ Band
In honor of our fun “Our Time” kiddos:
Using Hugs to Keep Us Healthy
Want to keep your child healthy and happy? Bring on the hugs! And set aside time for lots of loving touch in the form of backrubs, snuggles, and out and out massage.
Research suggests that touch is as important to your child’s growth as are eating and sleeping. In fact, babies who are not touched at all typically do not grow at a normal pace. Touch is of utmost importance to your child’s well-being.
Creating a Bond
One beautiful way to create special bonding is through loving touch, which can be experienced in a variety of ways. Just think of all the time that you were brought closer to a friend or a loved one with close eye contact and a gentle touch, whether it was a hug, an arm around the shoulder, or even just holding hands. That’s because hugs create oxytocin, sometimes called “the bonding hormone”. Oxytocin is a hormone that produces a feeling of calm and comfort in addition to promoting feelings of security and trust in a relationship. Sharing in gentle massage, rubbing backs, or rocking together can this effect. Through the eye contact, skin contact, and speech or song associated with these loving touches, both you and your child can achieve a state of relaxation and calm. And the bond between you can be nurtured. “Touch is your [child’s] first language. Through the nurturing touch of massage, you communicate deep love and respect to your child in a language he or she understands well.” - Nurturing Touch, by Kalena Babeshoff, C.M.T. and Juliana Dellinger-Belovek, M.S.E., p. 17.
Physical Benefits of Intentional Touch
In addition to facilitating emotional bonding, loving touch has many physical benefits. The skin is the largest organ of the body and has all sorts of nerve sensors for touch making the effects of touch very far reaching. Massage experts and researchers report that massage:
- encourages relaxation and lowers stress hormone levels (cortisol), heart rate, and blood pressure;
- produces significantly better growth rate (up to 47% higher for pre-term babies);
- improves circulation;
- strengthens the immune system and increases the number of white blood cells;
- builds muscle tone;
- reduces stress responses and levels of pain in painful procedures including vaccines;
- reduces pain associated with teething and constipation;
- reduces colic;
- helps induce sleep;
- improves allergies in the form of atopic dermatitis;
- helps improve the symptoms of ADHD and autism;
- keeps blood sugar levels in check;
- is valuable for children of all ages.
Cognitive Benefits of Loving Touch
Loving Touch builds a better brain. Whenever your child is touched in a loving way, Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), a hormone in the brain, is produced causing more development of nerve nests in the nervous system. Intentional touch also promotes nerve myelination, making for better mind to body communication. Massage of the back provides stimulation to an area that is vitally important to child development. As the back is stimulated, it stimulates the growth of nerves all over the body. (Carla Hannaford, interview with Kindermusik International Creative Team, Tape Recording, BrownsSummit, NC, 18 Jan 2000) Even more interesting, massage not only improves cognitive development but also cognitive performance. One study showed that children performed better on a series of cognitive tests after just 15 minutes of massage as compared with their peers.
Touch in Class
Kindermusik feels so strongly about the importance of touch on the development of your child, that we’ve made a point to include it in class. That’s because loving touch benefits everyone, no matter how old you are.
- Touch for Babies: The warm-up activities and gentle massage at the beginning of each Village class as well as the rocking time or quiet time later in class can all include loving touch. Scientific research tells us that this time of loving touch stimulates the regulation of healthy levels of a stress hormone in Baby’s brain. In Kindermusik Village, intentional touch activities also provide the opportunity to watch others for new ideas of ways to participate. In class, Baby may not always be comfortable with this activity. If this is the case, find other ways to interact during this time such as bouncing with a steady beat or walking slowly together to the music. Then consider trying to incorporate loving touch activities at home when Baby is not distracted by the classroom environment.
- Touch for Toddlers and Big Kids: For toddlers in Our Time, we include rocking time each week in class, which also makes a perfect moment for snuggles, backrubs, and even a little gentle massage. But the space we make for touch doesn’t end there, even in the big kid classes, you’ll find time for partner activities with lots of high fives, tickles, hugs, and eye contact, circle dances with holding hands, and even the occasional rocking time. It’s a great reminder that any touch, no matter how small is beneficial.
Intentional Touch Everyday
Loving touch can easily become part of your everyday routine with your child.
Some tips for loving touch:
- Set the mood for massage by playing your Home CD or other quiet music.
- Set aside a small area for massage. Put a blanket on the floor and have lots of pillows so you are comfortable, too.
- Make it a ritual to practice massage every night before bed or after a bath. The soothing effects will be good for both of you.
- Consistency will promote a stronger sense of enjoyment and fulfillment.
- The bond between a child and a caregiver is be strengthened through intentional touch, so allow different caregivers to take part in the sessions.
- Remember to massage different parts of your child’s body – backs, feet, legs, arms. For babies the practice of making an “M” or heart shape on Baby’s chest while massaging is especially soothing.
- Accompany intentional touch with quiet singing or humming.
- Give hugs and lots of them.
- Enjoy toe tickles, partner songs and games, and circle dances holding hands.
- Snuggle.
To read more about the benefits of touch, check out these great websites:
http://www6.miami.edu/touch-research/ChildMassage.html
http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/05/touching.makes.you.healthier.health/index.html
Ms. Darcy’s Hubby – YouTube Sensation
You may or may not have heard by now, but Ms. Darcy’s sweet hubby, Kevin Maret has become a YouTube and talk show sensation with his Missouri Air Force Band! Kevin finished his Doctorate of Musical Arts at the UMKC – Convservatory last year in percussion. In addition to his many other roles as teacher and performer, he leads the Missouri Air Force Band called Sidewinder, who just got back from a big tour among the troops. Here is playing djembe (the drum) with his group on Ellen yesterday! So fun!
Classes
descriptions and tips for finding the best fit
