Kindermusik with Suzanne

Go into the kitchen and take a peek!

Suzanne — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:52:31 +0000

This week in class we have been falling in love with ‘Go into the kitchen and take a peek’, as one of our good old favourites, and it’s on the agenda for next term too so we thought we’d remind ourselves of it.

Go into the kitchen and take a peek
Go out of the kitchen and tap your feet
Go into the kitchen and take a peek
Go out of the kitchen and swing your sweet

There’s peekaboo in there, vocabulary development, labelling of body parts and movments, AND it gives us all a bit of a giggle!

Above all we are allowing babies to develop their social skills; babies love to watch those around them and interact. We’ve alternated the peekaboo bit so they can see each other using peekaboo, and the shrieks we get!!
This is how they learn to function socially and respond to all types of interactions. These social dances give babies a chance to build on their social skills by being in an environment with parents and other babies all interacting with each other. Babies will acquire eye contact skills and develop hand/eye/brain co-ordination as they practice doing their own peekaboo too.

Huge hit in class, not just with the babies….. Our older boys and girls love it too, of course they have lots of suggestions of what they can do with their feet, not just tap them. We’ve got stamping, tip-toeing, wiggling, shaking, tickling. We go into the kitchen under the parachute, on top of the parachute and without – I wonder which they prefer?
x

Reading time & children

Suzanne — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:45:24 +0000

Reading to young children is such a valuable tool, not to mention a delightful activity with all kinds of benefits. Research shows that children who are read to do better in school, and that reading is also a calming, wonderful way for parents to bond with their children. Reading provides the experience of different types of language, rhythms, and sounds, as well as teaching about many topics that might not come up naturally in conversation.

Ideas for parents: Why not establish a “Reading Ritual” with your child? Make the ritual even more special by designating a reading chair, by setting aside a specific time each day to read, and by having a basket of favorite “read-aloud” books from which to choose. Even a few minutes a day spent reading to your child will have a lasting effect on your child’s emotional well-being and potential for academic success.- taken from Minds on Music; the official blog of Kindermusik International

Kindermusik and Your Child: Praise or Encouragement?

Suzanne — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:20:53 +0000

Children need feedback on the work they do. But how can we provide feedback most effectively? Conventional wisdom would espouse that constant praise is necessary in our child-rearing… but is it really the most effective way to provide that much-needed feedback?

There is actually new research that would indicate that constantly praising our children is backfiring and even undermining their confidence! Praise, by definition, is an expression of worth, approval, or admiration. It is usually given to a child when a task or deed is well done or completed. In an article entitled “Encouragement or Praise for Children?” written by Elvin Klassen (written as a resource for parents teaching overseas), the author suggests that encouragement , rather than praise, should be our goal as parents and educators.

Encouragement in its best form should be specific, focused on the process rather than the finished product, sincere, focused on the effort made, non-comparative, and enabling the child to develop an appreciation for his own achievements. For example, instead of “Sally, you’re such a nice girl” – encouragement would say “Sally, I noticed you shared with Molly today.” Remember, praise gives a value judgment and focuses on the person, while encouragement makes an observation about a behavior. We need to convey through words and gestures that we appreciate our child’s efforts and improvement, not just their accomplishments.
We can never underestimate the power of an encouraging word…or the right word spoken at the right time. Merriam-Webster defines encouragement this way: to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope; to hearten, urge, spur on, to stimulate, to give help. This is our goal as parents….and this is the goal each week of your Kindermusik teacher. When your child walks into her Kindermusik class, she will be encouraged, inspired, spurred on, stimulated…allowed to explore freely and to stretch and grow musically.

There are few environments that provide the concentrated opportunities both for educator and parent alike to encourage and boost a child’s self-esteem like Kindermusik provides. This is why the Kindermusik experience is so compatible with good parenting. Growing our children is like planting a seed deep in the soil. Rain is needed to make that seed grow. Think of encouragement as the rain that is showered upon a child’s heart. Just as the physical rain causes the seed to push up through the ground in spite of all the hardships, so the “rain” of encouragement showers the soul of a child causing him to bloom and grow into the beautiful personality he’s intended to be. – taken from Kindermusik Minds On Music; the official blog of Kindermusik International.

Looking for great kids gifts as you begin your Christmas shopping?

Suzanne — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 18:15:36 +0000

Give your child the gift of Kindermusik
Looking for great kids gifts as you begin your Christmas shopping?
Not sure what… to get your child this holiday?
Does your niece or nephew have everything?
Does your mother in-law need a gift idea?

We have a perfect (and easy) solution for babies, toddlers and pre-school children on your Christmas shopping list…… Kindermusik Gift Certificates!!!

The gift of a Kindermusik Music Class will be far more memorable than the latest toy or gadget. It is a gift that lasts for a whole term and the memories last a lifetime! Certificates can be written for any amount and never expire. They can be used towards a class deposit or the full amount.

There’s only 46902 minutes until Christmas!

Suzanne — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:44:11 +0000

Ready for Christmas?
So, only 46902 minutes until Christmas arrives, phew! Although by the time I’ve written this and posted it I’m sure we’ll be able to knock another 20 or so minutes off that.

Why do we get so hot and bothered in the run up to Christmas? Endless rushing around to prepare everything just so for ONE day? mmmm, well that’s usually me too out there madly dashing around like a headless chicken. But not this year. So, currently its November 22nd and I’ve bought precisely zero presents so far, have stocked no extra nibbles and goodies in the cupboard or freezer, haven’t got the Christmas day outfits for the whole family hanging up in the wardrobes (sparkles ‘an all). Not this year. Okay, I’ll admit that I have bought Christmas cards and had calendars printed for the various smattering of grandparents and aunties, ‘cos they really can’t be left until the last minute.

This year I’ve decided that the preparation for Christmas is not a solo affair, so I’ve enlisted the help of Mister Grumpy (the hubby) and my three teenage girls (haven’t told them yet). There’ll be ONE day to get the Christmas presents bought, next Sunday morning everyone will sit and write the cards (oh yes they will), so let’s see if we can make it a group contribution. Not convinced it’s going to be quite as smooth as my usual Christmas preparation but I’ll give it a go.

And with all the spare time that I save (ha) I’ll be able to start focusing on our exciting new spring 2012 term.

What role does music play in early development?

Suzanne — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:35:34 +0000

Friday morning babies enjoying scarf play at Kindermusik With Suzanne
What role does music play in early development?

Music has the ability to communicate in a way that goes far beyond our imagination. It can transfer a musical language containing all kinds of emotional and educational messages which can be understood unconciously by all babies worldwide, regardless of race or ethnic background. By presenting your baby the right mix of styles, melody, harmony and rhythm, the brain is stimulated into creating more connections, providing your baby a head start in life in various ways.

Are certain types of music better for my baby to listen to than others?

Yes. It is very important to choose the right music to play for your baby. Choosing the wrong music can have negative effects. Contrary to what most people believe, you should not play classical music for babies, as it was originally intended for grownups. Most recordings are too fast and too intense to be absorbed by a baby in a good way. However, by changing the orchestration and tempo, classical music can be successfully adapted for babies, offering wonderful benefits. As a parent, you need to avoid recordings that give no consideration to how babies will respond to the music. Kindermusik ensures that all music is adapted to suit baby’s sensitive young ears.

Sometimes it’s just nice to hear it from someone else isn’t it?

Suzanne — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:00:05 +0000

99% of Kindermusik parents would recommend the Kindermusik programme to other parents.
“These classes are great! Steven and I have been joining in with Kindermusik since he was just 7 weeks old, he’s now the ripe old age of 8 months, and we still love Kindermusik just as much. Both my partner and I are GP’s and we can see how the activities encourage and develop his hand/eye co-ordination, increase brain/eye messages but most of all we have such a laugh, which is the most important factor. As parents we all want the absolute best for our babies, and I can honestly say that I believe we are giving Steven the best possible start that we can, and attending this group is such an important part of our week. It allows us both to make new friends, spend quality time together (and as a working mum I adore our bonding time)doing something that we both love. Already we are looking forward to this new term,with all its new songs and dances. I don’t know what we would do without our weekly dose of Kindermusik With Suzanne.” – quote from www.familiesrecommend.co.uk

Sometimes its just nice to hear it from someone else isn’t it? So when I saw these comments left on the family friendly site it made me wonder,shouldn’t we all be singing from the rooftops when we are pleased with a service provided? Okay, so a little bit of own trumpet blowing here, but I’m talking about in general so we share with our friends when we find a brilliant hairdresser, restaurant, cobblers or car showroom? After a really positive experience at puppy training classes I was only too pleased to tell everybody I bumped in to when they admired my gorgeous puppy all about the brilliant puppy classes that I went to, even wrote the number down a few times. Is it rude to admire a friends beautifully manicured hands and ask where, how much and can I have the number? No, not in my book although I daresay others will disagree.

So many of our new families joining us this term have found us via friends, so clearly there are others out there like me who just love to share a positive experience. And with that in mind I’d like to say a HUGE thank you to all of our sharing families who just keep recommending us, I’m delighted that you are able to share.
x

If you’ve ever wondered just why music is so important in our lives, and most especially our children’s lives then take a look at this;

Suzanne — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 09:00:16 +0000

The benefits of music on early years development
If you’ve ever wondered just why music is so important in our lives, and most especially our children’s lives then take a look at this;

“Music and Emotional Development

Music is associated with our earliest memories, and experiences throughout our lives. It definitely has an emotional impact. Think of a song or piece of music that stirs up strong emotions every time you hear it. Almost no one is unaffected by its power on our moods.

Music has the ability to comfort and soothe children. Children will often sing to themselves as a way to self-soothe. You can use music to help calm your baby, or get your toddler to relax for naptime. If your preschooler is sleepy in the morning or sad, you can sing a song or play music that is cheery and makes them want to jump around and get moving.

Music and Physical Development

You can’t dance without music, right? Well, you can, but music makes it much more fun. Music and movement naturally go together. Children most naturally respond to music by moving and being active with it. Music helps children learn about rhythm, timing, orientation, and coordination. You can use music to get children marching.

Music and Cognitive Development

Toddlers and preschoolers love rhymes and songs. Not only do they enjoy them, but they help children learn about numbers, letters, and sounds. As children’s brains are developing at their fastest when they are very young, with 80 percent of brain development occurring by age 3, and 90 percent by age 5, music helps with making connections in the brain.

Although there is some controversy on exactly how much music affects children’s learning abilities, it is known that music is linked to improved math, language development, memory and reading skills. When children are creative and make up their own rhymes and songs, they are also building their knowledge of words and sounds. They are building the connections in the brain. It doesn’t matter what kind of music they hear or create, all music matters.”

Throw in the expertise of Kindermusik; a programme that has been educating children and their families since the 1960′s and you’ve got a lifetime of memories. Only a couple of years ago one of our Kindermusik families walked down the aisle on their wedding day to a piece of music very special to them, a Kindermusik song!

‘Tell me why the stars do shine
tell me why the ivy twines
tell me why the sky’s so blue
and I will tell you just why I love you’

ahhh. Now that’s a memory to treasure!

Suzanne
x

“The child who has hated singing since birth is now happily singing his own tunes…..we think its because of Kindermusik”

Suzanne — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:24:48 +0000

“The child who has hated singing since birth is now happily singing his own tunes… so we’ve spent the morning making a song bag. We think it’s because of Kindermusik” – this was emailed to me earlier this week by one of our lovely Kindermusik families.

When Charlie first joined us, a couple of terms ago, he was as most little boys are full of energy (certainly not shy) and we have experienced his blossoming through our movement to music. He had all the go go go, but hadn’t quite mastered the stop stop and stop. He was also quite selective about which segments of the class he joined in with, in fact he still is, but his parents are aware of the fact that this is how he chooses to learn. Whilst some children are very hands on learners, diving straight into absolutely everything immediately, some children prefer to take a step back and observe – an observational learning style. After discussing this with Charlie’s parents they supported this learning style, and it works really well. I love their approach; sometimes we are all up marching, swirling or twirling then we see Charlie, Mummy and Daddy sitting at the side watching patiently, chatting about what’s going on, ‘look how Isla marches, do you think she likes to march fast or slow?’ and ‘would you like to practice bouncing/marching at home?’.

So whether your child likes to march, jump, leap, twirl and whirl or just sit, discuss and take enormous pleasure in watching others its just fine with us. After all, there’s no right or wrong way to ‘do’ Kindermusik (aslong as there’s a smile on everyone’s face at the end of the class), remember that we bring our children up to be individuals so let’s allow them to be individuals.

But what if your child doesn’t join in with the class? Isn’t that a complete waste of time, energy, money? Try some of the activities at home, if your child re-creates the song/dance/bounce/activity at home then it looks like they’ve been absorbing that whole class (just like a sponge!) after all. Not all children join in with every activity in their class, and I’m quite happy for it to be that way. Do you know, I think I might just sneak off to the side and watch everyone one of these days……I’m sure I’ll learn a whole lot more!

“Rhymers will be readers: Its that simple.”

Suzanne — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:00:16 +0000

Nursery Rhymes

Best-selling author Mem Fox says “The importance of getting rhymes and songs into children’s heads can’t be over estimated”. “Rhymers will be readers: It’s that simple. Experts in literacy and child development have discovered that if children know 8 nursery rhymes by heart by the time they are 4 years old, they are usually amongst the best readers by the time they are 8”.
(Mem Fox, Reading Magic. Mariner Books 2001)
Hey, impressive stuff!
Kindermusik classes use a HUGE varied range of music, which includes traditional nursery rhymes aswell as music from far flung places such as Japan, India, New Zealand, Mexico to name but a brief few. In this term’s Peekaboo I Love You programme (0-18 months) we’ve got Hickory Dickory Dock, Jack & Jill, Eensy Weensy Spider and Wheels on the Bus for the traditionalists (that’s also half of your nursery rhyme quota for becoming a better reader), and the totally fabulous Skinnamarinki, Love Somebody and I See You that will be familiar to so many Kindermusik families. So that takes us up until Christmas (sorry, I know its far too soon to be mentioning the Ch word),with dancing, bouncing, singing, relaxing and a fair bit of chat too.
Of course nothing stops you both from taking a spin around the kitchen to Rihanna, clapping along to the steady beat with Take That or exercising the vocal chords along with Adele. After all music is music and its there for the enjoyment of. That’s just what we do at Kindermusik. Enjoy.