"Kindermusikal" Musings

2011-05-27T18:40:00.002-06:00

Highlands Ranch, CO – Lisa Fultz has been named a Maestro (Mezzanine Level) by Kindermusik International, the world’s leading publisher of music and movement programs.
Fultz is an early childhood specialist at Pathways Creative Arts. Fultz teaches Kindermusik at the Trails Recreation Center, Belly Bliss, Bright Horizons Montessori Schools in Denver and the Montessori School of Aurora. The Maestro award recognizes excellence as a Maestro Producer. The Mezzanine Level Maestro recognition is reserved for educators who serve a significant number of children.
“The Kindermusik Maestro has a mission: helping children become better learners and helping parents understand how to help them reach their highest potential,” said Michael Dougherty, CEO at Kindermusik International.
Fultz joins the elite company of the 300 Maestros identified as the top Educators of the over 5,000 licensed educators in the world who teach Kindermusik’s music and movement curricula. Fultz began providing Kindermusik in January of 2006. Today Fultz teaches the learning program to over 100 families.
“In the last year, I grew my program by instituting the three ‘p’s. (ppp) No, not the musical dynamic marking Pianississimo meaning very, very soft, but the three ‘p’s that I live my business by. Passion, Persistence and Patience. These three ‘p’s are at the core of my belief system regarding my business and I believe they have contributed to my success as a Kindermusik Educator. I believe in Kindermusik. Why? Because it makes a difference in children’s lives! I love Kindermusik! I truly love what I do and have adopted a motto for myself. “LOVE WHAT YOU DO, DO WHAT YOU LOVE.” I am passionate about the cause of Kindermusik which nurtures a child's cognitive, emotional, social, language, and physical development. ” said Fultz.
The Maestro Program recognizes licensed Kindermusik educators who master one of three levels in early childhood development: fast-growing programs, outstanding community service, and teaching excellence.

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Kindermusik International is the world’s leading publisher of music and movement curricula for parents and their children, newborn to 7 years old. More than 5,000 licensed educators use the Kindermusik curricula in more than 63 countries, reaching more than 1 million families. The award-winning books, CDs, games, and instruments are based on more than 30 years of experience creating curricula based on new and proven research in child development, designed to nurture skills in the whole child: cognitive, physical, social, emotional, language and musical.
For more information about Lisa Fultz’s program, contact lisa.pathways@gmail.com

Fingerplays for Fine Motor Skills | eHow.com

2011-04-14T21:54:00.000-06:00

Fingerplays for Fine Motor Skills | eHow.com

Village classes now at Belly Bliss

2010-10-04T20:16:00.000-06:00

Kindermusik Now at Belly Bliss in Cherry Creek North

2010-10-04T20:02:00.001-06:00

Books for Laughing Together

2010-08-24T08:16:00.001-06:00

Books for Laughing Together

By jzambrano@naeyc.org
Created 08/06/2010 - 03:09
August 5, 2010

Young children find humor in ridiculous situations, silly rhymes, and word plays. To get the joke, they need to use their thinking skills and draw on their knowledge and experiences; they must understand that a situation is absurd before they can find it funny. Sharing a joke is a great way to strengthen family ties. These books and activities will have you and your child laughing together in no time.

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems. 2003.
When the bus driver takes a break, he asks the reader to do one thing: “Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus.” Sounds easy enough, but the very determined pigeon tries everything to get behind the wheel, including, “No fair! I bet your mom would let me.” Children enjoy shouting out “No!” in response to the pigeon’s persistent requests. The illustrations are hilarious, and your child will readily identify with the pigeon’s pleading tone while at the same time recognizing that the pigeon is being ridiculously unreasonable.

Create your own humorous stories. As you read, stop and ask questions, like, “What makes this book funny?” “Would it still be funny if the pigeon’s requests were more sensible?” “Why [or why not]?”
When the story is over, you and your child can write your own silly tale. Then read the finished story aloud and illustrate it with crayons or markers. With a younger child, the two of you can simply enjoy the warmth and pleasure that laughing together brings.

I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont. Illus. by David Catrow. 2005.
To the tune of “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More,” this book depicts an exuberant boy whose mama tells him, “Ya ain’t gonna paint no more,” after catching him painting pictures on the floors and walls, ceiling and furniture. But this boy just can’t help himself as he joyously paints his face, neck, arms, and more.

Think up new rhymes. When reading, invite your child to join in the fun and finish a rhyme. For example, when you read, “Aw, what the heck! Gonna paint my ______,” ask, “Can you think of a rhyme to add?”

Paint a mural. The illustrations in this book are particularly lively, and the paintings really do look like the work of a young child. After reading the book, tape a long sheet of paper to an outdoor fence or unroll it in the park or on the sidewalk. Provide paint and brushes, and see what the book’s illustrations inspire your child to paint. Or break out the bathtub crayons, and your child can create a mural while taking a bath.

A Isn’t for Fox: An Isn’t Alphabet, by Wendy Ulmer. Illus. by Laura Knorr. 2007.
“D isn’t for crow; it isn’t for snow. D is for dragons from times long ago.” This alphabet book has a sense of humor. You may be surprised by how often your child recognizes that the words do not match the letter. It’s fun for children to have an opportunity to show you what they know.

Mismatch and match letters with words. Invite your child to try his own matches and mismatches for alphabet letters. After reading a page, ask him to add his own isn’t and is words. Say, “What else isn’t D for?” or “What other words begin with D?” Offer paper, markers, and other materials for creating an alphabet book with mismatches and matches.

Oxytocin: Its a Mom and Pop Thing

2010-08-22T07:52:00.001-06:00

ScienceDaily (2010-08-20) -- The hormone oxytocin has come under intensive study in light of emerging evidence that its release contributes to the social bonding that occurs between lovers, friends, and colleagues. Oxytocin also plays an important role in birth and maternal behavior, but until now, research had never addressed the involvement of oxytocin in the transition to fatherhood. Click here to read full article.

Music influences the neuronal development in children

2010-02-19T07:58:00.002-07:00

Neurons are the oldest and longest cells in the body! You have many of the same neurons for your whole life. Although other cells die and are replaced, many neurons are never replaced when they die. In fact, you have fewer neurons when you are old compared to when you are young. On the other hand, data published in November 1998 show that in one area of the brain (the hippocampus), new neurons CAN grow in adult humans.

Neurons can be quite large - in some neurons, such as corticospinal neurons (from motor cortex to spinal cord) or primary afferent neurons (neurons that extend from the skin into the spinal cord and up to the brain stem), can be several feet long!

Music influences the neuronal development in children

It was Luciano Pavarotti who said, "If children are not introduced to music at an early age, I believe something fundamental is actually being taken from them." Music affects mood, concentration, creativity, and influences the ability to learn.

Neuronal connections in the brain of the infant and young child are formed through experiences and strengthened through repetitions until predictable pathways of cognitive processing are established. Once these pathways are formed, it is as though they are hardwired and cannot be changed without much effort. Music and rhythm is essential to the developing brain as it helps to create and strengthen more neural connections that allow for auditory processing. The act of processing music stimuli elaborates these neural connections in the brain, influencing processing quality of auditory stimuli over the lifetime.

We Love Kindermusik!

2010-02-02T14:20:00.002-07:00

Does Music Make My Child Smarter?

2010-01-24T15:04:00.002-07:00

Yes, it does. When learning a song, a musical instrument, or a dance step, your child experiences the unique integration of body and mind that music provides. Sensory integration is a crucial factor in children's learning readiness for school subjects such as reading, writing, and math. Music improves spatial-temporal reasoning (See the M.I.N.D. Institute research), a neurological process needed to understand mathematics.

Active Learning

2010-01-16T13:07:00.001-07:00

ACTIVE LEARNING

It has been said that on average we remember

20% of what we read

30% of what we hear

40% of what we see

50% of what we say

60% of what we do

90% of what we see, hear, say and do

(Source - Accelerated Learning for the 21^st Century by Colin Rose and Malcolm J. Nicholl)

Save 20% on Young Child when 6 children enroll

2009-12-15T10:45:00.001-07:00

Why Music Video

2009-12-11T11:38:00.001-07:00

Why Music ">Video

Children need spinach, so we put it in ice cream

2009-12-08T08:22:00.001-07:00

As the original music and movement program for children, we understand that children learn best when they can see it, hear it, touch it, and then express it in their own creative ways. Each week in class, a trained Kindermusik educator leads families through research-proven and giggle-approved activities using music as the vehicle for learning.

The learning continues throughout the week with the home materials, including a CD, storybooks, Family Activity Guide, instruments, and more. Plus, we provide you with weekly parent education and resources, including developmental emails and in-class tips so that you know how each activity contributes to your child’s overall growth and development.

Why Is Movement So Important?

2009-12-07T13:42:00.011-07:00

Smart Moves by Carla Hannaford

Movement is essential to learning. Movement integrates and anchors new information into our neural networks.Every time we move in an organized . . . manner, full brain activation and integration occurs, and the door to learning opens.To "pin down" a thought, there must be movement. A person may sit quietly to think, but to remember a thought, an action must be used to anchor it. We must materialize it with words. When I write, I'm making connections with thought by moving my hand.When we talk about what we've learned, the physical movements internalize and solidify it in nerve networks. Acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, is released across synapses of activated neurons to stimulate muscle function during talking. (This) . . . stimulates and attracts dendritic growth in the area, thus increasing nerve networks. Many of us have a distinct tendency to think better and more freely while engaged in a repetitive, low concentration physical task. I've heard people say that they think best when they are swimming laps in a pool, taking a walk, or while shaving.

We have known for years that children who miss the vitally important crawling stage may exhibit learning difficulties. Crawling, a cross-lateral movement, activates development of the corpus callosum (the nerve pathways between the two hemispheres of the cerebrum).

In a study of more than 500 Canadian children, students who spent an extra hour each day in gym class performed notably better on exams than less active children.

Movement facilitates the development of increased blood vessels that carry learning-essential water, oxygen and nutrients to the brain.

From the earliest grades, school children are taught not to move their bodies during class. Breaks should be . . .taken every 7-10 minutes where the eyes can reestablish three-dimensional and peripheral vision in a relaxed way.

Why Music?

2009-12-06T11:00:00.001-07:00

“Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
- poet and author Berthold Auerbach

Fun Holiday Activity

2009-12-06T10:53:00.004-07:00

Looking for a fun, creative holiday activity for your kiddos at home during the holidays? I ran across this the other day and thought I would share it. It's fun and inexpensive as well!

Fragrant Cloved Oranges

Oranges
Cloves
Ribbon
Toothpicks

1. Press cloves into oranges in a decorative pattern.

2. Push ribbon through top of orange with toothpick. Loop, tie and hang, or display in a dish.

Musical Solutions to Parenting Dilemmas

2009-12-02T09:27:00.002-07:00

Many parents first consider Kindermusik because of the developmental and educational benefits to their child. In class, they quickly see that Kindermusik offers something for the grownups, too.

Kindermusik helps to make parenting a little bit easier through in-class tips, child development insights and activities in our weekly emails, not to mention the community of other parents and caregivers who attend class together.
We invite you to join in the conversation yourself. See how other parents use Kindermusik to help with potty training, toddler tantrums, getting a preschooler out of bed in the morning, and more on the Kindermusik Facebook page:

For 30 years, Kindermusik has remained constant as the single best choice you can make for your child today. Contact us to schedule a class visit and to learn about our payment plans. Classes start at $9 per week.

The Secret Language of Babies

2009-12-02T08:17:00.000-07:00

I found this to be very interesting!

The Secret Language of Babies--Watch the video HERE. Five minutes. For millions of sleep-deprived mothers around the world, this woman's findings could be a miracle! Priscilla Dunstan, a mom from Australia with a special gift, says she has unlocked the secret language of babies.

The Connection of Emotion and Learning

2009-11-30T08:37:00.000-07:00

Labeling actions and performing them simultaneously is central to the child's discovery of meaning and context. Engaging in the actions in a happy environment and with caring people heightens the learning possibilities. "Emotion and learning are so connected in these ealy years that children are most delighted when they learn with a person to whom they are emotionally related."

~Me, Myself and I, by Kyle D. Pruett, M.D.

The End of the Day

2009-11-28T07:27:00.000-07:00

When the lessons and tasks are all ended,

And the school for the day is dismissed,

The little ones gather around me,

To bid me good-night and be kissed;

Oh, the little white arms that encircle

My neck in their tender embrace

Oh, the smiles that are halos of heaven,

Shedding sunshine of love on my face.

~Charles M. Dickinson

Child Development

2009-11-26T07:23:00.000-07:00

Think of what an amazing process early development is. Between birth and age 3, babies learn to roll, crawl, stand, walk, and run. They learn to talk, joke, rhyme, and sing. But development doesn’t happen in the same way, at the same time, for all children. Some children will develop certain skills (like walking or talking) faster or slower than others. These differences are very normal.
It’s important to remember that development is not a race. What’s most important is tuning into your child’s individual path, building on her strengths, and providing her with support when needed. Development unfolds within loving relationships, ones in which babies and toddlers can explore, learn, and grow.

Listening

2009-11-24T07:21:00.000-07:00

Sounds are part of your baby's environment. Focused listening to one sound will help your baby start to learn to compare the differences between sounds and the source by which they are produced.

Here are some fun things to try with your baby:

For your lap baby- Select a gentle sound made by a quiet jingle bell, rattle, or shaker. The selection of the sound is important since some infants can become startled by a sudden sound. Notice what sounds your baby likes and dislikes. Notice Baby's facial expressions and body reations to the sound. Give Baby the opportunity to make the sound by shaking, holding, or touching the object.

For your crawler/walker- Select a sound made by a common object that is familiar to Baby such as a shaker, rattle, drum or jingle. You may even want to make or create a new sound by using common household items. (My children loved to bang on a metal bowl with a wooden spoon! )Explore and play with the sound object together.

What sounds did your baby enjoy listening to? What sounds did your baby not enjoy? Happy listening!

Movement

2009-11-22T08:25:00.000-07:00

Movement is a universal, full-time, personal, childhood ocupation, and its importance in children's early learning experiences cannot be overemphasized...Children develop movement in space to understand position, size, distance, and shape. continuous activity...is essential for an optimal rather than a marginal level of motor performance. (Moving and Learning for the Young Child by William J. Stinson, Ed.)

Baby Babbling

2009-11-20T08:21:00.000-07:00

Periods before the first words are spoken are marked by a type of babbling that repeats syllables over, and over as in dadadadadadada. This is called echolalia. Infants seem to echo to themselves and others...it is felt that babbling gives the child the ooprtunity to use and control the mouth, throat, and lung muscles. (Early Childhood Experiences in Language Arts by Jeanne M. Machado.)

Play a mirror game with your baby! While looking in the mirror together, make babbling sounds to your baby. "Mamamama, Dadadada or Babababa. After you make the sound, listen and wait for your baby's reaction. What is your baby's response? You can also point out and name baby's body parts such as eyes, nose, hand, etc. Notice your baby's verbalizations & responses. What are the different ways your baby interacted with the mirror?

The Wedding

2009-11-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

A little boy was in a relative's wedding. As he was coming down the aisle he would take two steps, stop, and turn to the crowd (alternating between bride's side and groom's side), put his hands up like claws, and roar. Step, step, ROAR, step step, ROAR, all the way down the aisle. The crowd was near tears from laughing so hard by the time he reached the pulpit. The little boy, however, was getting more and more distressed from all the laughing and was almost crying by the time he reached the pulpit. When asked what he was doing, the child sniffed and said, "I was being the Ring Bear."

Parenting Survival Kit

2009-11-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

Rubber Band: To remind you of hugging and those times when you want to give or receive a hug.

Tissue: To remind you to dry someones tears (or perhaps your own so you can see the tears of others.

Button: To remind you to "button your lips" to keep from saying mean things about others or to keep you from talking when its not appropriate.

Toothpick: To remind you to "pick out" the good qualities in others including yourself!

Band-aid: To remind you of the healing of hurt feelings-either yours or someone else's.

Candy Hugs: To remind you that everyone needs a treat occasionally and a kiss too!

Gold Thread: To remind you that friendship is the golden thread that ties together the hearts of everyone.

Eraser: To remind you that everyone makes mistakes sometimes, and that's OK.

Lifesaver candy: To remind you that you are your child's best teacher-you are a lifesaver!

Mint: To remind you that the investment of your time in your child is worth a "mint"!

Brain Maps

2009-11-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

Ever heard a song that made you happy ? Chances are it was in a major key. How about one that made you sad? It probably was in a minor key. The music we are used to hearing here in the Western World is usually either major or minor, but some songs are composed in modes (a set of tones that are not major or minor.) Singing and hearing music in different modes is good for kids because it feeds the brain NEW information, which in turn makes new pathways in the brain for thought (neural pathways). Why is that important? The more pathways, the larger the brain. Interestingly, the neural pathways that are developed in your child's first three years can act like the roadmaps to later learning. A child with a larger brain or more neural pathways may be able to learn more easily once he or she gets into school. Go brain, go!!

What Me? Sing to My Child?

2009-11-18T07:12:00.000-07:00

Did you know that your child's best learning happens when you sing a cappella - an Italian term for "without accompaniment?" That's right. Young children learn to make sounds with their own voices, by listening to YOUR voice. It's difficult for them to differentiate between instruments and voices, so your voice is their best guide. The voice is one of their most prized and powerful instruments they have, so keep singing those lullabies!

Coping With Your Child's Personality

2009-11-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

Ever feel frustrated by your high-energy baby? What can you do about a child who screams himself silly when he doesn't get his own way? A youngster who gets overexcited when a playmate come over? The experts tell us that there's probably not a lot you can go about changing the way a child tends to reach if that tendency is inborn but there are ways you can help him manage his impulses better - and spare yourself lots of grief along the way.
Realize that your child's immature behavioral style is not your "fault" because temperament is biological not something he learned from you. Still it is within your power to help your child cope with his temperament - and eventually to understand himself better instead of feeling sorry for yourself for having a noisy, distractible or shy child. Learn to accept this as his nature and then develop a strategy to help him adapt in a socially acceptable way. Replace a victimized mind-set with an adult resolve to help your child ameliorate his difficulties. Above all, remember that all temperamental qualities can be shaped to work to a child's advantage if they are sensibly managed.
To become a "manager of your child's temperament, make sure that you step back from his objectionable behavior for a minute and remind yourself that his shrill shriek of excitement or his irregular sleeping habits are not deliberate reactions but one he can yet control. The key is to switch on the objective part of your mind rather than to become emotionally embroiled in his temperamental difficulties. Through this emotionally "neutral" stance, you'll be better able to help him modify his reactions because you'll be thinking rationally.
Develop specific plans ahead of time to cope with troublesome behavior and then enforce them in a sympathetic but consistently firm ways. If your child tend to get wild on family occasions or when he's with friends, be sensitive to this tendency and take steps to quiet it before it escalates. (Decide ahead if this activity is one he can handle. With younger children avoiding potential problem situations may be the best solution). With a baby you may want to tell your host that you will want to leave the party early. You can also take your child into a quiet room and sit with him until he falls asleep. Follow similar procedure with an older child, either by removing him from the activity, distracting him with something quieter such as a story hour or a snack or calling a "time out" period. See Successful Parenting for practical suggestions to handle a wide variety of behavior problems.
An infant with irregular biological rhythms will need special structuring from you so that he eventually learns to sleep through the night, to eat at the usual meal times and to control his bladder and bowel function. In this case, a doctor or child-behavior expert may be able to help to develop a schedule for your baby. See Sleep Issues for Kids and Teens or Bedwetting Information for some additional help.
For an older child who resists going to sleep, you may have to make special distinctions between bedtime and "sleep-time." To help him settle down, you can insist that the youngster get into bed at a certain time but permit him to read or play quietly until he feels sleepy. In this way, you are regulating his schedule but still allowing him to relax at his own pace.
Learn to distinguish between behavior that is temperamentally induced and that which is learned. If a child knocks over your best vase by mistake because he is a high-energy child and was running gleefully through the living room, your response should be different than if he broke your vase deliberately.
In some instances you will probably be upset and may express your displeasure. But the action you pursue should be different. In the first case you may have to give some thought on how to prevent your child from running through the living room and remembering other ways he can work off his energy while in the house. In the second scenario, you will probably want to punish the child for his deliberate destruction of your personal property to impress upon him that this behavior is socially unacceptable. With temperament, the goal is always to manage rather than to systematically punish.
By the same token learn to distinguish between a tantrum that is temperamentally determined and one that is deliberately manipulative. Both may look the same because in both instances the child is crying or screaming loudly but the reasons for them are different. A strong-willed and intense child may react to a disappointment with a tantrum but the parent should understand that in a sense the child really can't help it - that this is his innate behavioral reaction. This is in marked contrast to the less intense child who screams and cries in the same way when you say no because he has learned that such behavior will weaken your resolve and make your give into him. Becoming an expert on your child's temperament will help you distinguish between the two types of tantrums - and then you can react to the tantrum appropriately.
Finally remember that one of the most important jobs a parent can do is help his child develop self-esteem. That doesn't mean over-inflating his ego but rather helping him develop a positive sense of himself with a fair sense of his strengths and weaknesses. Understanding a child temperament is the first step toward enhancing his self-esteem because you will be able to deliver praise sensitively in accordance with his innate tendencies and help him build upon those traits in a positive way. Please see Helping Your Child Develop Self-esteem for some useful suggestions.
Parenting Strategies For Very Intense Children:
Provide activities that are soothing such as warm bath, massage, water play, stories.
Recognize cues that signal that intensity is rising.
Help child learn to recognize cues that signal that intensity is rising.
Use humor to diffuse intensity.
Teach child to use time-out as a time to calm self-down.
Avoid escalating intensity of child be reacting intensely to his/her behavior. Give calm, clear, brief feedback.
Parenting Strategies for Slow-to-Adapt Children:
Establish clear routines.
Prepare child by discussing plans for the day when routine changes.
Prepare child for transitions.
Give warnings a few minutes before transition from one activity to next occurs.
Allow time for closure of one activity before going on to next.
Stay aware of number of transitions required, and keep transitions to minimum if possible. (Child Development Institute, 1998)

The 9 Temperament Traits

2009-11-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

Classic child development research conducted by Doctors Chess and Thomas has identified 9 temperamental traits:

Activity Level: This is the child's "idle speed or how active the child is generally. Does the infant always wiggle, more squirm? Is the infant difficult to diaper because of this? Is the infant content to sit and quietly watch? Does the child have difficulty sitting still? Is the child always on the go? Or, does the child prefer sedentary quiet activities? Highly active children may channel such extra energy into success in sports; may perform well in high-energy careers and may be able to keep up with many different responsibilities.

Distractibility: The degree of concentration and paying attention displayed when a child is not particularly interested in an activity. This trait refers to the ease with which external stimuli interfere with ongoing behavior. Is the infant easily distracted by sounds or sights while drinking a bottle? Is the infant easily soothed when upset by being offered alternate activity? Does the child become sidetracked easily when attempting to follow routine or working on some activity? High distractibility is seen as positive when it is easy to divert a child from an undesirable behavior but seen as negative when it prevents the child from finishing school work.

Intensity: The energy level of a response whether positive or negative. Does the infant react strongly and loudly to everything, even relatively minor events? Does the child show pleasure or upset strongly and dramatically? Or does the child just get quiet when upset? Intense children are more likely to have their needs met and may have depth and delight of emotion rarely experienced by others. These children may be gifted in dramatic arts. Intense children tend to be exhausting to live with.

Regularity: The trait refers to the predictability of biological functions like appetite and sleep. Does the child get hungry or tired at predictable times? Or, is the child unpredictable in terms of hunger and tiredness? As grown-ups irregular individuals may do better than others with traveling as well as be likely to adapt to careers with unusual working hours.

Sensory Threshold: Related to how sensitive this child is to physical stimuli. It is the amount of stimulation (sounds, tastes, touch, temperature changes) needed to produce a response in the child. Does the child react positively or negatively to particular sounds? Does the child startle easily to sounds? Is the child a picky eater or will he eat almost anything? Does the child respond positively or negatively to the feel of clothing? Highly sensitive individuals are more likely to be artistic and creative.

Approach/Withdrawal: Refers to the child's characteristic response to a new situation or strangers. Does the child eagerly approach new situations or people? Or does the child seem hesitant and resistant when faced with new situations, people or things? Slow-to-warm up children tend to think before they act. They are less likely to act impulsively during adolescence.

Adaptability: Related to how easily the child adapts to transitions and changes, like switching to a new activity. Does the child have difficulty with changes in routines, or with transitions from one activity to another? Does the child take a long time to become comfortable to new situations? A slow-to-adapt child is less likely to rush into dangerous situations, and may be less influenced by peer pressure.

Persistence: This is the length of time a child continues in activities in the face of obstacles. Does the child continue to work on a puzzle when he has difficulty with it or does he just move on to another activity? Is the child able to wait to have his needs met? Does the child react strongly when interrupted in an activity? When a child persists in an activity he is asked to stop, he is labeled as stubborn. When a child stays with a tough puzzle he is seen a being patient. The highly persistent child is more likely to succeed in reaching goals. A child with low persistence may develop strong social skills because he realizes other people can help.

Mood: This is the tendency to react to the world primarily in a positive or negative way. Does the child see the glass as half full? Does he focus on the positive aspects of life? Is the child generally in a happy mood? Or, does the child see the gall as half empty and tend to focus on the negative aspects of life? Is the child generally serious? Serious children tend to be analytical and evaluate situations carefully. Child Development Institute (1998). Temperament and Your Child's Personality [online]. Available: URL [http://www.cdipage.com/].

Temperament and Your Child's Personality

2009-11-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

My husband and I are currently taking a class about Personality types and we are finding it extremely interesting! We began the class by taking an inventory and profile of our own personalities and then we received a report with a wealth of information about ourselves. The class discusses personality strengths, the perspectives from which we view life, our motivators, our abilities, relationships, potential pitfalls and life tips. Yesterday, we found ourselves looking at the different personality types and wondering about our children's personality types and how we can better appeal to their strengths and weaknesses.

So I found myself searching the internet for information about the subject in regard to children. Here is what I found. I hope you find it useful and interesting.

Personality is determined by the interaction of temperament traits with the environment. Each person (including your child) comes with a factory installed wiring. How your child is wired can determine whether they will be easy or difficult to raise. How well their temperament fits with the environment and how well they are received by the people in the environment will determine how a child sees himself and others.

What is temperament?
Temperament is a set of in-born traits that organize the child's approach to the world. They are instrumental in the development of the child's distinct personality. These traits also determine how the child goes about learning about the world around him.

These traits appear to be relatively stable from birth. They are enduring characteristics that are actually never "good" or "bad." How they are received determines whether they are perceived by the child as being a bad or good thing. When parents understand the temperament of their children, they can avoid blaming themselves for issues that are normal for their child's temperament. Some children are noisier than other. Some are more cuddly than others. Some have more regular sleep patterns that others.

When parents understand how their child responds to certain situations, they an learn to anticipate issues that might present difficulties for their child. They can prepare the child for the situation or in other cases they may avoid a potentially difficult situation all together.
Parents can tailor their parenting strategies to the particular temperamental characteristics of the child. They can also avoid thinking that a behavior that reflects a temperament trait represents a pathological condition that requires treatment.

Parents feel more effective as they more fully understand and appreciate their child's unique personality.When the demands and expectations of people and the environment are compatible with the child's temperament there is said to be a "goodness-of-fit." When incompatibility exists, you have what is known as a "personality conflict." Early on parents can work with the child's temperamental traits rather than in opposition to them. Later as the child matures the parents can help the child to adapt to their world by accommodating to their temperamental traits. (1998- 2006, Child Development Institute, LLC)

Over the next several weeks, I will post several articles regarding your child's temperament including; the nine temperament traits, is your child easy or difficult to raise, coping with your child's personality, and a list of books and tools on the subject.

Emotional Intelligence

2009-11-10T09:09:00.000-07:00

Research suggests that emotional competence starts to develop in the cradle...Emotional intelligence includes the recognition and management of unique feelings, developing empathy, and the handling of relationships with others. The Our Time Hello song and the other Hello songs sung in Kindermusik class, allow children to develop a sense of individuality within a group setting. Kindermusik is the best!!

2009-11-08T08:34:00.000-07:00

One aspect of self control is called inhibitory control—which is the ability to stop oneself and wait. Toddlers love stop and go games because they allow the child to practice control over his own body and they love the fact that they can master something. Inhibitory control is an important social skill where taking turns is involved—an important skill for success in school.

2009-11-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

When you look into your baby's eyes and you listen to baby's cooing and babbling,
you are actually setting the stage for your child's language development. Baby coos and
imitates your sounds while you are holding him/her and this is the beginning of articulation which leads to the formation of words. This also teaches your child the fine art of taking turns, an important element in communication.

Top Quotes by conductor Eugene Ormandy

2009-11-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

Eugene Ormandy (1899-1985) was a famous conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Over the years, the orchestra's players kept track of his funniest utterances. Clearly, a conductor's actions are ultimately more important than his words.

Who is sitting in that empty chair?
I guess you thought I was conducting, but I wasn't
Why do you always insist on playing while I'm trying to conduct?
It is not as difficult as I thought it was, but it is harder than it is.
At every concert I've sensed a certain insecurity about the tempo. It's clearly marked 80...uh, 69.
Did you play? It sounded very good.
If you don't have it in your part, leave it out, because there is enough missing already.
We can't hear the balance yet because the soloist is still on the airplane
With us tonight is William Warfield, who is with us tonight. He is a wonderful man, and so is his wife.
Bizet was a very young man when he composed this symphony, so play it soft.
I never say what I mean, but I always manage to say something similar.
Serkin was so sick he almost died for three days.
Let me explain what I do here. I don't want to confuse you any more than absolutely necessary.
I don't mean to make you nervous, but unfortunately I have to.
Relax. Don't be nervous. My [heavens], it's the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Neural Pathways

2009-11-03T08:28:00.000-07:00

The pathways along which information travels through the neurons (nerve cells) of the brain can be compared with the paths through a forest. As people keep taking the same route through a forest, they wear out a path in it. And the more people who take this path, the more deeply it is worn and the easier it becomes to follow. The same goes for our memories: the more we review them in our mind, the more deeply they are etched in our neural pathways.

The fundamental characteristic of the human brain that makes learning and memory possible is its plasticity: the ability of the neurons to modify their connections to make certain neural circuits more efficient. Efficient at what task? Usually, at expressing a new behavior. The more pathways, the larger the brain. Interestingly, the neural pathways that are developed in your child's first three years can act like the roadmaps to later learning. A child with a larger brain or more neural pathways may be able to learn more easily once she gets into school

2009-11-02T09:47:00.000-07:00

Did you know that intentional touch is as important to your baby as eating or sleeping? Not only does it make the bond between you stronger, it also stimulates their digestion, circulatory and lymph system and it makes their posture better! So massage away! They love it!

2009-11-02T07:52:00.000-07:00

Cross-lateral movements (opposite foot to opposite hand) during Kindermusik class or playtime at home, develop the corpus callosum (the connection between the two hemispheres of the brain). This movement makes both hemispheres of baby's brain work together. So, your little one not only increases body strength but brain strength too!!!

Repetition

2009-11-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

Repetition of experiences causes the connections between brain cells, the synapses, to strengthen, become stable and build Baby's brain.

Awareness

2009-09-02T14:02:00.000-06:00

Awareness is the ability to recognize the needs, interests, strengths and values of others. An aware child learns about the needs and complexitites of others by watching, listening and forming relationships with a variety of children. An aware child will be much less likely to exclude others from a group, to tease and to act in a violent way. Awareness is one of six core strengths identified as helping to develop children who are more humane.

~"Promoting Nonviolent Behavior in Children, " by Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D., Scholastic Early Childhood Today, September 2001, pp. 26-29.

2009-08-25T08:46:00.000-06:00

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see. The longer I live the more my mind dwells upon the beauty and the wonder of the world."

~John Burroughs

Self Recognition

2009-08-22T12:08:00.000-06:00

Mirror play for baby invites pleasant responses such as laughing, babbling and pure delight with little or no recognition that the child in the mirror is a reflection of himself. Development of self-recognition start to occur around 1 ½ months and continues throughout the toddler years. The child begins to recognize himself in the mirror and starts to experience objectively the relationship between an “outer look” and an “inner feeling.” At this stage of self-awareness, the child becomes more interested in his own appearance, such as what he wears and how he looks.

2009-08-05T15:33:00.000-06:00

Take time to laugh--it is the music of the soul.

2009-08-03T10:47:00.000-06:00

The development of Baby’s receptive language (understanding the meaning of words) begins at birth and increases as meaningful words are repeated to her every day. Therefore, calling Baby by name from birth is important in developing name recognition.

Playing with Songs

2009-07-31T09:21:00.000-06:00

Singing...is it just for fun or is it even more? Research indicates that focusing on singing can be beneficial in both cognitive development (abstract conceptual thinking, verbal abilities, originality) and motor development (particularly coordination). Singing, which may be present from the earliest stages of life, evolves through several developmental stages: babbling, repeating words and fragments, and finally adding rhythmic features and pitch components.

Encourage your baby to sing by singing to and with him/her. Try all your favorite tunes from childhood. If you did not sing much as a child, learn some tried and true folk songs. Also, be creative and make up your own songs! This week, make up at least one song to complrment an everyday activity. Here we go a-strolling....wash the baby nice and clean....etc.

My baby's favorite song is....

For your home library: Singing Bee! A Collection of Favorite Children's Songs. Compiled by Jane hart with pictures by Anita Lobel, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1982 & 1989.

Listening

2009-07-30T08:22:00.000-06:00

Listening differs from hearing in that it is an intentional act. While we are surrounded by sounds in our everyday life, we choose whether or not to listen and process the sounds we hear. Making “music listening” a part of everyday life teaches children that music is a valuable element of their environment.

Education

2009-07-28T09:56:00.000-06:00

"The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future life."

--Plato

Exploration

2009-07-17T17:36:00.000-06:00

Being allowed to explore and experiment within safe limits is of extreme importance to brain development. Those babies who are allowed to explore generally tend to become eager and flexible learners.

Music for Pain Relief

2009-06-23T07:58:00.000-06:00

A dose of music can be a prescription for pain relief. As this ScienCentral News video explains, a new systematic study of music for pain finds that while music won't replace painkillers, it can boost their effectiveness. Watch a short video here from ScienCentral.

Terrific Trumpets!

2009-06-11T09:53:00.000-06:00

Here is a fun craft idea...keep the music coming with a do-it-yourself trumpet you can use to play along to your favorite Kindermusik songs!

What you need:
Paper towel roll
Rubber band
Waxed paper

What you do:
1. Use the rubber band to securely cover one end of the paper towel roll with waxed paper.
2. Punch a row of holes along the top of the waxed paper.
3. Sing your favorite Kindermusik songs into the open end of the trumpet!

Have fun!!

Cool Toy Organizer

2009-06-07T12:10:00.000-06:00

Kindermusik parents, you have got to chek out this cool stuffed animal toy organizer from Boon! What a great idea!!

Do You Have Perfect Pitch?

2009-05-31T14:21:00.000-06:00

Ella Fitzgerald was one of the few Westerners who have perfect pitch. A study finds that perfect pitch is far more common among Asians, especially Mandarin, Cantonese, Thai and Vietnamese speakers.

Do you have perfect pitch? Take the test here.

Free Things for Kids to Do...In Denver

2009-05-10T07:45:00.000-06:00

DENVER ART MUSEUM

General admission is always free for kids age five and younger!

Kindermusik Families, I highly recommend the Denver Art Museum! The museum experience is not the museum experience you grew up with, that is for sure. The kids will love it! Our family particularly enjoys the "Backpacks Unpacked" activity. The backpacks are filled with puzzles, craft activities, games and whatnot. Our kids love to take turns carrying the backpack and opening the packets inside. Last week we made Bird Masks--complete with decorative feathers! It is an interactive way to expose your kids to art. Give it a try!

Every Weekend

Backpacks Unpacked

Explore the museum with a family backpack filled with games and activities.

Hotspots
Try your hand at Navajo weaving or hold a real samurai sword, just two of our fun Hotspots. Great for both kids and adults!

Architecture View-Master Game

Peek at the spectacular architecture of downtown Denver. Sleuth out unusual buildings and interesting details with our cool View-Master.

Every Day in the North Building

Just For Fun Family Areas

Always wanted to dress up like an owl and play a Japanese memory game? Or build a chair while disguised as an Egyptian crocodile? The Just for Fun Family Center is the right place for you. At Just for Fun Architecture, you can discover your inner architect, sketch your own museum, and more.

Kids Corner

Let a zig-zag line inspire your imagination. What kinds of crazy things can you think of?

Test Your Memory

Show off your skills at a memory game or wow your parents and friends as you learn about the symbols in our sand painting on level three.

Vest Mix & Match

Reassemble three very mixed-up vests and come up with your own wacky design.

Discover an Ancient Past

Examine a two-foot tall Peruvian pot on level four, and then piece together its puzzle twin. Or use the eye spy to find fantastic feet on unusual people and critters.

Chinese Animal Eye Spy

Kids of all ages can play detective with this great game on level five. Search out your favorite animals and discover new ones from China and other far-off lands.

Discovery Library

See a real Egyptian mummy case, admire a fabulous dollhouse, and dress up like people in the paintings on level six.

Every Day in the Hamilton Building

Wild, Wild Western Games

Play roadside bingo with a twist. The first player with five matches up, down, or across wins. Or hop aboard our kid-sized saddle and pose as an imaginary character from the Old West.

Oceanic Sculpture Puzzle

Puzzle together an artwork inspired by a wooden figure from New Guinea. Then rearrange the pieces to make a sculpture all your own.

Explore Africa!

Mix and match the sounds of instruments or and watch an animated video about one of our masks in the African art gallery on level four.

Puzzle Fun!

2009-05-09T08:43:00.000-06:00

Try this puzzle for a few minutes of fun with your little one!Click on the puzzle to mix it up and solve it.

Everybody Wins

2009-05-06T14:06:00.000-06:00

Kindermusik Moms and Dads, if you are like my family, we are always looking for new and fun things to do with the kiddos. Here are three great backyard games to play! Invite the neighborhood kids over for an evening or afternoon of play!

These games are rowdy enough for kids to love but friendly enough that nobody feels like a loser. In this increasingly sedentary world, kids need motion and sometimes a little commotion. These games work with a range of ages and with four kids or ten. Also, these are games that kids will keep playing by themselves, simply because they are fun.

Shark
Put hula hoops or beach towels on the ground to serve as dens for all the "fish." One child gets to be the shark. When the shark calls, "Fishie, fishie, cross my ocean," the fish have to move to a different den. If, while out of a den, the shark tags them, they get to be sharks as well. The last remaining fish becomes the first shark next time. Adults can also remove dens, forcing kids to stand together on one.

Tip: For extra fun, the shark can tickle the fish.
Variations: The shark can be a T. rex, and the fish can be vegetarian brachiosaurs. Bird lovers can be hawks and mice. Construction buffs can be loaders and boulders, and so on.
Optimal age: 3 and up
Number of players: 4 or more
A parent observes"There's nothing like a shark-empowered 4-year-old to keep three big kids huddled in a hula hoop."

Mouse Tails
Tuck pieces of string or yarn about a foot long into the backs of the kids' shoes. After your "Go!," the kids try to step on each other's tails. When all the tails are lost, replace and repeat.

Tip: Have extra string on hand.
Variations: Tuck white socks into waistbands for Bunny Tails, which other players grab.
Optimal age: 2 and up
Number of players: 3 or more
A parent observes: "My daughter had as much fun braiding the tails as playing the game."

Blob Tag
The youngest child gets to be the first "it." (They usually consider this a privilege.) When he or she tags someone, they join hands and have to tag another, on and on, until everyone is holding hands.

Tip: Keep the play area small. Kids 5 and under have a hard time catching each other.
Variations: Tunnel Tag — When tagged, you freeze and someone has to crawl between your legs to free you. Shadow Tag — When "it" steps on your shadow, you become "it."
Optimal age: 2 and up
Number of players: 4 or more
A parent observes: "My 2-year-old had no idea what the rules were, but he had a great time chasing everybody."

10 Ways to Build Your 2 Year Old's Self Esteem

2009-05-01T08:09:00.000-06:00

Nurturing your child's self-esteem may seem like a hefty responsibility. After all, a feeling of self-worth lays the foundation for your child's future, as he or she sets out to try new things on her own. "Self-esteem comes from having a sense of belonging, believing that we're capable, and knowing our contributions are valued and worthwhile," says California family therapist Jane Nelsen, co-author of the Positive Discipline series.

"As any parent knows, self-esteem is a fleeting experience," says Nelsen. "Sometimes we feel good about ourselves and sometimes we don't. What we are really trying to teach our kids are life skills like resiliency." Your goal as a parent is to ensure that your child develops pride and self-respect — in himself or herself and in his or her cultural roots — as well as faith in her ability to handle life's challenges. (For a 2-year-old that may mean building a block castle that doesn't topple or rebuilding it when it does). Here are ten simple strategies to help boost your child's self-esteem:

1. Unconditional love. A child's self-esteem flourishes with the kind of no-strings-attached devotion that says, "I love you, no matter who you are or what you do."

2. Pay Attention. Carve out time to give your child your undivided attention. That does wonders for your child's self-worth because it sends the message that you think she's important and valuable. It doesn't have to take a lot of time; it just means taking a moment to stop flicking through the mail if she's trying to talk with you or turning off the TV long enough to answer a question.

3. Teach limits. Establish a few reasonable rules. For instance, if you tell your child she has to eat her snack in the kitchen, don't let her wander around the family room with her crackers and fruit the next day.

4. Offer choices. A good rule of thumb: Let your child choose between two possibilities, since at this age too many options can be overwhelming. For instance, ask her whether she wants to wear her polka-dot dress or the striped one, or if she wants to paint or draw, or whether she wants oatmeal or cold cereal for breakfast.

5. Support healthy risks. Encourage your child to explore something new, such as trying a different food, finding a best pal, or going down the slide. Though there's always the possibility of failure, without risk there's little opportunity for success. So let your child experiment safely, and resist the urge to intervene.

6. Let mistakes happen. The flip side, of course, of having choices and taking risks is that sometimes your child is bound to make mistakes. These are valuable lessons for your child's confidence. So go ahead and let her wear the snowsuit she insists on wearing even if it's balmy outside (just stash more appropriate clothing in your backpack). When she starts complaining that she's too hot, stifle your urge to say, "I told you so." Just whip out her favorite shorts and T-shirt and say something like, "How about wearing this since it's so warm?" That way her self-esteem won't sag and she'll understand that it's okay to make mistakes sometimes.

7. Make success a snap. Buy clothes that are a cinch to put on and pull off, get a stool so she can wash her own hands and brush her teeth at the sink, and find a place for her toys and books that is within her reach. By giving your 2-year-old the resources to take care of her own needs, you'll help foster independence and pride in her ability to do things for herself.

8. Celebrate the positive. It's sometimes too easy to tally up all the things a child does wrong, but everyone responds well to encouragement, so make an effort to acknowledge the good things your child does every day within her earshot. For instance, tell her dad, "Nina picked up all her toys today." She'll bask in the glow of your praise and her dad's heartening response. And be specific. Instead of saying "Good job," say, "Thank you for waiting so patiently in line." This will enhance her sense of accomplishment and self-worth and let her know exactly what she did right.

9. Listen well. If your child needs to talk, stop and listen to what she has to say. She needs to know that her thoughts, feelings, desires, and opinions matter. Help her get comfortable with her emotions by labeling them. Say, "I know you're sad because we have to say bye-bye to the carousel." By accepting her emotions without judgment, you validate her feelings and show that you value what she has to say. If you share your own feelings ("I'm excited about going to the zoo"), she'll gain confidence in expressing her own.

10.Provide encouragement. Every child needs the kind of support from her loved ones that signals, "I believe in you. I see you trying. Keep going!" Encouragement means acknowledging progress — not just rewarding achievement. It means thanking your child for putting her books away, even if she missed some under her bed. It means smiling in support as she struggles to use her fork, in spite of the trail of food under her chair. And it means giving a hug for an attempt at singing the "ABC" song, even though she skipped a few letters.

~Sarah Henry, ParentCenter

Ritsch, Ratsch, Boom!

2009-04-28T08:13:00.000-06:00

In Kindermusik class, we explore a variety of musical instruments with different timbres or characteristic sound qualities such as the scratching of egg shakers, the ringing of baby bells, and the resonant"boom" of the drum. As your baby hears this variety of sounds he or she is developing the listening vocabulary necessary for sound discrimination preceding language. And if he or she plays the instruments, he or she learns that he or she can create a nice-sounding result.

Activity: Go on a scavenger hunt for interesting sound sources at home. Then join your baby in "playing" the instruments you have found. How are they similar to and different from the sounds you hear in class? Take care that all toys are safe, and do not let your baby play with these items unsupervised. Suggestions: Unopened single-serving dried soups: Shake and listen. Stainless steel bowl and wooden spoon: Pour half a cup of water in the bowl and strike it with the spoon as you swish the water. Do you hear the pitch change? Ribbed plastic water bottles or steel soup cans and a wooden spoon: Rub across the ridges for a bumpy sound. Record the activity in your baby's journal. What sounds does your baby especially enjoy?

For your home library: The Ear Book.by Al Perkins, illustrated by William O'Brian, Random House, 1968

Quality Time With the Family-Money Free Weekend

2009-04-23T10:09:00.000-06:00

I saw this on another Kindermusik educator's blog and I think it is a GREAT idea! What a fun and interesting way to "spend" (no pun intended!) some quality time with the family! We plan to try this ourselves soon and plan on incorporating several hikes. I would love to hear from some of you that try it. Click here to read the article.

Baby Music

2009-04-20T13:36:00.000-06:00

Very young children are much better than adults at learning music. As this ScienCentral News video explains, this music lesson gives new insight as to how we learn.

View short Baby Music Video here

The Listening Touch

2009-04-18T08:24:00.000-06:00

The warm up activites that we do at the beginning of Kindermusik class are examples of intentional touch. Scientific research tells us that this type of loving touch stimulates the regulation of healthy levels of a stress hormone in your baby's brain and aids digestion and circulation. It provides a balance of stimulation of your baby's skin and calming, soothing effects and is a delightful way for caregivers other than Mom or Dad to interact with your baby in a quiet, nurturing way.

This week make a conscious effort to incorporate a few minutes of intentional or "listening" touch with your baby once or twice each day for five to fifteen minutes. Choose a warm, cozy and quiet environment, and make a point to relax yourself, and taking deep, calming breaths. Watch for your baby's cues to know if he or she is in the mood for this now and to know when it's time to do somehting else. You might choose to play some music during this time, or recite a familiar rhyme or song. Record the events in your baby's journal.

For your home library: Infant Massage: A Handbook for Loving Parents. (Revised) by Vimala Schneider McClure, Bantam Books, 1989.

Allegro! Andante, Adagio...

2009-04-11T16:08:00.000-06:00

One of the fundamental aspects of music is tempo. You may have noticed that your baby enjoys fast and slow music equally, or that he or she prefers one extreme over the other. It is important for his understanding of music and language that your baby hear and feel a range of tempi.

Try this activity at home with your baby. Choose a favorite song and sing it slowly (adagio) with your child, using big movements. Sing the same song again quickly (allegro), with smaller movements. Alternate between the two extremes. Then gradually go from adagio, to andante, to allegro (slow, walking pace, quick). Then record your findings in your baby's journal. "I think my baby's natural tempo..."

A great book for your home library: Babyhood, by Penelope Leach, Alfred A. Knopf Publishers, 1995.

Ready for Reading

2009-04-03T07:13:00.000-06:00

Reading to your baby in a cozy, pleasant environment creates positive associations with books and learning. Of course, it also helps your baby begin to decode language. Research has shown that babies younger than six months can distiguish a wide range of speech contrasts, and by eight months any can distinguish familiar words from unfamiliar words.

Neurobiologist Stanislas Dehaene and his colleagues at the National Institute for Health and Medical Research in France, used fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging)to record the brain activity of healthy 2- and 3-month-old infants. fMRI detects increased blood flow in the brain and shows which areas of the brain are active and when. They then compared the results to the scans of adults.

While the babies were in the MRI machine, The scientists played a recording of someone reading a children's book in French and then played the same recording backwards (which makes the speech completely unintelligible).

The results showed that areas of the brain that we know adults use for language were much more active in the babies during forward speech than backward speech. Babies already know something about normal language structure and they know that backwards speech cannot be a normal language. (ScienCentral, Baby Talk, 2-27-03)

Just for fun, try this at home: Choose nursery rhymes and stories to tell your baby. Try making up a new story about something familiar to him or her. As you speak, see how many different ways you can use your voice. This helps your baby learn expressive use of voice.

Observe your baby closely and perhaps write in a journal, "I can tell that my baby understands...." or "I can tell that my baby doesn't understand..."

A Mother's Touch

2009-03-29T08:32:00.000-06:00

Neuroscience found that touching and caressing your baby seems to help moderate production of a hormone affecting the body's reaction to stress. Abnormal levels of the hormone have been linked to changes in a part of the brain involved with learning and memory. (US News and World Report 11-97)

In addition, new research suggests that a mother's touch early in life could trigger a child's future mothering skills. Like Mother, Like Daughter. Frances Champagne from Columbia University says that maternal behaviors are passed down from mother to daughter. Take a look at this short (1 min. 33 sec.) video for more information. Click here.

Repetition

2009-03-28T08:02:00.000-06:00

Repetition of experiences causes the connections between brain cells, the synapses, to strengthen, become stable and build your baby's brain.

Remember that moment when you first held your newborn child? Perhaps you even counted fingers and toes. You probably didn't give much thought to how many brain cells your child had. Babies are born with 100 billion neurons (nerve cells) in the brain, according to pediatrician Robin Blitz, M.D., of the Children's Health Center at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. A newborn has 500 trillion synapses-the parts of the brain that make it possible for nerve cells to communicate with one another-and 1,000 trillion by age one.

The numbers are staggering and have startling implications for parenting. The newborn brain is not yet completely organized or functional, observes Blitz. "It is the experiences after birth that strengthen the synapses and determine how the brain is wired." Blitz and other experts agree that children's experiences during the first three years of life will impact them-for better or worse-for a lifetime.

So what is the bottom line? Experts agree that quality time and exposure to a wide variety of positive experiences in the first three years of life give children a head start on success in everything from academics to relationships.

Our job as parents is to organize our homes and communities to be safe and nurturing places for children, Blitz says. (Boosting Your Child's Brain Power from "Raising Arizona Kids," August 2002)

Kindermusik class is one of those positive, safe and nurturing places.

"This Is Your Brain On Music"

2009-03-27T10:32:00.000-06:00

Resume of a Parent

2009-03-26T07:03:00.000-06:00

JOB DESCRIPTION: Long term team players needed for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work various hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in faraway cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES: This is for the rest of your life." Must be willing to be hated at least temporarily, until someone needs $5 to go skating. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT AND PROMOTION: Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: None required, unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION: You pay them, offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially Independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS: While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered, job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.

Explorers

2009-03-25T08:20:00.000-06:00

"We are all explorers--fascinated by the new, intrigued by the mysterious and captivated by the challenge of learning and doing. Exploration is an investigation of the world. It is looking at new things and new places. it is also seeing the old in new ways. Exploration is doing. It is active, playful and dynamic. Exploration invites you on a journey that can lead you in many directions."

~Teaching Kids to Love the Earth by Marina Lachecki herman, Joseph F. Passineau, Ann L Schimpf, Paul Treuer

2009-03-05T07:15:00.000-07:00

Kindermusik is so much more than just music! It offers a firm foundation in all areas of learning and development, including a social aspect. Making music with other children teaches children how to contribute in a group and they learn skills such as sharing and turn taking: this is a Kindermusik Fundamental of Learning called Inhibitory Control and is a very improtant skill for success in school.

There are many singing and playing routines in Kindermusik class which help to reinforce social interaction and children benefit from social interaction with peers, adults and care givers in a safe, fun, no pressure atmosphere.

Kindermusik is not about making babies into geniuses. Kindermusik recognizes the parent as the child’s best teacher, and both classes and At Home materials are designed to enhance the parent-child bond through the joys of play, literature, movement, and the highest quality children’s music. And 99% of Kindermusik parents would recommend the program to other parents. Come and see us!

Is Your Child Easy or difficult to Raise?

2009-02-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

Temperament is the innate behavior style of an individual that seems to be biologically determined. Although some experts feel that labeling a child too quickly as "difficult" may create a self-fulfilling prophecy of problematic parent-child interaction, knowing what kind of temperament your child has may make the difference between a happy and a troubled child - and between an accepting and frustrated parent. See the table below to get a rough idea on how easy or difficult your child is to raise.

Activity Level (how active the child is generally)
Low: Easy
High: Difficult

Distractibility (degree of concentration and paying attention when child is not particularly interested)
Low : Easy
High: Difficult

Intensity (how loud the child is)
Low: Easy
High: Ddifficult

Regularity (the predictability of biological functions like appetite and sleep)
Regular: Easy
Irregular: Difficult

Sensory Threshold (how sensitive the child is to physical stimuli: touch, taste, smell, sound, light)
High: Easy
Low: Difficult

Approach/Withdrawal (characteristic responses of a child to a new situation or to strangers)
Approach: Easy

Withdrawal : Difficult

Adaptability (how easily the child adapts to transitions and changes like switching to a new activity)
Good: Easy
Poor: Difficult

Persistence (stubbornness, inability to give up)
Low: Easy
Hig: Difficult

Mood (tendency to react to the world primarily in a positive or negative way)
Positive: Easy
Negative: Difficult

If your child weighs more heavily on one side of the spectrum than the other, he may be a classic example of the easy or difficult child. However, if your child is in-between and his behavior presents you with problems, you may be in need of some new management techniques. Child Development Institute (1998)

Happy Valentines Day!!

2009-02-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

Snuggle up with your little one today for this special video Valentine Treat! You are gonna love it! Have a wonderful, musical day!

Love,
Miss Lisa

On the Path to Reading: Toddler

2008-09-15T08:49:00.002-06:00

Get your own - Open publication

Village: Zoom Buggy Journal

2008-09-15T07:46:00.001-06:00

Get your own - Open publication

Welcome to Fall Classes 2008

2008-08-24T15:21:00.002-06:00

Fall classes are underway, and I am so excited! I'm so looking forward to gettting to know all of you.

Many of you may be new to Kindermusik--So what is Kindermusik?S imply put, Kindermusik is a music and movement program. Each week in class you’ll play, listen, and dance to music that will impact you and your child in profound ways. That’s because every song, story, and two-step has a carefully chosen purpose in this creative curriculum—one that’s designed to stimulate and strengthen the vital neural wiring taking place in your child’s mind, right now. A Kindermusik educator will guide you every step of the way so you know how each activity contributes to your child’s overall growth and development.The latest research with proven methods—that’s Kindermusik, too. Our child-centered curricula incorporate ongoing, in-classroom studies with our own, 30-years’ experience in music and child development. Plus, we’ve combined the best music learning methods found in Orff, Kodaly, and Suzuki.“Take-home” books, instruments and CDs from class let you take learning with you wherever you go. All while strengthening the emotional bond between you and your child. So whether it’s twirling under a sea of scarves, experimenting with age-appropriate instruments, singing about a scampering squirrel, creating a musical ensemble, or snuggling in your lap during story time, Kindermusik speaks your child’s language and offers her (and you!) the best music and movement class available.

See you soon!

Brain Development

2008-04-16T14:29:00.000-06:00

Happy Spring Families,
Music and music related activities stimulate development in every area of the brain. You witness what areas of development are being stimulated each time you turn on the radio and your child reacts. Does he sit quietly and listen? If so, your child's physical development and communication skills are being addressed (hearing). Does she move her body? This indicates that her motor skills are being targeted.
Does he begin to vocalize? Again, language development, specifically speech is responding. Does she want to cuddle? Your child's emotional well-being and bonding are affected. Music helps children express creativity, nurture their physical and vocal development as well as their self-esteem and independence. Music does play a significant role in promoting growth and development!

2008-03-27T16:54:00.001-06:00