I know it seems odd to think about plans for next semester when Jingle Bells are ringing in our heads. However, now is the time to register for Spring classes and reserve your spot. Please check out the Spring Schedule tab or find more information on my website, www.musikinspirations.com

Are relatives looking for a special gift for your child? How about a gift certificate for Kindermusik classes? I can supply you or your family with a gift certificate for any denomination. It’s a gift that keeps the learning going on all year long. Please contact me if you have any questions.

The Audioscience Lab at Northwestern University did a fascinating study showing the correlation of music traning to language development. The interesting thing is that the subjects were not professional musicians, simply people who had some musical traning.

Thanks to Kindermusik Educator Debbie Pool for sharing this link.

Play is a natural activity for children.The child at play is self-motivated and actively engaged. Whereas games are governed by rules, play provides freedom from evaluation and judgment. The freedom of a playful atmosphere fosters intellectual development as well as selfconstruction and the development of personality. Kindermusik Our Time recognizes the need for learning through play and incorporates play into Exploration Time, Music & Movement Story Time, and Vocal Play. In class, your child will play with you, with each other, and with the teacher through the use of props, voices, and body movement. A child’s first play is exploration. “How does this thing feel? What does it taste like? What can it do? What can I do with it?” Around age two, your child moves beyond exploration into an element of pretend play. The first stage of pretend play is imitation. During this stage, your child imitates activities that are repeated and common in her daily life; for example, your child may imitate you turning the steering wheel. As he tries to make more sense out of his world, imitative play evolves and becomes more imaginative. The complexity of pretend play can be seen when the child re-examines life experiences by adding to or changing the event.

Benefits of pretend play include:

• Vocabulary development

• Social skill development

• Differentiation between reality and fantasy

• Emotional support

**copywrite 2003 Kindermusik International

Fresh off a great Kindermusik convention, I am filled with ideas of how to make my classes more effective, how to reach parents efficiently, how to use social networking to bring people to my program, and so much more. One of the most important things I learned, though, is simple and something everyone needs.

Jill Molli, a representative for Conscious Discipline (see www.beckybailey.com ) talked about several ways to help children deal with conflict and frustration. Wouldn’t life be easier if, rather than trying to control our children, we gave them the tools to control their own behavior? So, the first step that we can all incorporate is STAR (Stop, Take a deep breath, And Relax!) Wow! Maybe I can use that today in traffic or in line at the bank. Much more on this later.

I’ll admit it, I’m a worrier. As a bit of a control freak, I tend to fret – especially about things over which I have no control. On Tuesday, I got a call that is always on my “worry list” My husband had wrecked his truck. Traffic here in San Antonio is always a little crazy and not a day goes by that we don’t see evidence of some type of accident and be thankful that it wasn’t us. So now I’m thankful that he wasn’t hurt. Oh yes, he has some cuts and bruises and will be sore for quite some time (the airbags didn’t deploy because the impact was mostly on the front corner.) But after seeing the truck, I am amazed that he walked away from this.  So I am taking time to be thankful, to know that we are in God’s hands, and to hold on to my sweetie a bit tighter. Enjoy your family today.

Saturday, August 9  10:30-11:00 or 11:15-11:45

Come see what all the excitement is about and sample a free class, see the studio, and meet the instructor. Kindermusik International (www.kindermusik.com) is the world’s leading publisher of music and movement curricula and products for parents and their children ages newborn to seven years old. Kindermusik educators provide tips that parents can take home from each class to help make great parenting easier in their daily routine.

Ninety-nine percent (99%) of Kindermusik parents would recommend it to other parents according to a Harris Interactive Online Study in November 2005

Demo Days will be offered at John Calvin Presbyterian Church (Midcrown and Walzem) on Saturday, August 9th. Parents should reserve their spot by contacting Diane Meade in advance. The fall Kindermusik class schedule will begin August 25th. Classes are open to ages newborn – 5 years and registrations are accepted through August 12th.

Wow! Summer has simply flown by and the Fall semester will begin soon. Take advantage of early-bird discounts and register by August 9th. Payment plans are always available. Check out the fall schedule link or go to my website, www.musikinspirations.com to register online.

“Research has shown that there are two critical components to language development: the number of words kids hear and the amount of encouragement they receive,” says Steve Berman, M.D., a language-development expert and past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Here are some ideas to encourage your child’s language development:

1. Talk, Talk, Talk Keep up a “running dialog” with your child. Name the things you see, ask him what he thinks about it, etc. For example: “Here is your right shoe, let’s put it on. Now let’s go outside. Do you see the doggy? What color is the doggy?…” By filling their ears with language, in context, the child will make the connections.

2. Wait, Wait, Wait So often, we want to anticipate a child’s needs and therefore he doesn’t need to speak. Let your child ask for a drink, encourage him to “use your words” and reward him with every attempt. He may be frustrated, trying to find the words, but resist the temptation to fill it in and he will feel the success of communicating.

3. Sing, Sing, Sing Children (and adults) learn and retain ideas that are put to music. Especially music that includes actions, “Itsy Bitsy Spider”, “I’m a Little Teapot”, “The Wheels on the Bus”, etc. The actions in conjunction with the words and the tune help emphasize the concept of the words.

4. Read, Read, Read It is so important to read to your child, to expose them to the beautiful and fun language of children’s literature. Do not limit yourself to simply reading the words on the page. Point out what is in the picture, ask your child to identify an object in the book, and talk about how you would feel if you were the person in the book. Reading to your child broadens their vocabulary and also gives you important bonding time together.

5. Relax This will not happen all at once, but if you are anxious, it can transmit to your child and they may feel like a failure. Keep talking, encouraging, and be patient.

Recently, in Our Time classes, children experimented with home-made drums and other instruments. I was amazed at the creativity of some of the families that could take an ordinary coffee can and turn it into a work of art – covered with handprints and stickers – as well as a functional instrument. Often, we are tempted to purchase the latest and greatest toy for our children. Still, using found objects not only saves money, but it stimulates your child’s imagination. An empty cereal box can be a drum, a house, a tunnel, and much more. So, play along with your favorite tune and this time, why not use a plastic bowl and wooden spoon! What is most important is that you are spending time together and enjoying a musical experience.  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!