Kindermusik helps Palm Beach Preschoolers Thrive

There's a new Kindermusik program that's helping Palm Beach preschoolers thrive. Developed by Kindermusik International, ABC Music & Me is an early childhoold literacy program that uses music as the vehicle for learning. It's the perfect blend of essential ingredients that will have lasting benefits for your child in school and beyond. No matter your age, everyone has the innate desire to be good at something. Successful completion of seemingly simple tasks can be overwhelming and frustrating to a young preschooler. At a time when so many new skills are learned, the acquisition of language is mastered and children gain independence at self-care tasks, new information is coming at the three and four year old at lightning speed. Preschool children seek out this independence, yet at the same time they need constant approval and praise. This “clingy” behavior as some people mistakenly label it, is not the fault of the child and is often misinterpreted as bad behavior. Any parent can relate to the scenario of hearing your child saying “Watch what I can do…” over and over…and over again. “Did you see me? Are you listening…?” and then the tears begin. What that child is really asking for is approval and acceptance. Gaining confidence is the number one barrier many children lack when they encounter problems with schoolwork or social behaviors. Achieving this early on the educational pathway lays a lasting foundation for continued success.
Kindermusik provides a healthy environment for the preschool child because it perfectly combines a child’s need for attention, closely guided instruction, peer support, and most importantly age appropriate materials that provide a spark for the child’s imaginative thought processes to develop. This is a skill they will carry with them for a lifetime. Through creative play, group singing, instrument exploration, and imaginative storytelling, children thrive because it is the environment they feel most comfortable in! Having children complete worksheets or specific and uniform tasks is not the goal of a Kindermusik classroom. The overall goal is to provide a nourishing environment in which a child can achieve a great deal of satisfaction. Children gain confidence and learn how to share in so many valuable ways. We believe that wiggles and giggles is the best way to learn at this young age. Over thirty years of research and careful development from a qualified team of doctors, psychologists, and talented musicians stands behind Kindermusik. You’re already doing everything you can to be a great parent. Kindermusik makes this job even easier because it fine-tunes your child’s listening skills, ability to focus, and communicate thoughts effectively in a social environment. Anything you want to know about Kindermusik or how to enroll in the nearest class near you can be found at http://www.kindermusik.com Preschool music classes are currently offered after school at First Presbyterian Preschool in Tequesta. For more information on this location visit http://www.tequestapres.org or email crystalpiano.davis2@gmail.com with your questions.

Palm Beach Kindermusik Studio Supports Home Learning

Young children thrive on the interaction they receive from friends and family members in the early years of learning. Creating successful and meaningful interactions for your children can give them lifelong lasting benefits you may be unaware of. The first three years of life present enormous challenges as the human mind and body adapts to new forms of communication and mobility. Kindermusik is the leading early childhood music program which embraces both these aspects of early learning and combines them in an engaging and fantastically fun experience. The one thing perhaps that sets Kindermusik apart from other programs is the focus on the family. Home learning is the basis for creating a confident, creative and capable child who can then go out and succeed in school and beyond. Every child in a Kindermusik class, playdate, or summer camp receives home materials. These can be used at home or on the go and are a great learning tool for your child. Now it is easier than ever to receive great Kindermusik products, classes & playdates absolutely free! When you host a one-time Kindermusik Playdate or one-month Kindermusik Adventure in your home there is no charge for the class or home materials for your child. In return, you are asked to invite at least 3 friends over. The cost is very reasonable, and children thrive in the home learning environment. Host homes are asked to provide one child-safe room with a large open area (generally moving the coffee table aside and covering toys or removing them from the space will do!) Also, for the younger classes access to a bathroom or changing area is requested. If you are interested in scheduling a Kindermusik Playdate in the Palm Beach or Martin County area please contact Kindermusik with Crystal at 561-222-9952 or via email at crystalpiano.davis2@gmail.com. Remember...a good beginning never ends! Start at home.

The Song of Life

Music classes lately are filled with excitement at coming vacations and trips to the beach. Our summer Kindermusik Playdate theme has been "Creatures at the Ocean"and all the toddlers have enjoyed listening to the sounds of summer. As a resident of Palm Beach, I have the opportunity to be surrounded by this seaside atmosphere year-round. Even so...the last blast of summer is almost here for many families who are trying to catch a few more relaxing moments before the onslaught of juggling busy schedules and back-to-school preparations. This time of year reminds me of the intrinsic value of music as it relates to what we commonly refer to as "running the rat-race." This race to make it to the morning school bus is part of the yearly ritual that we, as parents and caregivers, must endure year after year....after year. (And to think... getting up all night with a hungry, crying infant or a toddler with nightmares wasn't the end of it...there's more?!?) This year my household will be starting kindergarten, freshman year (after 5 years homeschooling) and junior year of high school. I often feel as if I have post-it notes right on my forehead. I am ready for the next task at a moment's notice. Perhaps you've felt this way lately, too...wearing the hat of taxi driver, laundromat and cleaning service, decorator, short order cook, nurse, veterinarian and candlestick maker. That's on top of work and professional life.
Organization is a key element of success. It is a tool that gives us the strength to endure life's busy seasons and calamities and capture the celebrations. And this is where music helps us remember that it's worth it! Music cannot exist without an organizational pattern...in fact the theory that surrounds music as a whole supports every facet of an intricate and detailed design. As a music lover, pianist, choir director, and Kindermusik educator I am continuously surrounded by music. It has been a constant in my life as long as I can remember. Dedicating my whole life to the musical arts has allowed me the opportunity to study the form and theory; the makeup of the great musical compositions of the best composers and performers throughout history. Without structure, music could not exist. The result of a well thought-out musical composition is a piece of music that stirs the senses, stimulates the mind, and allows us to feel something in another dimension. It has beauty, provokes thought, and is able to withstand the test of time and criticism. The result of a child whose parent/caregivers provides structure and organization is a child who is able to grow up successfully, withstand criticism, and create their own life song. Whenever I arrive at the busy seasons of my life I am reminded of how music is put together, and in a very special way it helps me to put myself back together again. Music is my mind, my retreat, and my livelihood. It is there when I need to dance, sing, cry, or build up my faith. So turn on the radio, whistle a happy tune, and encourage your children and family to develop a love of music. Because without the presence of music in our scattered lives....we are all just notes on the page!

Free Kindermusik At Home with Family and Friends

Palm Beach parents now have the opportunity to receive free Kindermusik at home with family and friends. This mobile program, which travels all over Palm Beach and Martin County for Kindermusik classes and events is centered around the world's leading early childhood music and movement program. Kindermusik birthday parties and playdate opportunities allow you to stay at home and have the fun come to you! Kindermusik with Crystal offers free Kindermusik at your home with the Kindermusik Playdate Hosting Program. When you become a playdate host, it's easy! Just commit to opening one room of your house for 3 or more of your friends & family members who attend and pay a small fee for an educator to go on location with a 45-minute guided music, instrument play and creative dancing playdate. Each session comes with a wonderful take away instrument and CD/download package for each family to enjoy again and again at their home. If you are considering hosting an event such as this, you get the perks of receiving all the materials for free and you pay no other fees! You can choose if you want to host just a one-time gathering or a repeating event which can run up to 5 weeks. It's a great way to schedule time with your child when you know you can be there. Find a time that works for your family. Hosts are asked to provide a space of one room with an open area, child-safe and freshly cleaned. It's perfectly fine to move around your furniture a little...so move aside the coffee table and kick off your shoes! Host families are also asked to provide a child-friendly access to one bathroom and have all attending guests sign a liability waiver at the start of the first session. If you are interested in becoming a Kindermusik host or if you would like more information on birthday parties, please contact crystalpiano.davis2@gmail.com

Summer Music for Young Children

Make plans to attend a free demo class June 30th! The new studio at Capitelli's Music will be open and you can come by to meet the instructor and experience a slice of what Kindermusik is all about. Capitelli's Music is located on Indiantown Rd. two blocks west of Alt A1A. Please stop by with your child June 30th either in the morning at 10am or after lunch at 2pm for a meet & greet information and class presentation. You can pre-register for July classes, too! The summer schedule offers a Family-Style ABC Music & Me mini-session for families with children ages 5 & under. This class begins the second week of July and is popular among working parents with evenings times on Tues. & Thurs. at 5:30 & 6:30pm. Another great option for summer is the mommy & me Kindermusik Adventures classes. There are two age groups for this, 18 months & younger on Wed. mornings at 9:30am and toddlers at 10:30am. All the Kindermusik classes come with a home activity kit, which allows you to enjoy the music & learning year round! Every student takes home a CD, activity booklet & instrument to use during class & enjoy at home...or on the go! Registrations are now being accepted for Summer Kindermusik classes. If you have further questions about this program, please contact licensed educator Crystal Davis at 561-222-9952.

Kindermusik Offers Summer Fun for Palm Beach County Families

Now that Easter is over and the last month of school is upon us, you may be wondering what to do with all that extra time when the kids are out of preschool! Kindermusik has many options to fit the schedule of busy families. New mini-sessions are being offered throughout the summer months, providing indoor musical play with the family. Although we've been in drought mode for several months, the rains WILL come and you may find yourself stuck indoors with some very wiggly and active children. Starting in June, you can sign up for our Summer Splash! which is a family-style Kindermusik class for families with children ages 5 & under. This is not your typical mommy & me class. Dads and grandpas, friends, aunts & uncles, caregivers and relatives from out of town are invited to join the fun as we sing & dance, laugh & play our way through each action-packed class. With the downturn in the economy, we are sensitive to financial issues and want to make Kindermusik accessible to every child, regardless of their background or income. Summer Splash! is an amazing opportunnity to attend Kindermusik with all the same research-based quality learning experiences at a very affordable price of just $35! For the price of a meal, you can give your child a great beginning to a lifetime love of music. Children love coming to class with their whole family and eagerly participate in group dancing, creative play & imaginative instrument play when they have the support of loving family members. Kindermusik is all about embracing the total child. With over thirty years of proven research and new curriculum development, Kindermusik is the world's leader in early childhood development programs. Music is used as the vehicle for learning early literacy skills, cooperation in a group environment, and most importantly they gain confidence in trying new things. What's even better? We now have a brand new evening class "Pajama Mamas" for busy, working moms and dads. Bring the kids in their pajamas and help them settle down with an evening Kindermusik session. It's a great way to end a long day, reduce stress at home, and give your child the much-needed attention they want and deserve. Registration is now open. Class size is limited to 12 children, so don't wait! Call instructor Crystal Davis at 561-222-9952 to learn more about summer Kindermusik options for your family. You'll be so glad you did!

The Value of Parenting

Young children, particularly under the age of seven, are particularly drawn to imaginary play. In this day and age with the advent of technology through hand-held game devices and internet options, parents of young children are faced with a multitude of choices when it comes to educating and entertaining young minds. Too often we believe that the quality of our children's experiences is somehow tied to a price tag. It is difficult to see beyond the five-year old child who plays with an i-touch in their spare time when I myself do not even own an i-pod device. There are times when I find myself in the waiting room of my daughter's gymnastics team or the appointments at my son's orthodontist and am quite surprised by the number of technological devices that are purchased and used to stifle children. And, yes I bear the guilty mark of turning on the television now and then for a few "quiet moments to myself" when I'd like my four-year old to settle down for the day. It is through my daily experiences and observations that I have come to ask myself the question, "Are we, am I, really doing these children a favor by giving them expensive toys that limit activity, decrease family interactions, and by and large create solitary worlds?" The answer is clear. No, these are tools of our time that we now use on a daily basis to somehow "get through the day." Recently over the past few weeks I have made a concerted effort to put the DVDs back in the cabinet and get back to imaginary play with my children. I have been amazed at the response from my youngest daughter, who is almost five, in particular. She can literally play in the world of make-believe for hours on end. It doesn't cost me a dime. We are creating memories that she will live with forever...memories that won't wind up in the dumpster when the toy breaks or the batteries run low. With parenting, we have to remember that we are the ultimate resource for our children. So often we get consumed with finding the perfect friends, finding the best toys, the perfect school, the best communities....the list goes on. Don't get me wrong. These are all noble and good things to consider. Any parent wants what is best for their children. However, it seems that in our modern world we have somehow lost our sense of the value of family, parenting in particular. Lately I have found myself growing tired, growing more gray hair, getting more wrinkles than ever before. However, with the aging process comes wisdom and experience. I must remind myself that as a parent, I DO have a rechargeable battery, and that my children really enjoy imaginary play, much more than I may have realized. Through this process, I have also found it to be therapeutic. It is quite relaxing and a process of renewal to come up with creative ideas, build new "homes" for my family (although they may be a family of stuffed animals and plastic action figures!), and take "trips" that only last for the afternoon. In fact, just yesterday we spend the afternoon at what my daughter referred to as "Walt Town City" (aka Disney World) It is a good therapy for me to momentarily escape the trials of my daily life, bills, taxes, obligations and so forth. Like any parent, I find myself at my wit's end sometimes. I find myself at the end of my rope often. I find my bank account to be small and there are daily troubles & tribulations I must deal with...somehow. But at the end of the day, if I have given my child a piece of myself, if we have played together in an imaginary world right in the midst of our living room, I have given the most valuable gift to my children...the gift of time and attention. I have the rare opportunity of working in a profession that I love. I am a piano teacher, director of children's ministry at my neighborhood church, and a Kindermusik educator. And although my house is not as nice as some people I know, my bank account is not as large, and my life is not perfect, I know without a doubt that there is no more perfect love than the love for a child. Memories created in early childhood stay with us for life. So go ahead...get silly with your kids, roll around on the grass, make a fort out of your dining room, and find the music in your children's laughter. Above all, consider yourself a valuable resource. Young children are the windows of the future. They should not be subdued, they should not be always hushed, and I do not believe they should be limited to confining spaces or activities. For me, this is what Kindermusik is all about. Kindermusik classes bring people together and gives children a sense of family and community through the innate love of music we all possess. Music gives us a common goal and expresses what we cannot always communicate through speech. Life without music....is not the life for me! If you are interested in learning more about early childhood music programs please visit the Kindermusik website at http://www.kindermusik.com to find an educator near you.