Chicago, Here I Come!

Just finished registering for the Annual Kindermusik Convention! I'll be traveling to Chicago later this year for 4 days of advanced training in early childhood development, classroom management, masterful teaching, and more. Since it will be my first trip to Chicago, if anyone has suggestions for "Must-see" places, please let me know!

A Conversation With A Preschooler

Noah,for no apparent reason asked: "Mama, do dads have hair on their legs?"

Me: "Yes, Noah."

Noah: "Like boys have hair on their legs?"

Me: "Sometimes they do."

Noah: "Like dogs have hair on their legs?"

Me (with apparently more of a Southern accent than usual): "Yes, but hair on an animal is called fur."

Noah,bouncing with excitement: "Fair? Like with the games and the rides and the ferris wheel?"

Me: "No, FUR. That's what we call the hair on an animal."

Noah: "Mama, tell me if the fair is already started. I want to go to the fair and see the animals."
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Noah and I had this conversation while driving home from church yesterday. It is typical of conversation with a preschooler--full of twists and turns, hidden traps and surprises. Who knew that a question about hair on a person's legs (an odd enough conversation already) would lead to a demand to go to the fair?

Speaking with preschoolers--anticipating their questions and trying to understand their thought processes, keeps me on my toes. I find the preschooler's quest to make sense of the world fascinating; it's one of the reason I love teaching Imagine That! classes.

Autism Awareness Month

From Autism Speaks:

"Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Today, 1 in 150 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines. Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe. "


If you don't know much about autism, Autism Speaks is a great starting point. And locally, don't forget about the Families for Autism Support and Awareness group. Visit their website or call 763-6044 for more information.

Just so you know, we welcome all children in our classes and work hard to provide an environment that helps nurture each family.

A Special Thanks

Thank you to everyone who was able to make it out to the Imaginarium (formerly know as the Laredo Children's Museum) this morning! I know it was last-minute, so I really do appreciate you.

The children had a great time exploring the weather stations, shadow room, craft area, and all the other fun exhibits. Our Kindermusik class at the Imaginarium couldn't have gone any better; the kids were engaged, attentive, and curious. The taping of our class went really well, as did the interview afterwards (though I was a bit nervous).

The extended story about our Kindermusik program is scheduled to be broadcast this Saturday at noon on KGNS Pro8 News.

Being A Parent

Being a parent gives one new ideas for annoying one's spouse. For example, Noah has this habit of asking "What?" at least five times in a conversation. It's his way of asking for further explanation or letting us know he didn't hear what was said. Of course, I've discovered it is a great tool for driving my husband nuts when I'm in a Jon Lovitz-type mood.

Husband: "Where are the socks?"
Me: "What?"
Husband: "My socks. Have you seen them?"
Me: "What?"
Husband: "Do you know where my socks are?"
Me: "What?"
Husband: "Oh, never mind."

April Issue of the Newsletter Now Available

Join our mailing list by subscribing using the box at the right or by e-mailing me. Highlights include a discussion of the new summer camp schedule, information about the upcoming April Family Fun Event, and a call for blog articles.

Have You Met...?

I'm always happy when I can write a "Have you met...?" post because it means that I get to introduce someone special to you.

First, it was...Miss Sarah Beth, one of our Kindermusik by Sarah Flack educators, who will soon have a little baby boy. Sarah Beth has experience working with infants, babies, toddlers, and special needs children. She interned last summer, and has since taught two semesters with our studio. She is outgoing and energetic; her students love spending time with her in class.

Next, it was...Miss Nicole, a Kindermusik mom and Kindermusik by Sarah Flack educator, who has completed her licensing requirements and will be working with me this summer. She is mom to Rebecca, Andrea, and Sarah, all of which are a pleasure to have in the Kindermusik classroom. Nicole homeschools all of her girls and has a gentle, friendly personality that makes children and parents feel at ease.

And, now I'm happy to introduce...Miss Clair, a Kindermusik mom and our newest Kindermusik by Sarah Flack educator. Miss Clair is a seasoned preschool teacher with a lovely singing voice. She loves working with young children and has two children of her own--Cassandra (almost five) and Logan (almost two). She is also helping with summer camps, so many of you will meet her soon.

 

“Never look at the trombones. You'll only encourage them.”
--Richard Strauss

I've been a trombonist for a long time. It's part of who I am, a piece of my past, part of my present, and hopefully something I'm able to do in the future. I can mark eras of my life by what pieces of music I was working on or what group I was playing with.

"Blue Bells of Scotland"? In the middle of a large stage, alone, too excited to be nervous, performing one of my college audition pieces.

"Don't Get Around Much Anymore"? Playing for a group of senior citizens at a local retirement home with the Falcon Jazz Band, watching faces light up with memories

"Land of 1000 Dances" ? Charlotte, NC, cheering on our college basketball team in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament

"Carmina Burana"? Deep in concentration, wearing a formal dress, on the stage with the college symphony

And the memories go on and on and on. Playing the trombone has been a very good thing for me. My hope is that Noah finds the same thing in music or sports or writing or whatever he chooses to do with his life.

P. S.--This past week has been International Trombone Week, with trombonists around the world performing in celebration of our instrument.

Have you heard of...

High Five magazine?

Neither had we until I discovered it in the back row of magazines at Target. For $2.95, Noah and I brought home this sturdy magazine geared toward children between the ages of 2 and 6.

Lots of great content--stories about a birthday party (complete with Spanish vocabulary words) and trying to take a nap when it's just too noisy, crafts, poems, even a board game that relates to an earlier article about baby birds.

I'll bring my copy to the studio next week so you all can check it out.

Comfort Food

My friend Lisa, from time to time, brings me a H-E-B grocery store bag heavy with food. Carefully packaged inside are plates of rice and beans, pork and plantains, a fork, and a soda.

This is my comfort food. As I eat, I feel taken care of, nourished on more than a physical level, because Lisa knows that I often don't eat before my Saturday classes (3 in a row).

Things that seem little to us often have a big impact on a child's life. Just as I look forward to my Saturday afternoon comfort food, Noah looks forward to little rituals that we've established--Wednesday afternoon picnics at the park (really just snack food on a park bench), playground time together between choir practice and Sunday evening service, a special made-up song that I sing to him each night before bed, getting to be a student in my Saturday afternoon big kid class. None cost much in terms of time or money but each ritual contributes to an environment of comfort and caring I try to surround him with.

Butterfly Season

"Let's check the butterflies, Mama!"

It's butterfly season in Laredo, making drop-off and pick-up at Noah's school quite the exciting time. His school, whether by luck or design, has planted several lovely flowering bushes next to the front entrance. These bushes are magnets for butterflies.

The children have had the opportunity to observe the butterfly life cycle. Eggs hatch into tiny black and yellow caterpillars which quickly turn into long, fat caterpillars. Noah and the other children name them and gently stroke their striped backs. Soon, the caterpillars appear on the brick wall next to the front door, hanging upside down, signaling that the chrysalis is about to form. While the caterpillars are safely tucked in their green cocoons, Noah and his friends constantly check to see if any change has occurred. Finally the butterflies emerge, and the children cheer them on as they go through the process of getting their delicate butterfly wings to work.

It has been a blessing to experience butterfly season with Noah and his friends--their joy, excitement, and concern for the little creatures is contagious. I've noticed other moms and dads lingering at the front entrance, checking on the butterflies.

In a happy coincidence, Noah's Granny ("Granny with the cats" is what he actually calls her) sent him a butterfly pavilion last week. We found a little orphan chrysalis yesterday that had been knocked from its hanging place. Into the pavilion it went, and this morning we had the butterfly pictured above waiting for us. Noah has named him?/her? Fredmax, for some reason that only makes sense to a preschooler.

In honor of Noah's first butterfly, Fredmax, I'll share with you some ideas to help you and your family celebrate Laredo's butterfly season.

Move like butterflies : "Oh, the Pretty Butterflies" from the Our Time Fiddle-Dee-Dee CD , "Dawn Chorus" from the Village Rhythm of my Day CD, "Mirror Dance" from the Imagine That Cities CD, "I Can't See the Wind" from the Young Child CD, and "Butterfly Wings" from the Family Time CD are good choice for pretending to be butterflies.

Look for an butterfly egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly in your neighborhood: Children love to go on nature walks, and a nature walk with mom or dad or another loved one is even more special.

Read about butterflies: Caterpillar Spring, Butterfly Summer, Are You A Butterfly?, and I Wish I Were A Butterfly are a few of our favorites.

Make a butterfly/caterpillar craft: The caterpillar on the leaf and the fan butterflies on this page are easy for little hands.

Grow a butterfly: Purchase your very own butterfly pavilion. The one we have is from Insect Lore but many places carry pavilions.

And if your little one loves insects, we'll be exploring butterflies and other outdoor creatures in our Creatures in My Backyard summer camp.

Summer Schedule Now Available!

After a late (very late) night of playing with the studio website, I'm happy to announce that the Summer 2007 camp schedule is now available online.

Some important information about our Laredo, TX Kindermusik camps for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and young elementary school children:

• Camps consist of five classes. All classes are 60-minutes long. Class time includes a 50- minute music class and a short 10-minute craft. Our baby classes will be making a simple memory book keepsake.
  
  
  
• Classes are limited to 8 children per class maximum/5 children minimum.
  
  
  
• Sibling discounts are available.
  
  
  
• As always, you are allowed to come to another class to make-up a class that you have to miss.
  
  
  
• Both week-long and once-a-week options are available. Though we have lots of options, if you don't see one that meets your needs, please let us know! We'll be happy to add additional times.

The full schedule can be viewed online at our studio website. You may register online (credit cards accepted but not necessary), in person at the studio, or over the phone (956-753-8199).

****Register by May 21st to receive an early bird discount.****