InJoy Your Day

We're Moving!

2010-05-23T19:28:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to let you know that effective June 1, ALL InJoy Music Kindermusik classes will be held at Lenexa United Methodist Church, just around the corner from our current location! Our new location will offer TWO classrooms that are exclusively ours 24/7! HOORAY!

Stay tuned for pictures of our progress!

Learning through Play

2009-09-29T13:50:00.001-07:00

Before my life as a Kindermusik teacher (and mom), I was a classroom teacher. While completing my education training in college, my favorite classes were child psychology classes. I love learning and thinking about how children learn, how their minds work, and ways we can support and influence their development.

So, imagine my delight when I found this article from the NY Times: Can the Right Kinds of Play Teach Self-Control? . The article discusses a new application of the work of a child psychologist named Lev Vygotsky who theorized that children learn through social interaction, culture, and interaction with others. He used the term "social cognition" to explain this learning through culture. In several schools, pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classrooms are using his "Tools of the Mind" curriculum, classroom design, and classroom management to help "teach" children self-control.

Several things jumped out at me as I read the article:
* A child's "executive function" (ability to control their emotional and cognitive impulses) is "a remarkably strong indicator of both short-term and long-term success, academic and otherwise. In some studies, self-regulation skills have been shown to predict academic achievement more reliably than I.Q. tests." (Did you just say "Wow"? I sure did when I read it.)

* With basic practice, children (and adults) can be taught to better control their emotional and cognitive impulses, but the success of these methods is tricky. Researchers have spent years trying to find a reliable method to teach self-regulation and self-control that truly has a lasting impact on a child's executive function.

* One of the best methods found for practicing executive function? Prolonged sessions of imaginative play where children are imitating roles and expanding their play over a period of time.

As I read the article, I was so proud to be a Kindermusik teacher. Read the article. You'll find yourself thinking, "Oh. My child does THAT in Kindermusik." "My educator reminds me about this when we're doing start/stop activities." Here are just a few examples of ways that Kindermusik embraces this learning theory:

* Imagine That! is a 15-week extended imaginative play session revolving around a central theme. Each week, we revisit a play scheme, expand, practice, adapt, problem solve, and learn together. From Josh and Katie at Grasshopper Park waiting patiently to play on the playground, to pretending to see and hear different things from our imaginary tree house, imaginary play is carefully crafted and encouraged in class. Further practice and expansion of class play can be achieved through use of home materials, allowing parents to participate in the play.

* Another key in Vygotsky's theory is the idea of.....wait for it.......SCAFFOLDING. Yep. That instrument exploration you share in Our Time classes? It's all Vygotsky. He theorized that children have a "zone of proximal development". This is how he described the important connection between what a child can do independently (level of actual development) and what they can do with help from an adult or older child (proximal development). By scaffolding, parents and caregivers are expanding the number of "problems" a child can solve by supporting the new ideas. As a child has more experience in his or her proximal zone, his or her actual development will increase.

The article is very interesting not only for possible classroom outcomes as children enter preschool and Kindergarten, but for parents of young children. Enjoy and encourage their pretend play. You will help them develop far more than just their imaginations.

Posted by Miss Heather who wonders if you've pretended anything wonderful today?

Studio Closed: 4th of July Holiday

2009-06-29T18:10:00.000-07:00

InJoy Music will be closed Friday, July 3rd and Saturday, July 4th. We hope you have a great 4th of July weekend. Classes will resume Monday, July 6th.

Lee's Summit: Downtown Days

2009-06-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

'Tis the season of summer festivals! If you're looking for something to do with the kids this weekend, why not venture to Lee's Summit for Downtown Days? With a carnival, a car show (for big and small boys!), and two concert stages, there will be fun for everyone.

From an educational standpoint, community festivals offer a rich learning environment for your child. The various musical styles expose your child to new sounds and melodies. Buying carnival tickets and deciding how to spend them offers a chance to practice counting and problem solving skills. After the event, your child can practice comprehension skills by recalling and telling stories about his/her favorite part of the day. Best of all, it's fun and inexpensive.

While you're there, visit the talented ladies of www.butterbuggs.com. They have a wonderful assortment of handmade items for moms and kids. They are also the creators of Miss Heather's favorite jewelry--- a photo necklace of her son, Ben.

Ready to go? Visit the Downtown Days Website for more details.

Lee's Summit Downtown Days
Friday (June 5): Noon-10pm
Saturday (June 6): 10am-10pm
Sunday (June 7): 10am-5pm

True Love

2009-05-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

I've often mentioned that the reason I teach piano and Kindermusik is to instill a lifetime love of music in each of my students. This video proves that it can be accomplished!!

Summer Fun

2009-05-15T11:05:00.001-07:00

Has it hit you yet? That "oh-my-goodness-all-our-spring-activities-are-over-what-are-we-going-to-do-now" feeling? As I wrap end of the year teacher gifts and days of preschool turn into special activities and programs, I'm feeling it. I find that my idea of doing nothing lasts about 2 days and then I am desperate to get Ben enrolled in something---anything--- again.

Here are few ideas to get you started. Some are multiple weeks, some are a one time experience. If you have others, please post as a comment!

* Kindermusik Summer Camps: Our 5-week summer session begins June 13th. Click here for the details: http://www.injoymusic.com/adventures.html. Enroll soon to ensure you'll have home materials on the first day of class.

* Jiggle Jam: Think of it as Lollapalooza for kids. This family fun fest attracts some of the hottest acts in kids' music (and, Kindermusik will be there, too!) including They Might Be Giants, Dan Zannes, Funky Mama, and Mr. Stinky Feet (plus many more). We hope to see you May 23rd and 24th! http://www.kcjigglejam.com/.

* Kidtivities at The Learning Tree: What a great idea! Visit the Corinth location of everyone's favorite toy store, The Learning Tree, for a summer of fun activities. For only $10 a session, this is the best bargain for summer fun. Create a garden stone, dig for dinosaur bones, create mosaics, and more! Call the Corinth store for details: (913) 385-1234.

* Public Library Programs: Check out the local library for summer programs. Don't forget to sign up for a summer reading program (or a "read to me" program). It's a fun way to add a little learning in your summer routine. http://www.jocolibrary.org/ (Johnson County Libraries) / http://www.kclibrary.org/ (Kansas City Public Libraries).

What else are you doing this summer?

Posted by: Miss Heather who can't wait for summer to start!

Farm Fest at Deanna Rose

2009-05-14T21:31:00.001-07:00

Click here to buy tickets!

We're Having Class!

2009-03-28T04:52:00.001-07:00

Good morning everyone! It looks like the weather will get worse later on, so all Saturday classes will meet today.

As always, please use your discretion - if you're not comfortable getting out today, please contact us to schedule a makeup class.

Thanks!

Jiggles and Juggles

2009-03-05T04:11:00.000-08:00

InJoy Music loves the La La's! Don't miss them in concert on March 28th at Crown Center.

Spring Semester Begins Soon

2009-01-04T17:32:00.000-08:00

The Spring 2009 semester begins the week of January 12th. Visit our website for information about semester curriculum, themes, and schedule. If you haven't enrolled yet, you can also enroll online.

We look forward to seeing you in a class soon!

Holiday Concert!

2008-12-03T18:53:00.000-08:00

Friday Night Family Fun: The La La’s
Date and time of event: 12/19/2008 - 7:00pm
Location: Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch
RSVP now!
On Friday, December 19, at 7 p.m. at the Plaza Branch Library, 4801 Main St.
The La La’s add to the holiday season with song during Friday Night Family Fun.
The local duo of Jill Simpson and Whitney Coulson writes tunes to promote fun, self-esteem, and individuality for children of all ages. Among the songs The La La’s will perform are Frosty the Snowman, Winter Wonderland, and the Holiday Freeze Dance. In addition, the pair will sing original songs including Eat Your Broccoli, The Rain Came Down, and Snowflake.
Admission to the event is free. Click here or call 816.701.3407 to RSVP.

No Classes Monday, September 29th

2008-09-28T15:27:00.001-07:00

Due to educator illness, all Kindermusik classes for Monday, September 29th are cancelled. Our make up class will be held Monday, November 24th at regular class times.

Ridin' in a Buggy

2008-09-14T20:24:00.000-07:00

Our Village classes have been traveling in style! Look at all the ways we've enjoyed "Riding in a Buggy".

Washing Machine

2008-09-08T19:57:00.001-07:00

Check out this great washing machine ad-- see if you can identify all the clothing used to create the ocean animals. It just might make you "wiggle and giggle".

Looking for our 200th Family

2008-09-01T06:27:00.000-07:00

We are near an exciting enrollment milestone! This semester, we are looking forward to our 200th enrollment.

You are our best advertising, so we want to offer the following incentives:

* $10 tuition credit for each family you refer: For every family that you refer to class, we'll credit your tuition balance $10 for a future semester. NO LIMIT!

* The family that refers our 200th enrollment will receive an additional gift.

Hello Weather!

2008-08-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

This semester, the Imagine That students will be finding all kinds of things to do in any kind of weather. As I introduced the theme to my Tuesday 9:30 class, I was delighted to hear the following from one of the boys in class:

Miss Heather: This semester, we're going to talk about different kinds of weather. Maybe it will be sunny, or windy, or maybe even snowy!
Vin: Miss Heather? Current conditions and airport delays. Currently it's sunny.

I am so glad that I'll have a budding meteorologist in class to help our class navigate the many kinds of weather! Evidently, Vin really enjoys the Weather Channel.

Does Weather Affect Your Child's Mood? (article from Wondertime Magazine about the weather and it's potential effects on your child's mood and behavior)

Books about Weather (list of preschool books about weather from EverythingPreschool.com)

Try these activities from PreschoolRock.com:
Sun Painting Activity
Bubbles and the Wind
Weather Experiment: The Rain Cycle

I think the forecast for this semester calls for lots of fun!

Shake them Simmons

2008-08-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

Before you can shake 'em, you need to know what they are! Our Time classes are enjoying the Shakin' Shakin' circle dance whatever those "simmons" may be. But, because we know you're wondering...

"Simmons" refers to Persimmons, an edible fruit that grows on trees. The fruit is crunchy like an apple and sweet-tasting. Persimmons are used in Asian and American cuisine.

In addition to the song we sing in class, there are other versions of this folk song. Some are very similar (singing "Shake them simmons, do-oh, do-oh"). Others have verses about other foods (boil that cabbage down).

Fun and Games

2008-07-01T15:57:00.000-07:00

While trying to find some fun 4th of July activities to keep everyone busy this week, I came across a great list from Family Fun. This summer, try out their 99 Days of Summer Kids' Games. Each day lists a different game that links to directions, materials needed, rules, and age appropriateness. The games are easy to pull together and promise to be as fun to create as they are to play!

A few of my favorites:
July 13-- Follow in my Footsteps
July 24-- Radio Bingo
July 30-- Shark!

Zoo Train

2008-06-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

Now that we've been traveling on the Allee-Allee O and seeing all the animals in our Kindermusik Zoo, your child may be ready to visit the "real" zoo. So, what's happening this summer at the zoo? I'm glad you asked!

Mondays: 99 cent Mondays Each week will feature a different 99 cent special. It might be ice cream, a ride on the carousel, small popcorn, and more! It's a surprise, but on June 30th, they will feature 99 cent train rides!)

June 27th: Sunset Safari (5-8pm) See what the zoo is like as the sun goes down! Purchase tickets online to enjoy dinner and special events.

June 28th: Zoo Tales (10am-3pm) Zoo keepers and animal experts will be on hand to tell you the amazing "tales" of animals in the Africa exhibit (morning) and "topside" (afternoon).

The Kansas City Zoo is open from 9:30-5:30pm daily. New additions and upgrades make a trip to the zoo fun. Don't miss the Peek-a-Boo Tree, Discovery Barn, and Endangered Species Carousel. Be sure to meet the new baby zebra.

Summer Adventures

2008-06-21T12:39:00.000-07:00

What a great week! Kindermusik summer camps are off to a great start and what ADVENTURES we had:

* Village classes played peek-a-boo with new friends and had so much fun with their new duck gertie balls!

* Our Time classes hopped aboard the Allee-Allee O and visited the monkeys, lions, and elephants. I hope the monkey you made during craft time has found a special place to "hang around" at your house.

* Imagine That classes pretended to be clowns, played dress-up, and found out how much fun confetti can be! We'll continue to follow the adventures of the silly monkey and all his friends.

But, the most exciting adventure of the week belongs to Miss Amy who had her first baby on Tuesday! Aidan Dean Pennington was born on Tuesday morning. Click here to see pictures.

Miss Heather's Classes Cancelled

2008-04-01T05:28:00.001-07:00

The following classes will be cancelled today (Tuesday, April 1st) due to educator illness:

Tuesday 9:30
Tuesday 10:30
Tuesday 11:30
Tuesday 6:00
Tuesday 7:00

Classes will be added on to the schedule at the end of the semester.

STUDIO CLOSED

2008-02-21T11:43:00.000-08:00

All evening classes for Thursday, February 21st are cancelled tonight due to weather. We will see you next week!

All Aboard!

2008-01-23T15:25:00.000-08:00

Just in time for a new semester, here's another reason to LOVE your Shiny Dinah (the great train featured in Our Time this semester). This week in class, one of our mom's shared the following story:

At the same time her son was beginning Our Time with me 2 years ago, they were starting to potty train him. Being 2-years-old and literal, he took the phrase "potty train" literally. You know, "train" as a noun, not a verb. He kept asking where the "potty train" was.

Guess what became the "potty train"? Dinah, Dinah, Dinah, Dinah.

Thanks, Betsy for the great story!

STUDIO CLOSED: JANUARY 17

2008-01-17T08:06:00.000-08:00

Due to inclement weather, all Kindermusik and piano classes at InJoy Music are cancelled for Thursday, January 17.

We follow the Shawnee Mission School District's decision on school closings. Any missed Kindermusik classes will be rescheduled or added on to the end of the semester.

Please contact your educator if you have any questions. Stay inside and be safe!

A new rockin' children's group

2008-01-08T21:39:00.000-08:00

I am so proud to announce that one of my Kindermusik families just came out with their first children's CD.

Please visit The LaLas' website to listen to sample songs and order your very own copy of their CD...a bargain at only $10!

Best of luck to The LaLas...we promise to eat (EAT!), eat our broccoli!

Family Opera Event at UMKC

2008-01-07T21:21:00.000-08:00

January 12, 2008 - Mystery on the Docks, an opera for family audiences, is based on a story by Thacher Hurd and was co-commissioned in 1995 by Opera Columbus, Lyric Opera of Kansas City and the Los Angeles Music Center Opera. The opera tells the story of opera fan Ralph the Rat and opera star Edwina Bombastina as they employ their musical wits to escape a kidnapping by Big Al and his pack of rats. Join the cast of rats as they plot to stay in Big Al's good graces and close down Ralph's "Fish and Fry" Diner for good.

Kids Club events are held at White Hall in the Performing Arts Center at UMKC, just east of the Country Club Plaza. FREE parking is available at three locations. Each event starts at 10 a.m. and lasts about an hour. Kids Club programs are a fun way for children to learn about music and dance. Ideal for children ages 3 to 8, each event features activities that encourage your child in music and dance. Conservatory Kids Club is the perfect way to introduce your child to a lifetime of enjoyment and appreciation of the performing arts.

For Tickets call the Central Ticket Office at 816-235-6222.
Relay Missouri: 800-735-2966 (TT) or 800-735-2466 (Voice)

Merry Merry!

2007-12-19T08:30:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, December 11: Classes Cancelled

2007-12-10T19:42:00.000-08:00

Due to inclement weather, all Kindermusik and piano classes at InJoy Music are cancelled.
Please contact your educator if you have any questions. Stay inside and be safe!

CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES CANCELLED TODAY

2007-12-08T07:31:00.000-08:00

Due to icy roads and predicted weather for Saturday, December 8th, the following classes are cancelled:

Our Time 10:30
Imagine That 11:30
Young Child 12:30

Also, the Drop and Shop that was scheduled from 6-8PM today has been cancelled.

Classes will be rescheduled for a later date.

Contact Information

2007-11-28T15:42:00.001-08:00

Are you aware of all the ways you can contact your Kindermusik educator? Whether you'd like to view next semester's themes, check our calendar, or contact us to schedule a make up class, we want you to have access to studio information whenever you need it. Please use the list below to confirm that you have the correct information (Miss Heather's email address has recently changed).

InJoy Music
website: http://www.injoymusic.com
blog: http://www.injoymusic.blogpsot.com

Miss Amy
phone (913) 362-8209
email injoy@kc.rr.com

Miss Heather
phone (913) 362-9765
email injoyinfo@everestkc.net

Miss Heather's Kindermusik, Halloween 2007

2007-11-20T15:20:00.001-08:00

"InJoy" this fun video from Caroline and her mom (in our Tuesday 10:30 Our Time class).

Test your Thanksgiving Knowledge

2007-11-16T06:26:00.000-08:00

Test your Thanksgiving knowledge by taking this fun quiz!

Link

I scored 10 out of 20. What about you?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Free Hands-On Play Days at US Toy

2007-11-13T20:33:00.000-08:00

HUGE Sale at Kindermusik International

2007-11-12T10:08:00.000-08:00

This is big...if you are looking for gifts for the holidays, look no further! 32 pages of sale items. CDs are only a dollar! Please visit http://www.kindermusik.com/, click on Shop, then on Sale.

Happy Shopping!

Halloween Slideshow

2007-11-04T16:27:00.000-08:00

What a fun week of Halloween parties! Thank you so much for wearing costumes to class and for all the treats you shared with your classmates. If you have additional pictures you'd like to share, please email them to Miss Heather!

Make a slide show, scrapbook or ecard

Indoor Playround NOW OPEN

2007-10-29T08:34:00.000-07:00

Mission Parks and Recreation is proud to offer developmental toys, balls, moonwalks, and a number of other toys and playground equipment. Bring your kids and enjoy the largest Indoor Playground in the Kansas City Area. Mission's Indoor Playground was named one of the top 10 things to do under $10 by the Independent Magazine. Parents must supervise their children at all times.

Sylvester Powell Jr. Community Center
6200 Martway
Mission, KS 66202

Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 9:30-11:30am
Saturdays 1:00-3:00pm

Fees: $2.00 per first child
$1.00 per each additional child (Limit 2)

Punch card $15.00 (Save 25%)

6 Months of Age and Under are Free!

Weekday Program runs now through March 13 (No Program 11/15, 11/22 & 12/21-1/8).
Weekend Program runs now through March 9 (No Program 10/27, 11/24 & 12/21-1/8).

For more information, please call (913) 722-8200.

The truth about last week...

2007-10-23T20:01:00.000-07:00

So I wasn't REALLY in Chicago last week - I just wanted Miss Heather to think I was at Convention so I could actually go on this really cool adventure...

Thanks to Molly for a fun activity this evening!

Sweet Story

2007-10-22T20:56:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I just returned from Chicago and the Kindermusik National Convention. I will post more in the coming days, but wanted to share this sweet story from one of my Imagine That! students:

Riley's Mom: "Remember Miss Heather is going to be your teacher
today."
Riley: "Why?"
Riley's Mom: "Because Miss Amy is in Chicago learning how to be a better
music teacher."
Riley: "Well, why Mom, she's already pretty good."

Free Kansas City Ballet Performance

2007-10-17T07:55:00.000-07:00

KANSAS CITY BALLET
FREE LEGACY PERFORMANCE SERIES

WHO: Kansas City Ballet
Midwest Youth Ballet
Reach Out and Dance (ROAD) students

WHAT: Join Kansas City Ballet at the Folly Theater on Nov. 7-9 as they celebrate 50 years with a special FREE community performance. In celebration of the 50th Anniversary, Kansas City Ballet will present THREE, free and open to the public performances at the downtown Folly Theatre. The repertory will represent the eras of Founder Tatiana Dokoudovska, Artistic Director Emeritus Todd Bolender and Artistic Director William Whitener, the associated MidWest Youth Ballet and Reach Out And Dance (ROAD) students will be presented. ROAD will not appear on the Wednesday program.

WHEN: Wed., Nov. 7 – 7:30 p.m. (NEW!); Thurs., Nov. 8 – 7:30 p.m.; Fri., Nov. 9 – 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Folly Theater - 300 W. 12th Street - Kansas City, MO 64105

TICKET INFO: Call 816.931.2232 for more information or to reserve tickets.
Seating is limited and reservations are a must. No location requests.

Photographers and camera crews welcome.

Join us this weekend at the Jewish Arts Festival!

2007-10-12T13:21:00.000-07:00

Join us Sunday, October 14 from 11am - 7pm at the 2007 Jewish Arts Festival!

Located at the Jewish Community Center (115th and Nall) in Overland Park, the festival will offer arts, entertainment, children's activities, food, and more!

Come to the Children's Pavilion and make a jingle bell bracelet in the Kindermusik area!
Miss Heather and I would love to see you!

Tickets are available at the JCC and select Hen House locations:
Cost is $5 for adults; $3 for youth (3-12); free for children under 3.
At the door, cost is $8 for adults and $5 for youth.
Parking is free (enter from 117th & Nall to the Sprint Garages).

For more information, please visit http://www.jcckc.org/jewishartsfestival.html.

Our Halloween Celebrations are Coming!

2007-10-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

We can't wait to celebrate Halloween with you!
Get ready for spooky music, creepy stories, and age-appropriate treats. Costumes are encouraged!

If you would like to bring treats for your child's class, please contact your educator so we can give you a head count and advise you of any food allergies.

Our celebration schedule is as follows:
Thursday classes: October 25
Friday classes: October 26
Saturday classes: October 27
Monday classes: October 29
Tuesday classes: October 30
Wednesday classes: October 31

PS - need some cute baby costume ideas? Check out these cute ideas from Better Homes & Gardens!

Free Family Science City Night

2007-10-07T15:33:00.000-07:00

(Click on the image for a larger view)

Seesaws, Slides, and Swings (and more!)

2007-08-29T07:28:00.000-07:00

While they may not be Grasshopper Park (the fun park we visit with our imaginations this semester in the Imagine That! classes), here are 10 great parks in the Kansas City area. With the weather cooling off for the holiday weekend, it's a great time to play together!

1. Loose Park
Located just South of the Country Club Plaza--Loose Park is touted as one of Kansas City's favorite gems. With it's beautiful rose garden, state-of-the art playground, walking trail, and the famous Loose Park Pond--it's the perfect place to take the family or enjoy a picnic. You can feed the birds, take your dog and make a day of it.
Location: Wornall Road and 51st Street
Something to Look For: Check out the Civil War Marker at the South side of the park.

2. Shawnee Mission Park
Shawnee Mission Park is not only one of the biggest parks in Johnson County, but it's also the most visited in the whole state. With a whopping 1,250 acres--SMP has everything that makes a park great with beautiful trails, shimmering lake, native wildlife, camping grounds and nice facilities. Hike the Mill Creek Streamway Trail (11 miles in total) which is great for old and young alike.
Location: 7900 Renner Road, Shawnee

3. Antioch Park
Kids love Antioch Park's Old Dodge Town playground which houses a pint-sized hotel and general store just like those in the Wild West. There's also a cool playground and a lake in the park with dozens of shelter areas for picnics and barbeques.
Location: 66th Street and Antioch Road in Merriam, KS.
Something Cool: Be sure and check out the Vietnam Memorial

4. Penguin Park
Penguin Park is the place for kids--and the city Parks and Rec's department have done a great job of revamping it over the past few years. With huge slides and a 20+ foot Penguin, kids don't want to leave this famed Northland park. They've also got a great trail that leads down to the lake on the south side of the park with plenty of shelter houses and bbq grills to go around.
Location: North Vivion Road and North Norton Avenue in the Northland
Something Cool: Check out the 26 foot Kangaroo slide that has been a fave of kids for decades.

5. Sar-ko-Par
With everything from five playgrounds, six open play areas, beautiful lake and even a skate park, Sar-ko-Par is a great place to let the kids run free. It's also great for families with plenty of shelter areas, basketball and even sand volleyball courts. Sar-Ko-Par has a little bit of something for everyone!
Location: 87th Street and Lackman Road.
Don't Miss: The Legler Barn, railroad museum and restored BN Railroad Caboose.

6. English Landing Park, Parkville
English Landing park is located just to the south of downtown historic Parkville. This sprawling park is right next to the banks of the mighty Mo--and has a great walking trail that runs right along the river. English Landing also boasts a bunch of swings, a large playground, soccer field and lots of other amenities. Don't forget to visit the Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings.
Location:South of downtown Parkville (Highway 9 and FF)
Kids Will Love : Watching the trains whiz by on the oh so close train tracks!

7. McCoy Park
McCoy park is located in historic Independence and lies just across from the Harry S. Truman Library. McCoy has it all with playgrounds and spray grounds, shelters and tennis courts. It also has a bunch of picnic shelters which are perfect for taking a lunch break.
Location: 24 Highway and Bess Truman Parkway, Independence

8. Fleming Park
Fleming Park is by far Jackson County's largest public park with a sprawling 7,800 acres of outdoors to enjoy. The park houses Lake Jacomo and Blue Springs Lake which both have fun water-themed things to enjoy. Lay out on one of their great swimming beaches or catch a fish on one of the banks, go sailing or rent a boat for the day. Fleming Park also houses historic Missouri Town 1855, the Burroughs Audubon Library and the Native Hoofed Animal Enclosure which offers up safari like tours of native wildlife.
Location: US 40 and Woods Chapel Road, Blue Springs, MO

9. Overland Park Community Park
The Overland Park Community Park has been a fave of metro families for decades. The park has over 177 acres in which to play and houses a huge playground, shelter houses and picnic tables--as well as a number of softball and soccer fields, tennis and volleyball courts, and even has its own skate park. The OP Community Park even has a nice walking trail for all to enjoy.
Location: 137th and Switzer
Don't Miss : The Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead, located right next door.

10. Macken Park
Macken Park, recently renovated by NKC's Parks and Rec department and the city council has undergone a major transformation in the last few years. Macken has a brand new playground and a great tennis facility for all to use. Check out the great walking trail which is great for mom's with strollers, walkers and runners and it also has great places to picnic. The huge trees provide great shade for those hot KC summers.
Location: Howell St. and Clark Ferguson Dr., North Kansas City

Midwest KidsFest

2007-08-20T18:40:00.001-07:00

We hope to see you there!

Midwest Kids Fest

2007-08-16T19:02:00.000-07:00

Come visit Miss Heather and Miss Amy Saturday and Sunday, August 25 and 26 from 10am-5pm at the Midwest Kids Fest!

There will be tons of activities for kids, contests and drawings, and opportunities for parents to try out all kinds of new products.

Print out this coupon to save $2 off child admission!

For more information, visit http://www.midwestkidsfest.com/.

See you there!

Kindermusik International: A Message About Toy Safety

2007-08-16T10:44:00.000-07:00

Recent news reports have highlighted the recall of some toys found to be
unsafe. These reports have understandably raised concerns from parents.
I want to be sure you know that Kindermusik shares this concern.

For years Kindermusik has gone to great lengths to assure the safety of
our products. That is why parents have come to trust the Kindermusik
brand. Kindermusik products are engineered to be educational,
entertaining and safe before they enter into production. Production
samples of each product are then rigorously tested by an independent
testing lab to ensure that our toys meet the highest safety standards.

All Kindermusik products have comfortably passed international safety
standards in mechanical and fire hazard tests. Our products have also
been tested for potentially hazardous materials and have easily met
safety standards for those materials.

Two of our core values at Kindermusik International are to Always Do
What is Best for the Child, and to Be Open, Honest, and Direct. At all
times, and especially at times like these, our core values guide our
actions.

As you have come to expect from Kindermusik, we have taken great care to
test that our products are safe, and we will continue safety testing
with vigilance. Please refer any further questions regarding the safety
of our toys to Kindermusik International 800-628-5687 or
info@kindermusik.com.

Sincerely,

Michael G. Dougherty

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Kindermusik International

Important Safety Recall

2007-08-16T08:44:00.000-07:00

Mattel has voluntarily recalled some products due to the use of lead-based paint and small, high-powered magnets.

Please visit this website for more information.

A Fun Labor Day Activity!

2007-08-15T10:45:00.001-07:00

Pops in the Park - Sunday, September 2
The Kansas City Symphony's free Labor Day concert at The Theatre In The Park at Shawnee Mission Park celebrates all things American. Bring your family and friends, blankets and lawn chairs for selections from Sousa, John Williams and Randy Newman, familiar sports themes, Hollywood movie music and more -- led by the Symphony's assistant conductor Damon Gupton.

The parking lot will open at 4:30 p.m. and gates will open at 5 p.m. Instrument Petting Zoo begins at 5:30 p.m., sponsored by Swiss Re. Park concessions will be available, but concert-goers are invited to bring picnic baskets and coolers along with their lawn chairs and blankets.

The Theatre In the Park is located inside Shawnee Mission Park at 7900 Renner Road, Shawnee, Kan.

Sponsored by Bayer and Zurich Direct, with media support from Time Warner Cable and 98.1 KUDL.

Take a SPIN with us this fall

2007-08-10T22:38:00.000-07:00

The fall semester of Kindermusik promises to be more fun than playing your 33 1/3 records at 78 speed.

We're offering even more classes to fit your schedule including another evening Our Time class and (back by popular demand) an evening Village class. Click here for all the details.

Thank you!

2007-07-21T20:27:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much to all the families that donated school supplies for our summer service project! I am pleased to report that our little red schoolhouse was filled to the top; with crayons, makers and rulers peeking out of the windows. As always, we are so lucky to have such wonderful and generous families in our studio.

Enjoy the rest of your summer! We'll look forward to seeing you for fall classes the week of August 20th.

If you haven't enrolled, it's not too late, but hurry... classes are filling quickly. Click here to enroll today.

Oh, John (and Sarah and Will) the Rabbit

2007-07-06T10:21:00.001-07:00

This week, our toddler classes learned about animals hiding in the grass. After singing about bunnies, squirrels, and other animals, we made bunny ears during craft time. To see the pictures in more detail, see them in the slideshow below.

View slideshow

(Hey Parents: If you missed a class during summer camp, be sure to check your mailbox for a craft kit, instructions, and photo of the finished product. -or- If you'd like to make a project again, ask your educator for an instruction sheet!)

Summer Service Project: School Supplies

2007-06-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

When you and your child attend Kindermusik classes between June 25th and July 14th, you’ll notice a big red schoolhouse next to the cubbies. Please help us fill that schoolhouse with school supplies!

Remember how exciting it was to pack your brand new backpack full of brand new pencils, crayons, markers, and notebooks for the first day of school? Imagine how fun it will be to help your child prepare for his or her first day of school in the not-too-distant future! Unfortunately, there are many local families who cannot afford school supplies for their children.

Because we are dedicated to providing excellent educational experiences for our Kindermusik community, we are excited to sponsor this school supply drive as our summer service project. We hope that your generosity will help provide an excellent educational start to a new school year for area children. We also hope that providing a service opportunity each semester gives your child the opportunity to perform a little act of kindness while developing compassion for others. Click here to read a Wondertime magazine article about the benefits of teaching young children to give back.

Below, is a shopping list of items requested by Cross-Lines a local non-profit organization that works to help the less fortunate and enable them to break their cycle of poverty. In addition to their daily services, each August they provide school supply kits for children and youth from pre-kindergarten through college.

____ Large Pencils (for beginning
writers)

____ #2 Pencils

____ Erasers

____ Large Crayons (box of 8)

____ Crayola Crayons (box of 24)

____ Colored Pencils (box of 12)

____ Highlighters

____ Ball point pens (blue, black, red)

____ Notebook Paper (wide line and
college rule)

____ 3-Ring Pencil Bags

____ School Glue (4 oz. Bottles)

____ Glue Sticks

____ Scissors (Fiskar-pointed)

____ Rulers (with both inches and
millimeters)

____ Pocket Folders (plain)

____ Spiral Notebooks (wide line and
college rule)

____ 1 1/2 inch 3-ring binders

____ Pack of dividers

____ Plastic School Boxes

____ Boxes of Tissues

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2007-06-20T20:38:00.000-07:00

The Toddler Adventures classes are having so much fun discovering the Creatures in My Backyard. This week, we had a great time digging in the dirt. Even if you don't have a green thumb, planting seeds and watching them grow (or not!) can be very rewarding and educational. Here's some inspiration from BabyZone.com to get ready, set, GROW! something together:

Life Lessons of Gardening
Lisa Taylor, Children's Garden Director at Seattle Tilth, a non-profit community gardening organization, has a unique take on why kids should garden. "With little people, they're a lot closer to the ground; they have an intimate relationship with the earth. Anything we can do to bring that non-descript terra firma to life is good." Along with the fun of getting dirty, gardening helps children learn valuable lessons about patience as they wait for vegetables to grow, responsibility as they see how necessary their care is to the garden, and even loss when flowers die at the end of a season. "They learn about nurturing a life and what it takes to keep something alive," says Amy Gifford, an education associate for the National Gardening Association. Gifford extols the value of exercise as children physically work in the garden, that families learn to work together and share, and that gardening helps build a child's senses.

"One of the most important things about [vegetable] gardening is understanding where food comes from," says Gifford. She says young children are fascinated in seeing food when it's pulled from the ground, and they notice the similarities and differences from their garden vegetables and produce from the grocery store.

How Does Your Garden Grow?
If you've decided to involve your kids in gardening, you need to make some decisions—most importantly where and what your child will be gardening. "The essentials for a children's garden are clear paths, narrow beds, and edible plants," says Taylor. "Kids should be able to reach across the beds. They can learn where people go and where plants go." Gifford encourages parents to set aside a small plot in the garden or flowerbed the child can experiment with. "I like to see less regulation in the garden. The way to approach it best is that there's nothing the kids can't handle and get them involved from the very beginning. Let kids have their own spot," says Gifford. "If they want to toss 10 seeds in one hole, let them and they will see what happens. Let them learn from the experience."

Carrots and Radishes and Broccoli—Oh My!
Once you've decided where to let your children garden, it's time to decide what to plant. Gifford recommends planting crops that are hearty enough to succeed and don't require unusual care. A local nursery, good gardening book, and even the backs of seed packets should answer questions about growing habits of plants, the soil and nutrition needed, and proper watering. Instant gratification helps a lot. Plant radishes even if you don't like them—they come up in three or four days.At Seattle Tilth, children are introduced to a variety of plants "that are great to smell, fun to touch, good to eat," says Taylor. She mentions fennel, lamb's ears, and rosemary as favorites for kids, and adds that they've had many children who garden take interest in salads made with foods they've grown. "[Kids are] learning where food comes from. I think they will taste more things in a garden situation than they ever would otherwise. It's different when you pick it, know where it comes from and have interaction with it," says Taylor.

Gifford says vegetables are fun for children to grow because they germinate so quickly. If you are worried your little one will lose patience waiting for plants to sprout, you can germinate seeds indoors while it's still too cold to plant outside, or you can purchase flats of vegetables or flowers ready to put in the ground. Both Taylor and Gifford emphasize that a family garden should only contain safe, non-poisonous plants and flowers.

Taylor says it's important that parents teach children the names of plants, vegetables and flowers, especially if they have a taste or smell children can identify. "Kids love to learn the names of the plants…teaching them is a good way to teach respect for even the smallest things."

Dig In!
Dress your kids in a hat and gardening clothes (meaning anything you don't mind getting dirty) when it's time to plant, weed, water or pick, and don't forget to use sunscreen. Take your time with the kids and remember that a young child's attention span may wane sooner than yours.

Kids love digging in the dirt and will benefit from having their own gardening gloves and equipment. "Child-sized tools are great if you can find quality tools," says Taylor. "Blunt-nosed Fiskars scissors work great for cutting flowers in the garden, and children can arrange their flowers with floral tape." She also suggests giving kids their own baskets for harvesting snacks or holding hand-picked bouquets.

Creepers and Crawlers
Looking for the wildlife in a garden is a great part of the fun for little ones. "Kids love insects and worms," says Taylor. "Gardening introduces them to some of the living creatures in the soil, under rocks and on plants. It's all a part of opening the world up to them." At Seattle Tilth, Taylor lets the kids build bug houses. "We let them be creative. They build beds for the bugs, hot tubs, waterslides—things they think the bugs would enjoy." Children are natural nurtures, she says, and understand the importance of caring for plants and other things in the garden.

Play it Safe
Both Taylor and Gifford emphasize the importance of organic gardening with children. "Parents should be concerned about sprays or chemicals [in the garden]," says Gifford. And not just when the children are physically in the garden. "Touching leaves that have been treated with chemicals and putting their hands into their mouths is dangerous; the residue can be damaging in smaller doses than it would be for adults because children's bodies are smaller."

It's also good to keep any sharp, pointed tools from small children. "Set the rules about tool safety up front; don't swing any tools around, anything sharp should be pointed down," says Gifford. At Seattle Tilth, gardeners tell kids they are not allowed to bring toolsup any higher than their belly buttons. Gardening can be a wonderful family project filled with adventure, experimentation, and learning; and children love to learn when they're having fun. Not only will your kids enjoy the satisfaction of nurturing life, but they'll love spending time with you.

Thomas the Train Items Recalled

2007-06-18T14:50:00.000-07:00

If you have Thomas & Friends wooden trains at your house, please read the information below released by the U.S. Safety Commission's Office of Information and Public Affairs on June 13th.

RC2 Corp. Recalls Various Thomas & Friends™ Wooden Railway Toys Due to Lead Poisoning HazardWASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Products: Various Thomas & Friends™ Wooden Railway Toys
Units: About 1.5 million
Importer/Distributor: RC2 Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill.
Hazard: Surface paints on the recalled products contain lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
Incidents/Injuries: None.
Description: The recall involves wooden vehicles, buildings and other train set components for young children listed below. The front of the packaging has the logo “Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway” on the upper left-hand corner. A manufacturing code may be located on the bottom of the product or inside the battery cover. Toys marked with codes containing “WJ” or “AZ” are not included in this recall.

Recalled Product Name (see photos above)
Red James Engine & Red James’ # 5 Coal Tender
Red Lights & Sounds James Engine & Red James’ #5

Lights & Sounds Coal Tender James with Team Colors

Engine & James with Team Colors #5 Coal Tender
Red Skarloey Engine
Brown & Yellow Old Slow Coach
Red Hook & Ladder Truck & Red Water Tanker Truck
Red Musical Caboose
Red Sodor Line Caboose
Red Coal Car labeled “2006 Day Out With Thomas” on the Side
Red Baggage Car
Red Holiday Caboose
Red “Sodor Mail” Car
Red Fire Brigade Truck
Red Fire Brigade Train
Deluxe Sodor Fire Station
Red Coal Car
Yellow Box Car
Red Stop Sign
Yellow Railroad Crossing Sign
Yellow “Sodor Cargo Company” Cargo Piece
Smelting Yard
Ice Cream Factory

Sold at: Toy stores and various retailers nationwide from January 2005 through June 2007 for between $10 and $70.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should take the recalled toys away from young children immediately and contact RC2 Corp. for a replacement toy.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact RC2 Corp. toll-free at (866) 725-4407 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Thursday and between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. CT Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at recalls.rc2.com

Try us...FREE!

2007-05-30T09:54:00.001-07:00

Please join us Saturday, June 9 for free Kindermusik demonstration classes at Babies R Us in Overland Park! We'll be holding 30-minute classes at 10:00, 11:30 and 1:00!

In addition to experiencing the Kindermusik magic, you'll take home valuable product samples, a take-home guide full of ideas for extending your experiences at home, a discount coupon at Babies R Us, and special enrollment offers and drawings from InJoy Music!

To sign up, please call Babies R Us at 913-814-8950. You can also call me at 913-362-8209 with any questions!

See you there!

Just Add Summer

2007-05-29T06:52:00.000-07:00

injoy music
Early Summer 2007
Kindermusik Adventures Summer Camps!

Are you still looking for a fun summer activity? Hurry to sign up for a musical adventure at InJoy Music! Five-week sessions start the week of June 11.

We look forward to seeing you!

Busy Days - for Babies 0-18 months
Set your baby's day to classical music. With a little more Tchaikovsky in your "Twinkle, Twinkle" repertoire, you'll discover new ways your baby benefits from the classics.A parent or caregiver attends each 45-minute weekly class.

Classes meet Monday 11:45am; Tuesday 1:30pm; Friday 10:00am; Saturday 9:30am.

Materials include a board book, CD, instrument, and activity poster.
Tuition and Materials: $90.00
Click here for class availability and enrollment!

Creatures in my Backyard - for Toddlers 18-36 months
With backyard inspired activities, you can talk about things outside and how they connect to things in the classroom. Together you'll run and jump rain puddles made from hula hoops. Shoo real flies and sing "Shoo Fly" and be the seed from the seed's perspective. Create FUN crafts every week to take home and enjoy!
A parent or caregiver attends each 60-minute weekly class.

Classes meet Monday 10:30am; Tuesday 6:00pm; Wednesday 9:30am; Wednesday 10:45am; Saturday 10:30am.

Materials include a CD, bunny puppet, and weekly activity folders.
Tuition and Materials: $90.00
Click here for class availability and enrollment!

On the Road - for Preschoolers age 3-5
All the silly car ride games and itchy-scratchy songs of summer make this camp a joyful learning experience for your child. Pass on all the greats such as Eye Spy and find shapes in the clouds in a new "Kindermusical" way. Weekly themed crafts extend the fun! A parent or caregiver attends the last 15 minutes of each 60-minute weekly class.

Classes meet Tuesday 9:30am; Wednesday 12:00pm; Wednesday 6:30pm; Saturday 12:00pm.

Materials include a CD, frog instrument, storybook, and activity poster.

Tuition and Materials: $90.00
Click here for class availability and enrollment!

Tell Me a Tale - for ages 5-7
Through storytelling, your child will develop an early awareness of rhythm, movement, singing, and drama. Each lesson features a new tale, explored through multi-instrument and multicultural elements. Fun rhythm activities and crafts complete our storytelling experience! A parent or caregiver attends the last 30 minutes of each 90-minute weekly class.

Classes meet Thursday 10:30am; Saturday 1:30pm. Materials include a CD, lummi sticks, storybook, and activity poster.

Tuition and Materials: $100.00
Click here for class availability and enrollment!

Our Kind of Day - for Families!
A one-room schoolhouse approach to music. With older children ready to show the little ones how it's done and the younger ones eager to learn, Family Time becomes a multi-layered learning environment. Each week, a Kindermusik Educator will introduce basic musical concepts and then give you the instruments, and the structured free time to put those concepts into play.
The whole family attends this weekly 45-minute class!

Classes meet Monday 6:00pm; Friday 11:00am.

Materials (one set per family) include a Family Guide, 2 Home CDs, 2 Home Literature Books, 2 Double Egg Shaker Instruments a Child's size Kangaroo hand puppet with Joey finger puppet, and Domino Game with instructions.

Tuition and Materials: $180.00 per family
Click here for class availability and enrollment!

Enroll today to take advantage of our Summer offer:
Free CD! Enroll in an InJoy Music Summer Camp by June 9, 2007 and receive a free Kindermusik CD! When enrolling, please enter code "CDSUMMER07" in the comments section of our online enrollment system. Limit one CD per family. Offer Expires: June 9, 2007

Pizza With Extra "Help"

2007-05-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

Normally, I like my pizza with extra cheese, but this week I'll be adding an extra topping-- help. This Thursday, May 10th, Pizza Hut restaurants across the state of Kansas are donating 20% of profits to the United Way Greensburg Disaster Fund. The money will directly benefit those affected by this past weekend's tornado. When you order your pizza, just mention the United Way Greensburg Disaster Fund promotion.

Visit here to see aerial photos of the tornado damage.
Read articles about the tornado and its effects here and here.

Music For My Ears (and brain!)

2007-04-30T11:10:00.000-07:00

Here's any interesting article about the science behind the Mozart phenomenon. It actually uses the Kindermusik classroom as the example of how music education at an early age can help children become smarter students. I also think it's important to note that the article encourages active participation in music (e.g. learning to play the glockenspiel, recorder, or piano) as oppose to just listening to classical music to truly reap the benefits long term.

So, pat yourselves on the backs parents for choosing Kindermusik and making the best choice for your kids!

The face of autism

2007-04-26T20:19:00.001-07:00

April is Autism Awareness Month. This video documents the early experiences of one child with Autism. Current statistics suggest that 1 in 166 children receive a diagnosis somewhere on the Autism Spectrum.

Were you born in a barn?

2007-04-18T06:20:00.000-07:00

While I doubt any of you were actually born in a barn, you can now visit one of the coolest barns around. The DeAnna Rose Farmstead's 2007 season has begun! Located at 138th and Switzer, the Farmstead is a 12-acre park. It has farm animals, birds of prey, vegetable and flower gardens, a one-room country schoolhouse, old time fishing pond, horse drawn wagon rides and pony rides, and a large playground. They are in the process of building a dairy barn and apples are growing in the new apple orchid.

Hours of operation: 9-5 (special activities from 10-5 M-Saturday/ 11-5 Sunday)
Admission: FREE

Other activities:

Pony Rides: $3--ages 3 and up
Horse-Drawn Wagon Ride: $3 per person (children 1 and under are free)
Fishing Pond: $3
Mining: $4 small bag/ $6 large

Combo tickets: $10 (one ticket for wagon ride, pony ride, goat feeding, and fishing

Goat Feeding: $0.25 per handful

Go with the flow

2007-04-12T19:03:00.000-07:00

While reorganizing some books in my office, I ran across a book I read my first year of teaching called Begin with the Brain by Martha Kaufeldt. The book gave suggestions and justification for creating child-centered classrooms. As I thumbed through the book, I found the following about "optimal experience" environments.

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (say that 3 times fast) proposes that there are 8 components to Flow-- a state of concentration that is so completely focused it amounts to absolute absorption in an activity. During a flow experience, the mind and body are in complete harmony. Self-conscious, negative feelings, worries, and anxiety disappear. The activity takes on personal meaning, is intrinsically motivating, and results in total satisfaction.

The 8 Components of Flow:
* Flow occurs when we confront tasks we have a chance of completing
* We must be able to concentrate on what we are doing
* The task has clear goals
* The task provides immediate feedback
* Deep but effortless involvement removes from our awareness worries and frustrations of everyday life
* The experience is an enjoyable one that allows us to exercise a sense of control over our actions
* The concern for self disappears
* The sense of time is altered; hours pass by in what seems like minutes

As I read about flow, I began to think about Kindermusik classes. Kindermusik classes are certainly child-centered, but do they "flow"? Think of your own class experiences in Village, Our Time, Imagine That!, Young Child, Sign & Sing, or Family Time. I'm sure you can think of examples for each of the 8 components. Here are ideas I thought of for each component:

* "Tasks" in a Village class might be exploring a chime ball. In Our Time a child might play egg shakers in a variety of ways during an instrument play-along. In both instances, children are successful and eagerly await these "tasks" because they have confidence in their abilities.

* Concentration: I am immediately thinking of the focused faces of my Imagine That! classes as they practice playing their resonator bars along with the chime bell recording.

* Through FOL's (Foundation of Learning Statements), we provide information about the "goals" and benefits of class activities. But, I think the #1 goal of a Kindermusik class is to provide a time for fun, educational interactions between parents and children.

* Many times, I've been a harried mom frustrated with the day-to-day struggles of a headstrong 2-year-old when we enter the Kindermusik classroom. By the second or third giggle during a lap bounce or active listening, that 2-year-old becomes a delightful person who I love to be with. Allowing yourself to be caught up in your child's joy during an activity is priceless. Try to make a conscious effort to leave all the "stuff" outside and make your time together in class about fun and happiness.

* In Village, we encourage babies to move and explore the room. They need control over how they participate. In Our Time, the exploration time allows your child to take the lead and guide the action. In Imagine That! children fill in the specifics of make believe with their own ideas and suggestions.

* Have you seen children dance? They aren't at all concerned about what they look like, who is watching, or if anyone else is doing the same thing.

* In every class, I've glanced at my watch and thought, "There is no way we only have 5 minutes left. We're having too much fun. I can't possibly wrap this thing up and sing goodbye."

Thank you for your role in creating Flow experiences in our studio. We are so lucky to be a part of your week!

Surf the Web, Young Grasshopper

2007-04-05T12:15:00.000-07:00

While reading one of my favorite blogs today, I found a link to an article about how children acquire language. When I clicked on the site ( Grasshopper News Media Parents ), I found a website that offers so much more! From this website, you can access blogs, podcasts, and videos that provide information about all stages of parenting. The site features many writers, all writing on various topics.

Below is the article (part 1 in a series) about language acquisition. Warning: In my life before Mommyhood, I was an English teacher. It might be that I get a bigger kick out of this kind of stuff than the average person.

How do children acquire language? Are their brains wired in a certain way to “soak it up” from their environment, or is there more involved in the process? What can affect a child’s language skills? There are many factors to this complicated question, but we must ask this first: What are the basic parts of a language?

The smallest unit of a word is called a phoneme. It can be a single sound, such as “p” or “c”. Changing a single phoneme can change an entire word; for example, part and cart. Although both words have similar letters, that initial sound determines the meaning. Phonology is the study of phonemes, and how they make up words.

A morpheme is made of two or more phonemes. It is the smallest combination of sounds that cannot be broken up into separate meaningful sounds. For example, bus is one morpheme. You can split up the sounds into b, uh and ssss, but none of them have a meaning on their own. Morphology is the study of morphemes.

Syntax is sometimes used interchangeably with grammar, but they aren’t necessarily the same thing. Syntax includes the rules of how words are arranged to make sense toa speaker. A change in syntax can change the meaning. For example, the classic The dog bit the man. and The man bit the dog. show a difference in syntax.

Grammar is using syntax and morphology to study a language. For example: the plural of girl is girls (you add the phoneme s to make it plural). The word girls is a noun and can be used as the subject, object, or indirect object of a sentence. The girls are insidethe house. Take the pizza to the girls. He gave the girls their presents.

Paralanguage are different ways of conveying the same message at the same time. This includes distance between you and the speaker, the tone of your voice and accent, and even your appearance.

And finally, there is semantics. Lawyers quibble about the semantics of a statement made in court. The general definition of this is “meaning”, such as the difference between murder and manslaughter. They both involve the death of a person, but the circumstances are defined (slightly) differently, and it makes a difference when the jury decides the punishment.

This also includes cultural norms. When an Australian says, She’s apples, mate, an American may look at him with a strange look. If the Australian had said, It’s OK, it’s taken care of, then the American understands what he meant. When children learn a language, they first do so by copying the adults around them. They watch how their parents move their mouths, lips, tongues and teeth to make the sounds, and try to imitate them. They learn the “Alphabet Song” (which teaches the basic sounds, the phonemes) of the native language. By a year old, they know simple words, such as cat and mama. Eventually, they learn how to string words to convey meaning, such as want cookie. A young child’s brain is flexible and learns quickly.

Most children learn language in this way, but what if a child has a learning disability that interferes with this process? What can cause these problems and how can parents help a child with speech problems? The second part of this article will address these issues.
-by Annie Dameron at http://www.gnmparents.com/

Summer and Fall Enrollment

2007-03-27T11:23:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that enrollment for Summer Camps and Fall 2007 has begun for currently enrolled families. Our 5-week summer camps will begin June 11th and ends July 14th. The Fall 2007 Semester begins August 20th and ends December 22nd. Open enrollment begins Monday, April 9th.

Re-enrollment offers (for families currently enrolled in a Spring class at our studio)
Enroll in summer camp and receive $5.00 off summer tuition
Enroll in a fall class and receive $10 off fall tuition
Enroll in summer camp and fall and receive $20 off your total tuition
To take advantage of these incentives, you must enroll by April 7th and pay your deposit(s) by April 30th. The balance of your tuition will be due the first day of each class.

Summer 2007 Schedule (June 11th through July 14th)

Village (birth-18 months)
Monday 11:45 (HM)
Tuesday 1:30 (AL)
Friday 10:00 (JS)
Saturday 9:30 (AL)

Our Time (18-36 months)
Monday 10:30 (HM)
Tuesday 6:00 (HM)
Wednesday 10:00 (AL)
Saturday 10:30 (AL)
*note: class is 60 minutes long and includes a craft time

Imagine That! (3-5 years)
Tuesday 9:30 (HM)
Wednesday 11:30 (AL)
Wednesday 6:30 (HM)
Saturday 10:30 (AL)
*note: class is 60 minutes long and includes a craft time

Young Child (5-7 years)
Thursday 10:30 (JS)
Saturday 1:30 (AL)
*note: class is 90 minutes long and includes a craft time

Family Time (multi-age/ multi-child families)
Monday 6:00 (HM)
Friday 11:00 (JS)

Fall 2007 Schedule (August 20th through December 22nd)

Village (birth - 18 months)
Monday 11:30 (HM)
Tuesday 11: 30 (HM)
Tuesday 1:30 (AL)
Friday 10:00 (JS)
Saturday 9:30 (AL)

Our Time (18-36 months)
Monday 10:30 (HM)
Tuesday 10:30 (HM)
Tuesday 6:00 (HM)
Wednesday 9:30 (AL)
Wednesday 10:30 (AL)
Friday 11: 00 (JS)
Saturday 10:30 (AL)

Imagine That! (3-5 years)
Tuesday 9:30 (HM)
Tuesday 7:00 (HM)
Wednesday 11:30 (AL)
Saturday 11:30 (AL)

Young Child (5-7 years)
by request (contact contact Amy )

Sign & Sing (6-36 months)
Thursday 10:30 (JS)

Family Time (multi-age/ multi-children families)
Tuesday 4:00 (AL)
Thursday 9:30 (HM)

For information about themes and tuition, please visit our website. To enroll in summer camp and fall semester classes before April 7th, please or sign up during class this week or contact us .

A fun activity for this weekend

2007-03-14T20:32:00.000-07:00

Come Join the Fun - Children's Carnival!!

Saturday – March 17th at the Great Mall in Olathe
10:00am – 6:00pm

THE EASTER BUNNY IS COMING!!
Games! Prizes! Fun!

General info: Tickets are each $1 and all the activities/games/treats will be either 1 or 2 tickets. They will be set up along the East end of the Mall near the Easter Bunny. The activities are targeted for kids from age 2 - 10. They will have 2 bouncers set up, one for little ones and one for older kids and we'll have a big slide, cotton candy, games, face painting, tattoos, etc.

Proceeds to support the “Raising Future Leaders” project, a non-profit humanitarian relief project for children in Africa orphaned by the AIDS pandemic.

Amazing Sculptures

2007-02-27T11:58:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Imagine That!'s sculpture homework, I found a link to a website that showcases some amazing paper sculptures. Jen Stark is an artist that uses construction paper to create 3-D sculptures. Need a little inspiration for your original creation? Visit her website.

I can't wait to see what your child creates!

Storytimes at the Library

2007-02-26T16:11:00.000-08:00

Just when we thought the warmer weather was here to stay...it's cold again. Are you looking for something to do inside where it's warm? Try the public library. There are storytimes just for each age group offered several times (and at several locations) each week. Check out the Johnson County Library's Calendar of Events for a listing of storytimes perfect for your child.

From the calendar of events, try a keyword search of the storytimes listed below for a complete listing of locations and times.

MOTHER GOOSE STORYTIME (12-24 months)
WALKER TIME (12-24 months) (this is a "tween" class... too old for Mother Goose, but not quite ready for Toddler Time)
TODDLER STORYTIME (24-36 months)
PRESCHOOL STORYTIME (3-6 years)

All storytimes incorporate fingerplays, stories, rhymes, songs, and movement. Often, there are extension activities (coloring pages, additional hands-on items) to do after storytime or at home.

Mother Goose Storytime, Walker Time, and Toddler Storytime are 20-25 minutes, Preschool Storytime is 30 minutes.

Thanks to Laura Hamons for the recommendation and link!

Wellness Policy

2007-02-21T12:12:00.000-08:00

This winter has been especially difficult in terms of illness. Even though warmer weather has arrived, we are still in the middle of the cold and flu season. We know that your child looks forward to attending Kindermusik class each week and that missing class due to illness is disappointing. If you miss a class due to illness, you are welcome to attend a make up class at any time during the current semester by scheduling a make up class with your child’s teacher.

Please take a moment to review our wellness policy and procedures. These policies help us provide the healthiest classroom possible. We appreciate your role in keeping everyone well. In class, the educator will promote a healthy classroom by:
· cleaning and sanitizing instruments and materials after each class
· routinely laundering scarves and blankets
· providing hand sanitizer for use before, during, and after class

We ask families to keep their child home if any of the following symptoms of illness are present:
· sore throat
· stomach ache
· inflammation/excessive redness of the eyes
· fever of 99.8 degrees or higher (for children under 6 months of age) or 100.5 degrees or higher (children older than 6 months)
· rash
· vomiting (that is more than "spitting up")
· diarrhea
· persistent coughing
· discolored runny nose

Children should not attend class within 24 hours of having strep throat, eye infections, fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. Children with other communicable diseases such as chicken pox, scarlet fever, whooping cough, fifth disease, influenza, conjunctivitis, or head lice should not attend classes for the period of time designated by a physician or the health department.

Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.

Spring Service Project

2007-02-20T13:49:00.000-08:00

Our Spring service project has begun! Each semester, we coordinate a studio service project. For the next two weeks (February 19th through March 3rd), we are teaming up with Harvesters—The Community Food Network, to sponsor a food and fund drive at the studio.

Donations received through the drive will help Harvesters’ network feed those in need throughout Kansas City. Harvesters’ agencies provide assistance to nearly 60,000 people—largely children and seniors—each week. 43% of those turning to Harvester's for emergency food assistance are children. Since there is a critical connection between childhood nutrition and cognitive and physical development, even nutritional deficiencies of a relatively short-term nature negatively impact a child’s health, behavior and the ability to concentrate in school. Use the link above to read about the programs Harvester's has developed to address these needs.

A contribution means much needed help, and hope, will be available to those who need it. As you come to class during the next two weeks, we invite you to bring a few items to show your support. We will also have an envelope if you prefer to make a monetary donation. Your generosity makes a difference.

Most Needed Items
Your donation makes a difference! (No glass please!)
Food
Canned vegetables
Canned fruit
Boxed meals - (Hamburger Helper, Pasta Roni)
Canned Meat/Tuna
Peanut Butter
Canned Soup
Cereal – hot and cold

Household Products
Soap
Deodorant
Shampoo
Toilet Paper

Peanut Butter Recall

2007-02-15T18:42:00.000-08:00

Today, a recall was announced on two brands of peanut butter. Please read the article below from ConAgra Foods, Inc., the distributing company.

Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter Products Beginning with Product Code 2111 Recalled for Possible Salmonella Contamination

OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2007--ConAgra Foods today announced that it has taken the precautionary measure of voluntarily recalling all varieties of Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter beginning with product code 2111 imprinted on the lid of both brands. ConAgra Foods is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a statistical report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that these products may be linked to the foodborne illness salmonella.

While this affects Great Value Peanut Butter beginning with product code 2111, there are other manufacturers of Great Value Peanut Butter that are not affected by this recall.
"Although none of our extensive product tests have indicated the presence of salmonella, we are taking this precautionary measure because consumer health and safety is our top priority," said Chris Kircher, spokesperson for ConAgra Foods. "We are working closely with the FDA to better understand its concerns, and we will take whatever additional measures are needed to ensure the safety, quality and wholesomeness of our products."

If consumers have this product, they should discard it, but save the product lid. For a full refund, consumers must return the Peter Pan Peanut Butter or Great Value Peanut Butter product lid along with their name and mailing address to ConAgra Foods, P.O. Box 3768, Omaha, NE 68103.

Consumers with questions or concerns about the recall can call the 24-hour toll-free hotline at 866-344-6970. For more information about salmonella, visit www.ific.org.

ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE:CAG) is one of North America's leading packaged food companies, serving grocery retailers, as well as restaurants and other foodservice establishments. Popular ConAgra Foods consumer brands include: Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Egg Beaters, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Hunt's, Marie Callender's, Orville Redenbacher's, PAM, and many others. For more information, please visit us at www.conagrafoods.com.

CONTACT: ConAgra Foods Inc.Consumers with questions or concerns about the recall can call the 24-hour toll-free hotline at 866-344-6970.Media: Chris Kircher, 402-595-5392 or Analysts: Chris Klinefelter, 402-595-4154 www.conagrafoods.com

SOURCE: ConAgra Foods Inc.

FEBRUARY 13: CLASSES CANCELLED

2007-02-13T05:28:00.000-08:00

Our studio follows the Shawnee Mission School District's decision concerning bad weather. ALL CLASSES TODAY ARE CANCELLED.

Since today was our Valentine's Day exchange in class, we will reschedule our Valentine fun for next week. Please bring your cards to class for our own Valentine's Day on February 20th.

Classes cancelled due to weather will be made up by extending the semester one week.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child's teacher:

Miss Heather (913) 362-9765 or injoyinfo@kc.rr.com
Miss Jamie (913) 422-1670 or injoymissjamie@yahoo.com

Your Own Little Cupid

2007-02-06T18:49:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Valentine's Day, I ran across these 7 Seven Signs Your Child Loves You...

The BabyCenter Seven: Signs that your child loves you
1. Your newborn stares into your eyes — he's actually working hard to memorize your face. He doesn't understand anything else about the world, but he knows you're important.

2. Your baby thinks about you even when you're not around. Between 8 and 12 months old, he'll start to scrunch his face and look around when you leave the room — and he'll smile when you return.

3. Your toddler throws wicked tantrums. Nope, those screaming fits don't mean he's stopped loving you. He wouldn't be so hurt and angry if he didn't trust you so deeply.

4. Your toddler runs to you for comfort when he falls down or feels sad. Kids this age may not truly understand the meaning of "I love you," but their actions speak louder than words.

5. Your preschooler gives you a flower picked from the garden, a finger-painted heart, a sparkly rock, or another gift.

6. Your preschooler wants your approval. He'll start to be more cooperative around the house, and he'll look for chances to impress. "Look at me!" will become a catchphrase.

7. Your grade-schooler trusts you with secrets, like his first crush or his most embarrassing moment. You're his confidante, even if he shies away from your hugs in public.

Neat how the love grows right along with the SEVEN MAGICAL YEARS OF KINDERMUSIK!

City Planners (and Designers!)

2007-02-05T12:16:00.000-08:00

Check out this great website from Tate Kids- Imaginary City where your child can design his or her very own city! I wonder what kinds of adventures you'll find there... lost dogs, escalators and elevators, a visit from the broom man? We can't wait to hear all about it!

Thanks to Kindermusik at Musik and Motion in Sacramento, California for the great link!

New Blog Features

2007-01-31T10:31:00.000-08:00

With week 3 of the spring semester under way, I've finally taken the time to begin our blog makeover. I'm really excited to point out a few features:

Photo Gallery: click on the streaming photos to see our online gallery. We'll be taking pictures in classes soon and adding them to the site!

Labels: this feature will allow us to categorize articles according to age level and topic. It will allow our readers to reference articles that interest them most! (Note: only articles written in January 2007 or later contain labels.)

Books We Love: book lists according to class or current events (ex: Valentine's Day) that we know you'll love, too. Books are based upon current semester themes.

Other Ways to InJoy Your Day: Visit these links for helpful information related to our studio, parenting, craft ideas for your child, and things to do around town.

Do you have ideas for things you'd love to see on our blog? Let us know!

A story to warm your heart

2007-01-25T10:58:00.000-08:00

This story, about a friend of my sister's, appeared in yesterday's edition of The Wichita Eagle. I am honored to share it with you!

Clay Beabout, who just turned 10, will have his 28th surgery in late February. That leaves 20 to go before he reaches his full stature. His frequent stays in the hospital are paying off in more than medical ways: As a result of the hospitalizations, his mom, Amy Beabout, 38, has created a tooth fairy pillow business and a way to help other families.When Clay was born, he was missing five ribs on his left side, his spine had two severe curves, his diaphragm was out of place, and he had only one kidney. He was given a 50-50 chance to live.

But at an early age he was accepted into a program led by doctors in San Antonio. They use vertical titanium "ribs" to hold a child's remaining ribs in the right position. Without the titanium rods, the ribs can compress, curving the spine more and keeping the child's lungs from growing and developing. Clay is one of about 300 children in the San Antonio program.

The titanium device is expandable, so it keeps up with the child's growth. Expansion requires a surgical procedure every four to six months. About the time Clay was accepted into the program, Beabout, who lives outside Wichita, made a tooth fairy pillow for Clay's older brother, Wes. The pillows are shaped like a tooth and have a small pocket that holds a lost tooth and a note for the tooth fairy, or a present from the tooth fairy. The boys' friends' parents saw the pillow and asked for one for their own children. During one San Antonio trip, Beabout was working on a pillow when a nurse told her, "I'd buy one of those."
That started the business, and it led to Beabout's dream of starting a nonprofit organization to help families like hers with expenses that insurance doesn't cover, such as travel to and from San Antonio. She also hopes to buy beds so that parents can stay in their child's hospital room.
Beabout named her nonprofit organization the Titanium Rib Foundation, and part of the proceeds from her sales go to it. In the past year, she estimates the foundation has received about $2,000. She intends to start disbursing money when the fund grows to about $10,000.

Beabout is a former teacher, but it's impossible for her to hold a full-time job now. "I never know when he's going to get sick," she says. A common cold can linger for a month because of Clay's lung problems.

But the experimental treatment also has made it possible for Clay to do the things that other children do, she says. He can't play contact sports, but that's because of his missing kidney, not because of his chest problems. He is a bit of a risk-taker, Beabout says, and "very strong-willed."Clay, impatiently accepting a hug from his mom before returning to after-school cartoons, is a fourth-grader at Martin Elementary School in Andover, and says his favorite class is recess.

If you'd like to order a pillow:
Amy Beabout sells her tooth fairy pillows online and makes tooth fairy appearances. Her Web site is www.toothfairypillow.net. Donations to the Titanium Rib Foundation can be made there. Tooth fairy visits can be arranged by calling Beabout at 316-733-0078.

Learning with Mother Goose

2007-01-20T17:54:00.000-08:00

Hickory, Dickory, Dock! Nursery Rhymes can teach babies to talk!

There have been numerous educational studies done over the last decade that prove teaching children nursery rhymes increases their language awareness, may help them learn to read at an earlier age, helps them learn steady beat, and teaches them to carry a melody.

While I was aware of several of these benefits, a quick Google search of "educational benefits of nursery rhymes" linked me to articles all over the world that prove the benefits of nursery rhymes. Did you know that the Committee on the Prevention of Reading Difficulties in Young Children at the National Research Council recommend that parents teach their children nursery rhymes to increase their phonological awareness and to create a literature rich learning environment. The study also states that these practices may prevent children from having learning difficulties in elementary school. WOW! Over the next 8 weeks, we will learn new nursery rhymes in our Village classes. It's so exciting to think that something so fun can be so beneficial!

Has it been awhile since you've sat down with Mother Goose? If so, visit one of these sites for nursery rhymes you "used to know" and some new ones, too.

Mama Lisa's House of Nursery Rhymes features traditional Mother Goose and other rhymes from around the world

Nursery Rhymes and Silly Stuff allows you to choose a rhyme and then plays the song while it displays the lyrics.

Nursery Rhymes, lyrics, origins, and history has an extensive list of rhymes and also provides the historical background to many rhymes and to Mother Goose herself!

Classes Monday, January 15 CANCELLED

2007-01-14T21:32:00.000-08:00

All classes scheduled for Monday, January 15th will be cancelled due to weather. All classes will be held next Monday and we will extend the semester by one week.

Our studio follows the Shawnee Mission School District's school closings. Since January 15th was already a holiday, the decision was made based upon road conditions and the extremely cold weather. The studio will re-open Tuesday, January 16th.

If you have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Miss Amy (913) 362-8209 or injoy@kc.rr.com
Miss Heather (913) 362-9765 or injoyinfo@kc.rr.com

Fun for the whole family

2007-01-09T21:14:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for a fun way to introduce your family to the Performing Arts, please join me this weekend at the annual Kansas City Music Teachers Association Multi-Piano Concert.

This is the only time you'll see eighteen grand pianos sharing a stage, two pianists at each piano, playing simultaneously under the careful direction of conductor Jeffrey Bishop. More than 400 local students participate in this event each year. I will be performing at both concerts, as well as eight of my private piano students.

The concerts will be held at 3:00pm and 5:00pm this Sunday, January 14 at the Lied Center on the west campus of the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

I hope to see you there!

A Whole Pile of Fun

2007-01-07T09:19:00.000-08:00

Our Family Time demo class last Thursday night was so fun! Thank you to everyone who attended. There were also many of you who were not able to attend either of the two demo sessions, so we've expanded the Family Time demo classes just for you! The week of January 22nd, we'll offer three Family Time demo classes at their regularly scheduled times.

Please plan to join Miss Jamie at one of the times below:
Tuesday, January 23rd at 11:30
Friday, January 26th at 6:00
Saturday, January 27th at 12:30

To learn more about Family Time, please visit our website.

To reserve a spot in class, please call us at (913) 362-8209 or send us an email.

A New Year

2007-01-01T16:48:00.000-08:00

Hello Kindermusik Families! It's me, Miss Jamie. I thought that since it's a brand new year I would start off with a brand new hobby-blogging. We've all just celebrated a busy Christmas and New Year's, and my family and I added a 2 year old birthday party for my son, George, and a 7 year anniversary celebration for my husband and I. Needless to say, it's been busy and a little stressing. But, you know what turned out to be one of the highlights? A semi-concert on Kindermusik from George for the whole family. And here I thought that I was getting more out of Kindermusik at times than he was. He's the litttle boy who loves to play chase with others and stand by the gate for most of the class. Turns out that he just loves to "Go in to the kitchen and take a peek" and try to "Link his pinkies now, two by two." That 3 minute concert would have melted the heart of the old Grinch himself!

All Shiny and New

2007-01-01T12:42:00.000-08:00

In the coming weeks, you may notice some changes to our blog! After much procrastination, we are upgrading to the new version of Blogger (our blog host). In the spirit of the new year, we'll be remodeling and updating our links, reorganizing our archives, adding surveys, and we might even give the blog a whole new look. I figure it's a good way to keep us busy until the Spring semester begins.

Thank YOU

2006-12-28T19:10:00.000-08:00

As we reflect on the end of a great semester, I want to thank each of you for helping create the weekly masterpiece we know as Kindermusik. Thank you for committing to your child's future...for sharing fun stories about holding "class" at home...for singing at the top of your lungs...for dancing to Tants, Tants, Yidelekh in Village class...for Dust, Dust, Dusting in Our Time...for snowball fights in Imagine That...for learning to read music with your students in Young Child class...and for making each of our days exciting, different, and full of love.

Please watch this video and know that you are very much appreciated!

From my family to yours

2006-12-25T07:38:00.000-08:00

Peace to each of you this holiday season!
Miss Amy, Aaron, and Agatha Helen

You've come a long way, Baby (and toddler, and preschooler...)

2006-12-19T12:25:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how quickly this semester has gone by! It seems like only yesterday the weather was warmer and we were just learning new songs and meeting new friends.

In both classes on Monday, parents commented on how much growth their children had achieved in 16 weeks. It really is amazing! In Village, babies who weren't mobile are now crawling or RUNNING around the room. In Our Time, toddlers are singing entire songs and patiently waiting for their turn. In all classes, children have discovered new musical interests (playing instruments, dancing, singing). Best of all, children have developed stronger relationships with their families and have new friends in class. It is a privilege to share these milestones with you and your child.

Between semesters, listen to your at-home CD's again. Revisit favorite songs or activities. Allow your child to share ideas of how to dance to a song or see if he/she can sing along.

Here are a few of my favorite activities from this semester to re-create at home:

Village: Zoom Buggy
* The Zoom Buggy motives (rumble, zoom, zoom/ squeak, squeaky, squeak/ bumpa, bumpa..)
* Riding in the Buggy
* Zoom E-Oh
* Rocking Horse

Village: Dream Pillow
* Listen, Listen (of course, you'll need a slide whistle..)
* Dance, Little Baby
* Tants, Tants, Yidelekh (work off those holiday pounds!)
* Skinnamarink

Our Time: Milk & Cookies
* In My House (dust, dust, dust)
* Go Into the Kitchen
* Shake Your Eggs
* A House for Me
* The Grocery Store
* The Muffin Man
* Savez Vous Planter Les Choux?
* Bells Are Ringing

Imagine That!: Hello Weather, Let's Play Together
* Head and Shoulders
* Sally Go 'Round the Sun
* Michael Finnigan
* Mud Puddle Jump
* Weggis Song
* Lium, Laum
* The Jolly Snowman
* Over the River

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday! I will look forward to seeing you in January.

Just for Moms

2006-12-15T13:26:00.000-08:00

Is anyone else having this day with their favorite toddler?

Village Journal Cards

2006-12-15T13:18:00.000-08:00

As the semester begins to wind down, please check your At-Home Journal to make sure you have a card for each week. If you're missing one, please let us know and we'll put it in your file at the studio.

Thanks!

Family Time Preview Class (Join the Band!)

2006-12-14T12:01:00.000-08:00

We are so excited that we will once again offer Family Time for the spring semester. This class allows families with multiple children to attend one Kindermusik class as a group. The result is a unique Kindermusik class where families bond, children participate and learn at their age-appropriate level, and everyone has tons of fun!

You are invited to join Miss Heather and Miss Jamie for a Family Time Preview class* on Thursday, January 4th at 6:30pm. You'll experience a class from our previous theme, The Rhythm of My Day and you'll get to meet the Family Time band. We'll also have at-home materials from Here, There, and Everywhere (our Spring theme) available for you to see.

Please email Miss Heather to RSVP by Wednesday, January 3rd.

*Preview class is open to all currently enrolled and new families with children ages birth to 7 years old.

Drop & Shop!

2006-12-12T13:01:00.000-08:00

Our first annual InJoy Drop & Shop was a blast! In case you missed it, last Friday night, we held our studio open for two hours and provided entertainment, allowing parents to get out for a bit and finish up their holiday shopping.

We were all amazed at the long attention spans of these precious angels - must be due to all of those Kindermusik classes!

Many thanks to my husband Aaron, and Miss Jamie, the newest member of our team of educators, for helping out!

Bring a Friend

2006-12-10T12:45:00.000-08:00

You're Invited to

bring a friend to Kindermusik

When: December 11th through 16th

What: bring a friend* to join us in class

Why: Everyone can benefit from Kindermusik class!

As the semester has progressed, you have experienced the many benefits of attending a Kindermusik class. Next week, let's share the fun with other families! Please RSVP via email or phone to let us know the names of your guests so that we can prepare for class. We are confident that they will have a great time! And, if they choose to enroll in the Spring semester, we'll thank you with a $10 credit on a future semester's tuition. If you have any questions, please let us know. We will look forward to seeing you and your guests next week!

* Who should you invite? Friends from playgroup, friends from pre-school or Mother's Day Out, neighbors, co-workers with children the same age as your child, parents and children you meet at the park or indoor playground, etc..

Share the Love

2006-12-03T12:13:00.000-08:00

This year, it is estimated that more than five million children will not have toys for Christmas. Won't you share the love this holiday season and donate a toy (or several) to the Kansas City chapter of Toys for Tots?

We have a collection box in the coat/shoe storage area of our studio. If you'd like to help, please bring new, unwrapped toys by Friday, December 15.

Thank you for helping us make the holidays just a little bit brighter for our local children!

Hello Weather, Let's Play Together!

2006-11-29T15:36:00.000-08:00

As this semester's Imagine That! Classes know, weather can be so much fun! I think all the singing about snow and ice in class may have blown in our first winter storm of the year. My Tuesday class predicted we'd have snow before Thanksgiving-- they weren't too far off.

I must confess I'm as giddy about snow days now as I was when I was a child (and as a teacher!). I will watch the school closing ticker on TV tonight with great anticipation, even though it really doesn't mean that I dodge that math test or avoid doing homework. I think it has something to do with the promise of waking up to a beautiful white landscape... The quiet stillness and untouched blank slate waiting for footsteps, sled trails, and strips of ground peeking through where a snowball was carefully rolled. That, and the tradition in my house on snow days that involved a day of pancake eating, making cookies, playing in the snow, and watching movies.

Here are a couple of ideas from our current semester of Imagine That! For you to pass the time in the event we're snowed in over the next couple of days:
* Put paper plates on the floor and pretend they are skates. Try having speed trials to qualify for Olympic speed skating or show off your fancy ice skating routines while listening to a great CD.

* Too cold to play outside? Use Kleenex or paper towels to make snowballs...Have a toasty warm snowball fight. -or- (this part we haven't done in class) Use shaving cream (Barbasol or other white foam) to make it snow inside. Sculpt snowmen, draw designs, and have a blizzard of fun inside. Depending on how daring you are, squirt the shaving cream in a pie pan, jellyroll pan (anything with sides), right on the table, in a storage tub (for stomping fun), or in the bathtub. Safety note: shaving cream makes things SLIPPERY... Please be careful!

Maybe the snowy day will have you feeling crafty...If so, try one of these projects:
* Use coffee filters to create beautiful snowflakes. After cutting them out, dip them in water mixed with a few drops of food coloring-- watch the color spread through the snowflake. After they dry, it's a fun surprise to see the patterns made as the water "traveled" through the filter.

* Create snowmen paper dolls using this great template. Color, cut, and then dress your snowy friends.

* Use this link to print winter coloring pages.

* Make a penguin (like the one we made during Zoo Train this summer): here is a template. Complete the penguin by tracing your child's hands for the wings.

Ready for some fun in the kitchen?
Try one of these cookie recipes from the Home Activity Book of Milk & Cookies, this semester's Our Time theme:

Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 c. Shortening
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. soda
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. nuts
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
12 oz. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together the shortening, sugars, and eggs. Sift the flour, salt, and soda. Add to the creamed mixture. Stir in the nuts, vanilla, and chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes. Yield: 2 dozen.

Italian Frosted Cookies
3/4 c. margarine
2 Tbsp. orange juice
1/3 c. sugar
3 c. all-purpose flour
3 eggs
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
confectioner sugar & water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream margarine and sugar; add eggs, vanilla, and orange juice. Combine flour and baking powder and gradually add to creamed mixture. Knead dough on lightly floured board for about 5 minutes. Using tablespoons of dough, roll in 6-inch lengths; press ends together to form rings. Let stand on an ungreased cookie sheet at room temperature for 15 minutes. Bake at 350 for 17-20 minutes or until lightly golden. Mix confectioner sugar and water to make a glaze. Dip each hot cookie into the glaze and decorate with candy sprinkles. Yield: 3 dozen.

If the snow and ice continue to fall and you're snowed in tomorrow, I hope that you have a fun and safe (snuggly warm) day!

Why it's important to re-enroll!

2006-11-25T20:16:00.000-08:00

Why is it so important to keep your child consistently enrolled in Kindermusik?

Because it’s been proven that repeated, not sporadic, enrollment makes all the difference!

In early 2005, Beth Frook of Little Hands Kindermusik in Clifton, Virginia, currently the largest Kindermusik program worldwide, shared a granddaddy of a Foundations of Learning (FOL) in her Kindermusik class. A local university had recently conducted a study on 3-and-5-year old children in her program titled “The Effects of Kindermusik on Behavioral Self-Regulation in Early Childhood.”

It proved what Beth — and Miss Heather and I — already knew:

The longer you stay in Kindermusik, the better.

Specifically, the study showed:

“Children currently enrolled in Kindermusik showed higher levels of self-control than those never enrolled and those previously enrolled. This suggests that in order for children to reap the benefit of increased self-control as a result of Kindermusik participation, it is important to have repeated and recent Kindermusik experiences and remain enrolled in the program.”

“Four-year-old children who had been exposed to Kindermusik for longer periods of time are better off in terms of self-control—namely a child’s ability to plan, guide, and control their own behavior—than similar children with less Kindermusik history.”

“These experiences, stop-go, high-low, fast-slow, short-long, and loud-soft, whereby children’s motor behavior is guided by the music, appear to be good exercise for young children’s emerging self-regulatory skills.”

Beth shares why she feels this research is important:

I think it adds impetus to a parent’s decision-making because it’s more than just saying, “Okay, we’ve done Kindermusik, let’s try something else.” It encourages a parent to go beyond the smorgasbord approach to children’s activities. A lot of times parents will say, “We’ll do art, then soccer, then swimming.” A study like this encourages families to look at the value of re-enrolling. Repetition is vital for a child’s learning, and currently in our culture, it’s not viewed that way.

Study results were made available to Kindermusik in May, 2005. The study was conducted by Adam Winsler Ph.D and graduate student Lesley Ducenne in the Department of Psychology at George Mason University.

The 15-month study included 91 children between the ages of 3 and 5 who were split into three groups: 23 students currently enrolled in Kindermusik, 19 students previously enrolled in Kindermusik, and 49 students of similar family backgrounds from local preschools who had never had Kindermusik.

The children were observed doing a variety of tasks that required self-control such as slowing down their motor behavior, delaying their gratification, refraining from touching attractive but forbidden toys, quietly whispering, and compliance with instructions to initiate or stop certain behaviors. Parents also completed surveys.

The study, supervised by Adam Winsler, Ph.D, Applied Developmental Psychology in the Department of Psychology at George Mason University, will likely be presented at national conferences and published later this year.

Many thanks go to Lori Burkhardt of St. Louis and Merri Williams for sharing this with us.

Follow me to Kindermusik

2006-11-25T09:17:00.000-08:00

Follow me to Kindermusik

Re-enrollment is well under way for the Spring 2006 semester. If you haven't completed your online enrollment yet, please do so as soon as possible to ensure your spot in class.

Enrollment opens to families on the priority enrollment list on Monday, November 27th. If you're ready to begin your Kindermusik experience, please email us today to be placed on the priority list. We'll email you instructions on how to enroll online.

Enrollment will open to the public on Monday, December 4th.

Thankful

2006-11-22T19:28:00.000-08:00

You may not know this, but Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the time spent with family, the opportunity to reflect on the year before the busy holiday season, and the yummy food. I'd like to share my favorite holiday memory with you...

Thanksgiving 1980 - I was 4 years old and SICK. My sisters and dad got to go to my grandparents' house in Oklahoma but my mom and I stayed home. We didn't have anything to make for dinner, so Mom and I went to the only place that was open in our small town. A gas station.

Normally I would have been in heaven, blessed with the ability to choose whatever junk food I wanted! Unfortunately, I wasn't into it. Back home, with a ridiculous pile of sugary sweetness in front of me, I sobbed. And sobbed. Finally, my mom suggested that we say a prayer of Thanksgiving before digging in. To encourage me, she started, "Dear Lord, I'm thankful for my family..." then prompted me to chime in: "Amy, what are you thankful for?"

It took every ounce of my strength to stop crying long enough to muster the two most meaningful words in my life at the time: "Pumpkin Pie."

From them on, I always had a miniature pumpkin pie waiting at my grandmother's house. Whether it was November or March, January or July, I could count on opening the refrigerator and finding that little pie in all of its perfect goodness. (The photo above is from four years ago...August in Dallas and I had a pumpkin pie waiting!)

Earlier this year, my grandparents (now ages 85 and 86, and having just celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary) sold their house and moved in with my aunt. Knowing they needed to downsize, they divided up many of their most valued treasures between their six grandchildren. Among the items they chose to share with me were the two little pie tins I've grown to love over the past 26 years. (My husband knows that if the house ever catches fire, he is to grab the cat and those pie tins, and not necessarily in that order!)

So this Thanksgiving is bittersweet for me. For the first time, I'll be making a pumpkin pie in the sweet little tin, still the perfect size just for me. Feeling so blessed that I have a part of my family's history in my kitchen...but the tiniest bit sad that my grandmother won't be the one baking this year.

Blessings to each of you this Thanksgiving. Here's to honoring old family traditions, and creating new ones to last a lifetime.

Turkey Day Activities

2006-11-21T12:26:00.000-08:00

What would a holiday (especially a FAMILY holiday) be without some crafts for the kids and some silly songs to sing? Here are a few ideas to add to your Thanksgiving fun.

From FamilyFun Magazine, check out theseAwesome Printable Activities. Create a handprint turkey (ah, the classics), print the "fill the a Thanksgiving tale" story and let everyone contribute, use the 3 games on One Page sheet to occupy them on that long car ride (or that long wait for dinner), or start a new Thanksgiving tradition with Thanksgiving Day Bingo.

Here are few songs to sing:

Thanksgiving Time
Sung to: "The Farmer in the Dell"
Thanksgiving time is here
Let's give a great big cheer
For food and friends and family
Thanksgiving time is here.

Five little turkeys
five little turkeys flew up in a tree (hold up five fingers)
the first one said, "there's a man I see" (point to thumb)
the second one said, "he's coming this way" (point to index finger)
the third one said "it's Thanksgiving Day" (point to middle finger)
the fourth one said " what's he going to do?" (point to ring finger)
the fifth one said "he's coming after you" (point to little finger)
chop went the ax before the turkey flew away (clap hands on chop)
they all were on the table that Thanksgiving Day!

Turkey Talk
Sung to: "Row, Row, Row your boat"
Gobble, gobble turkey talk,
Turkeys all around,
Standing up and sitting down,
Turkeys on the ground.

Gobble, Gobble, Giggle (spoken)
I'm a little turkey here to say.
Try some beef on Thanksgiving Day.
Turkey is tough, and turkey is dry.
You really should give chicken a try!
Or how 'bout a plate of veggie delight for a Thanksgiving dinner that tastes just right?

Five Pilgrims, Five Indians
Five Pilgrims fish in the morn. (pretend to fish)
Five Indians help them plant corn. (pretend to plant)
The Indians bring the corn (hold up right hand)
The Pilgrims bring the meat. (hold up left hand)
Ten new friends sit down to eat. (Fold hands together)

The Turkey Song
Sung to: "I'm a Little Teapot"
I'm a little turkey, Short and Fat
Thanksgiving Day is coming,
Now what do you think of that?
I had better run as fast as I can
Or your mommy will roast me in a pan!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Spring 2007 Schedule: NOW AVAILABLE

2006-11-17T14:20:00.000-08:00

Our Spring 2007 Schedule is now available online. We are looking forward to the new semester (which begins January 15th) and are excited to be offering more classes than ever before! Here are some "New for Spring" Highlights:

* New teacher!
Welcome Miss Jamie! We are so pleased that Jamie Scheiderer (one of our KM moms!) has become a certified Kindermusik instructor. She will be teaching Sign and Sing and Family Time this spring. (Parents will have the opportunity to meet Jamie as she visits currently Kindermusik classes during the next few weeks.)

* New class times!
We strive to offer classes when you ask for them. By popular request, we've added additional sessions of almost all our curricula.

* Online registration!
Now you can enroll, pay your tuition, and manage your classes with the click of a button! We'll be providing online enrollment in class beginning Monday, November 20th. We'll also send home an instruction guide if you'd like to enroll from home.

* Family Time RETURNS!
If you loved "Our Kind of Day" (our first Family Time unit), prepare for even more fun with "Here, There, and Everywhere." Plus, we're offering the class 3 times each week-- hooray!

Here's a brief peek at the schedule. Please visit our website to view the semester themes, at-home materials, and more!

Monday
10:30 Our Time
11:30 Village
12:30 Young Chid (Semester 2)

Tuesday
9:30 Imagine That!
10:30 Sign and Sing
11:30 Family Time
1:30 Village
6:00 Our Time
7:00 Imagine That!

Wednesday
9:30 Our Time
10:30 Our Time
11:30 Imagine That!

Friday
10:00 Village
11:00 Our Time
6:00 Family Time

Saturday
9:30 Village
10:30 Our Time
11:30 Imagine That!
12:30 Family Time

Enrollment is now open for currently enrolled families. If you have questions or would like to enroll, please contact Amy or Heather.

2006-11-12T07:18:00.000-08:00

It's always Kindermusik Our Time

"InJoy" this darling video of one of one of our "Our Time" friends having her own Kindermusik class at home!

where Miss Amy has been...

2006-11-10T10:09:00.000-08:00

I recently returned from the first annual Kindermusik National Convention and am so excited to be back and implementing practices that I learned. Thanks to Miss Heather for teaching classes while I was gone! I missed all of you very much. Here's a closer look at a bit of what went on at Convention this year...

Real, LIVE music

2006-11-04T12:39:00.000-08:00

We are fortunate that Kansas City offers many opportunities for children to experience live music. From the musicians performing on the streets of the Plaza to the many excellent local children's musical groups, there are fun, inexpensive ways to expose your child to the music all around them.

May we recommend attending the Conservatory Kid's Club at UMKC? They've just announced their 2006-2007 season. This affordable ($4.50 per child with up to 2 adults free), age-appropriate series is a wonderful addition to your winter activities.

From their website: Kids Club programs are a fun way for children to learn about music. Ideal for children from ages 3 to 8, each event features activities that encourage your child to participate in making and moving to music. Conservatory Kids Club is the ideal way to introduce your child to a lifetime of enjoyment and appreciation of performing arts.

Improvisational Dance
November 4, 2006
The UMKC Dance Division faculty and students explore the process of choreography and perform original pieces and improvise on stage.

"Ole', Music and Dance of Spain"
January 13, 2007
Join this flamenco group as they show the inspirational music and dance of Spanish culture. Dressed in native Spanish costumes, Tamara La Garbancito and her troupe use castanets and footwork to demonstrate the colorful and lively dances; while being accompanied by live Flamenco guitar, violin,voice, and cajon.

On Stage with Joy
April 21, 2007
Come join Joy and Andrew Granade for an interactive recital as we go on an exciting and informative adventure through the world of singing and classical music! During the recital the singer stops the "stuffy music" for a moment of favorite knock knock jokes or for story time, comfy blanket and all along the way, there will be many moments for creative participation from the audience.

Music Just for ME!

2006-11-02T12:21:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed the excitement in your child's eyes right before we sing his or her name during our Hello song? It reminds me of watching "Romper Room" when I was a little girl, waiting for Miss Linda to see me in her magic mirror.

Kindermusik International has just released a new CD that is personalized with your child's name. The CD features 9 of Kindermusik's most-loved songs-- each sung just to your child!

BUT WAIT-- there's more! Just in time for holiday shopping, Miss Amy and I are offering you a special discount (discount plus NO shipping and handling) when you purchase a personalized CD. Just ask us for details the next time you're in class.

I spent the night in Memphis, and all I got was...

2006-10-31T20:18:00.000-08:00

...you guessed it, a lousy t-shirt! I'm on my way to the Kindermusik National Convention and, due to mechanical problems in KC, I landed late in Memphis and missed my connection to Greensboro. I'm at a Holiday Inn Express - hopefully the commericals are true about the good night of sleep and Jeopardy! success that lies ahead - but I have no luggage. Northwest provided me a little emergency kit with a T-shirt in it! Who knew I'd get free clothes on my trip!?

I'm flying out in the morning and will arrive a bit late to my Leadership Retreat, but overall I'm still thrilled that I have the opportunity to attend and can't wait to tell y'all all about it!