Christmas is a coming....

Its almost the end of our term, but we've got our Christmas sessions to look forward to on Saturday 18th, so make sure you've got your place booked. Festive fun for the whole family, and mince pies.

Have you registered for our brand new spring term, beginning January 10th? Classes are filling at the fastest ever rate, so make sure that you stay together with your group and leave a deposit this week.

We've been hit by snow storms this week, and it looks like it's going to be here for a little longer. The worst, and earliest, snow storms in 17 years, and Northumberland has been amongst the worst hit. Guess where we are based? Yes, Northumberland! If you can't get to us, just drop me a line and we'll see if you can come along on a different day, don't want anyone to miss out.

If Grandparents or doting Aunties are looking for a really worthwhile gift, then how about giving the gift of Kindermusik? We've got Kindermusik Christmas vouchers, drop me a line if you'd like any.

Whether you manage to get to us this week, I hope its a great week for you. Put on your favourite Kindermusik cd and dance dance dance....great for keeping warm, bringing smiles to faces, developing steady beat and of course having lots of fun!! Not quite as much fun as in class, but we'll be thinking of you.....

x

Kindermusik will blow away those winter blues....

Don't you just love our brand new Skibz for babies!! I've got some in class, take a look...and they are so soft, perfect for our little ones in class.

You can order one for just £7.50, order forms are with priority registration forms ready for our brand new term in January, how exciting!

If you dread this time of year and know that the long grey days just get you down, then remember to come along to your Kindermusik class with friends, enjoy our songs, dances, bounces, and relaxation. Arrange after class get togethers with your fellow Kindermusik families to break the week up, make the most of coffee, cake and chat time. After all, our Kindermusik classes are just as much for you as you as your little one.

* Classes will be winding down in December, but we've got extra special Christmas Kindermusik sessions running on Saturday 18th December, places will be limited to just 12 per class, both 0-18 months and 1 1/2 to 4 years so make sure you sign up in plenty of time. We will be enjoying so much of our usual Kindermusik fun, along with festive songs, dances and bounces....can't wait!

x

Christmas card competition winners....

We have been absolutely overwhelmed by the number of Kindermusik cuties so have decided to have two winners!


I think you'll agree that they are totally gorgeous!


Smiles and giggles are such great therapy, use our bounces and dances at home that you have learned this term to lift those grey days of autumn and winter.


We've got a special offer coming up in January, if you'd like your child's nursery to enjoy a free Kindermusik taster session then drop me a line as I have one space available for the second week in January and another in the third week....a lovely cd for recommending me too.

Do continue to send in your Kindermusik photies, we are looking for our 2011 Kindermusik With Suzanne babies and children for new advertising features.

x

It's half term already....

Our first half term has passed by with so many great new songs, dances and bounces. We've loved skipping and twirling with ribbon wands in Our Time, trotting like horses, fluttering like butterflies and don't forget our toast popping! Whilst the Village groups have absolutely loved our peekaboo 'Go into the Kitchen' dance, bounce and wave with Hey Lolly Lolly, aswell as some magnificant swinging, twirling and hammocking, hope everyone isn't too worn out!!
In all classes relaxation has been a huge focus, everybody has really embraced this important time in the class, remember its not just for the little ones..its really important that mummies and daddies relax to so snuggle down on the blanket and just melt away to You are my sunshine.
This half term has seen the arrival of our brand new 2011 tshirts and hoodies, as worn by so many, and all looking absolutely gorgeous...photos to follow! For next half term we have Kindermusik skibz for the babies, I'll have some on display in class very soon.
Remember that the deadline for our Christmas card competition is this Sunday, so if you'd like your child on the front of our Kindermusik With Suzanne Christmas card then email a photo of your cutie in his or her KM tshirt before then.
Over the past 7 weeks numerous coffees, teas and somewhere in the region of 60 banana cakes have been enjoyed, remember to take a recipe card and pop it on your fridge .
Saturday classes are still on over half term, but for everyone else, see you back in classes for the remainder of our autumn 2010 term on Monday 1st November.
Thought you might like to see one of our entrants for the Christmas card competition above, isn't she lovely!!!
End of year thoughts....drop me a line by email or respond below if you have some lovely thoughts to share about classes, observations at home or funnies.
Suzanne
x

Its been a great summer....and its going to be a fab autumn

The summer holidays are just a distant memory now as the tan fades, and the laundry pile has finally diminished, as its time to plough through the piles of registrations, dust off the dancing shoes and polish the lesson plans.

There is so much to fill our 13 week term, with songs, dances, bouncing, leaping, twirling, massage, relaxation, stories, bells, shakers, scrapers, ribbons, scarves, parachute, bubbles.....and so much more.... Not forgetting the delicious banana cake, that I've been stocking up the freezer with.

Just in case you can't wait for class to begin, here's our favourite banana cake recipe.

Kindermusik Banana Cake

170g self raising flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonat of soda
1/2 tsp mixed spice
125g sugar
50g margarine
2 large bananas
1 egg
3 tblsp milk

Add all ingredients to a large bowl and mix.

Pour into a lined loaf tin.

Cook at 170C or gas 3 for 45 minutes

Cool then drizzle with honey

Enjoy!

PS. You will probably need to double or treble this mixture, so you've got a spare one just in case!
PPS. Simple to make, and does it count for one of our five a day fruit/veg?

Extra classes opening for newborns to 18 months

Music teachers, parents and childcare providers have know intuitively for generations that music benefits even the youngest members of society. Grandpas have bounced their little

ones on their knees; Grandmas have rocked and crooned to their infants. Dads and mums have waltzed around the room and flown through the air with happy babies in their arms. And what big brother hasn't attempted to teach baby sister to blow raspberries or encouraged baby brother to bang on a drum?

Thanks to research on the importance of the developing child during the first three years of life, we are beginning to have scientific evidence to reinforce what we all knew: music does make a real difference.

Kindermusik Village babies are in a 'receptive' mode of development, in preparation for movement towards a more expressive stage of development. Kindermusik Village lessons acknowldge this by providing a wide array of sounds, images, tactile and movement activities for baby to experience. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to enhance every activity to imagining yet another way to position baby to view his world, another sound or movement to try, and are invited to observe, notice and even document baby's preferences and responses.

Above all, its lots of fun for both of you!!! Make friends, learn new activities, enjoy special bonding time together, socialise over coffee and home made cake....

Share this with your friends....pass on the good news.......It's almost time for a brand new term!
If you haven't already registered, don't worry, its not too late. Extra classes have opened so there's a great choice of days and times, just drop me a line.

Looking forward to another great term..

Suzanne
x

Just a few more classes left this week then that's the end of our term...always very sad when we say goodbye to good friends, but the majority we are seeing again in September, and a good handful are coming along to our summer camp programme aswell.

Over the summer try having 'conversations' with your baby. Mm, but what if your baby is just weeks or months old? Baby learns the art of conversation from the adults in her life. When speaking to baby, and it doesn't matter what you are 'chatting' about, remember to leave time for the response. You may get smiles, giggles or gurgles in response. Imitation sets the foundation for learning language, and these early 'chats' are the beginnings of your little ones's language development.

In our classes we use lots of activities which involve waiting for a response, its great to see the babies looking around in anticipation of the movement, song, dance beginning again. Just like in a conversation.

I've found a great site on my travels through the virtual world this week:

http://www.bizziebaby.co.uk/

check it out. Parents are encouraged to write reviews about everything and anything that they have tried and would like to pass on to other parents, what a great idea!

Wow, we have THE most reviews...

I was asked earlier this week to write an article for a feature on familiesrecommend.co.uk, a wonderful site full of places to go, things to do, people to see...and Kindermusik With Suzanne has received the highest number of reviews on the whole site!! Amazing!

http://familiesrecommendblog.com/wordpress/

follow this link to read the article. Have a look at the familiesrecommend site aswell whilst you are there, is there anywhere you would like to recommend? It's fantastic to share with others your personal experiences of somewhere you have enjoyed, be it your hairdresser, favourite restaurant, or even favourite pre-school music class.

Suzanne

x

Where has this term gone?

This term has seen some of our little ones, like Jude, finding their feet in their Village class and preparing to move up in September to Our Time...it's been quite exciting to watch them all!

The 'right' age to move from the baby class to the big boys and girls class is 18 months but do you know what? This term we've seen just how much our little ones can do in Village up to this age and beyond. We've even had some stay with us until almost 2 years, so when they do eventually make that move up their confidence levels are soaring and they are ready to participate in a whole new experience. As a parent we watch our children's development with eager anticipation..when will they sit, crawl, walk, talk....do the next thing. But let's remember to enjoy them while they are little, enjoy each individual development stage because it will pass so quickly. There is no rush for them to move on to the next stage, be it at a Kindermusik class, swimming class, nursery or even school. They need to be comfortable in their enviroment, and sometimes be the big boy or girl, before they leap quickly into the next developmental rockpool of life. Enjoy being a big fish sometimes, the next pool has even bigger fish in it.

Registrations are coming in thick and fast for September so remember to reserve your place in the class of your first choice before it fills up. Traditionally September is a busy month for new enrollments, which makes it a really exciting term for us all to welcome lots of new faces.

All weekday classes include coffee/tea and cakes so plenty of time to chat and make new friends, and then enjoy your Kindermusik class. Let your friends know so they can come along and join us too. Prices remain the same; £7 per class for Village and £8 per class for Our Time. These prices include your home materials of cd, books and instruments to use throughout our 13 week term, excellent value!! T-shirts and hoodies are available at the first class, you can also pre-order them to have your child's name printed on too, just drop me a line.

There will be a couple of postings over the summer so keep a look out for some great activities that you can use at home.

Suzanne

x

Registering for Summer Camps...

Kindermusik Adventures Camps for 0-18 months & 1 1/2 - 4 years will be running all week from Monday 23rd August through to Friday 27th August for an hour and half each session; incorporating all your usual Kindermusik activities plus snack and chat time at the end.

Classes will be limited to twelve, names and payment will be taken in advance to secure your place. Early registration is absolutely essential, you will not be allowed to turn up on the day without prior booking.

For our Village groups we are running Busy Days: An extraordinary adventure with this collection of on-the-go, attention grabbing songs, dances and rhymes.

For Our Time groups we have Creatures At the Ocean: Ahoy matey! Come sail along on a musical journey filled with sleeping seashells, whimsical whales and sand in your sandals. Enjoy and discover the ocean as you sing, play and dance.

Registration for these classes is open now, please contact me as soon as possible to reserve your place. Its going to be a fantastic summer!!

x

A handful of families have asked for the downloadable journals to go with last term (Dewdrops)

drop me a line and I'll send you the link.

there's lots of great ideas, quotes, foundations of learning statements, and if you print them out on to card and bind them with ribbon you can add your own observations and photos, it makes a lovely reminder of the term. Also all of the song words are included, which is handy!!

This term's Hickory Dickory Tickle & Bounce journal is:

another fantastic Kindermusik downloadable journal with home activities, song lyrics and somewhere for your observations and keepsakes.
Enjoy...

Suzanne
x

A brand new term and summer is on it's way....

Well, the Easter holidays are just about over and Kindermusik classes begin again on Monday 12th April.



We've got so much to squeeze into this new term, the lessons are planned and ready; the Our Time groups are hopping, skipping, leaping and twirling. We've got hoops to march around, dots to stop on....its looking like lots of fun, but we know they are learning at the same time, and growing with confidence and independance. Thanks to the wonderful Pam Horden Photography for capturing this fantastic picture of one Our Timer and mummy.

In Village groups we've got Hickory Dickory Tickle and Bounce which really is as lovely as it sounds; bouncing, dancing, bubbles with lots of cuddles too. We enjoyed 'Come along and dance with me' at the end of last term as a gentle introduction to this new theme.

Extra sessions are being added all the time so if you've got friends to introduce then remember to drop me a line and enter them into our prize draw....I've got 5 vouchers this term giving away a whole month free of Kindermusik With Suzanne. All new enquiries should mention discount code KM/94 to receive a free gift when they enrol in April.

Have you registered your vote for Kindermusik in the national Whats On 4 Little Ones Awards as every vote counts, and voting ends in April.
http://www.whatson4littleones.co.uk/awards.asp


There's a great site to find lots of family friendly activities on, and when you've found your favourites you can leave recommendations to other parents...
http://www.familiesrecommend.co.uk/

See you soon!
x

Delighted to support Bailey's Bike Ride

I was approached earlier this week and asked to offer support to a local upcoming bike ride raising funds for babies born too soon and sick, a very worthwhile cause. I then looked a little further at their website and realised the massive local support behind them, and the numbers of families who will benefit from their fundraising efforts, wow!

So please take a look at their website http://www.baileysbikeride.weebly.com/ and register to join them. It sounds like a wonderful fun day out with lots of activities planned, the main even bike ride and of course the knowledge that all funds raised will be helping many many families.

I'm even thinking of shaking the dust of my bike and joining in!

Well Done Kindermusik!!

For the second consecutive year Kindermusik has been nominated in the national Whats On 4 Kids Awards... Best National Baby Development Activity & Best National Toddler & Pre-School Development Activity, and my wonderful families have also nominated me in the Most Outstanding Class Leader Category. We've all got fingers crossed....so please vote for Kindermusik.

We are almost at the end of our spring term so I guess we can reflect on the fun times we've had; songs, dances, bounces and relaxation. We've welcomed many new faces and tearfully waved farewell to others as they spread their wings and move on to big school and the hectic activity schedule that it brings. Many siblings have joined us, for the first time at their own class, instead of sitting in the corner at big brother or sister's group.

During lots of our activities this term we've included cuddles, and lots of them. Next term also brings even more cuddles, giggles, swinging, twirling and plenty of relaxation too. Our Village classes will be enjoying Hickory, Dickery, Tickle and Bounce - which is as lovely as it sounds. Whilst the Our Time classes will absolutely love our Kindermusik Adventures Confetti Days - with lots of stop/go, hopping and bouncing. Have you claimed your free gift yet? Recommend Kindermusik on netmums and you will receive a free cd of your choice. Introduce a friend? You get to choose a tambourine, bell or shaker too. Have you got a bunch of friends who'd like to come along? If 4 or more friends join us then your fees are completely free, how's that for beating the credit crunch!!

Final words....'A good laugh is sunshine in a house' William Thackeray.

Tel: 01661 872468 Mobile: 07766 705546 Email: szidun@aol.com

Summer Term schedule:

Village: Monday 1pm, Thursday 2pm, Friday 9:30am, Saturday 11:15am

Our Time: Monday 2pm, Thursday 1pm, Friday 10:45am, Saturday 9:15am & 10:15am

Sharing good news...

Don't you just love sharing good news?

One of our lovely Kindermusik mummies emailed this to me today, I know she won't mind me sharing it....

"I just wanted to email you with this......

Yesterday we had our Dewdrops CD playing and there was a moment when Ewan clearly stopped playing with his toy and was really concentrating on the music, at the point in the song when we would usually dance into the middle and wave at each other (Hi Ho Hi Ho Hi Ho), Ewan started to gently wave his hand. He'd definitely made the association with the music and the action, and this was the first time he'd properly waved!! I know he's due to learn to wave at this point in his development, but I was more amazed at the association he'd made, without any egging on from me, purely what he'd picked up on in class.

So thank you very much, I don't suppose you'll witness any waving on Friday though - he'll be too busy watching everything thats going on!"

I LOVE emails like this!!!! And I LOVE that parents have these special moments at home. During our class is when we are all learning, socialising and having fun, its at home when you see just how much has been absorbed. Week by week, month by month and year by year.....

At the end of last term I waved goodbye, very tearfully, to one of my very first Kindermusik babies, from just weeks old....... now he's a 'big boy' heading off for school. We've now got little brothers and sisters joining us, following in the footsteps of their siblings....going from sitting in the corner in car seat to joining in with their very own Kindermusik class.

For all expectant mums; I've just discovered two lovely places that you can go:

check out: http://www.bumpmassage.co.uk/

and http://www.fitbackandbumps.co.uk/

start off as you mean to go on.... A Good Beginning Never Ends....

According to the latest research three major factors in early learning environments lead to competency in adulthood: rich sensory environments, freedom to explore and available parents. Well no-one ever said that parenting was easy, and oh boy are there many challenges thrown at us, but by actively joining in with your small person in your own personal way you are providing this enrichment and lifetime encouragement which can only benefit you both. Do take note that children have different learning styles; whilst some are very hands on and are happy to leap, skip, hop and roll with minimal adult intervention others prefer to observe first, measure the information and bring it out gradually perhaps at home or at a future class. By using your home materials you will both become familiar with your Kindermusik programme but remember don't just keep it in the car, enjoy the dances too!
Invite a friend along to class so you can share all that Kindermusik brings to your family, and you'll receive a great cd as a thank you from me.

Classes are running Monday through to Saturday every week during termtime, drop me a line to chat more and we will discuss which class is best for you and your little one. Email szidun@aol.com or telephone 07766 705546 .

A brand new year.

Happy New Year to all our bloggers, and all Kindemusik families. The start of 2010 brings another exciting new term full of fun, laughter, singing, dancing and friends. A new year usually brings with it resolutions, my own resolution is to update this blog a lot more often! Do feel free to add your own thoughts, I regularly get so many great emails from our lovely families letting me know how they love to 'Kindermusik' at home. Over the summer I know many of you 'Jing Jang'ed around your homes, last term we 'Wishy Washy'ed to our hearts content, I wonder what our favourites are going to be this term?

"Every class is a room full of our future"

Michael Dougherty

President, Kindermusik International

I look at our little people in class, and wonder what 2010 holds for them? Each exciting development stage, from first smiles to first steps, first spoken words to first written words...

Together we are sharing these early years and taking enormous pleasure in watching these children blossom in every way possible. Fact is: A good beginning never ends.