Category: Mom Blogging
Summer Kindermusik Registration is OPEN
Joyful experiences stick with us—including educational ones! Build confidence, strengthen family connection, and help your child meet developmental milestones through the power of music.
Summer 2023 Kindermusik registration is open for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.
UCF/Oviedo – Winter Park – Baldwin Park – Lake Nona – Winter Garden – Port Orange
We are proud to announce our Summer 2023 program offerings. This summer we are offering ONE 6 week session for babies through age 5 in various locations around Central Florida, as well as virtual. Registration is open for both in-person in Central FL and virtual for everyone everywhere (or both). Spaces in Summer typically fill very fast because many people enroll multiple children. As always, we limit class size based on the size of the space to ensure you have a safe, beautiful experience. This is our 19th Summer and we can’t wait to see you for another amazing Summer of Music!
CLICK HERE TO
Enroll now for Summer 2023
Our mission:
Grow and Sing Studios is dedicated
to connecting families through the magic of music.
Why is Barefoot Best for Baby?
👣Barefoot is often considered best for babies for a few reasons:
1. Helps with sensory development: The soles of the feet have numerous nerve endings that help your baby understand their surroundings. By being barefoot, baby can feel different textures and surfaces, which can help with their sensory development.
2. Promotes proper foot development: When babies are barefoot, they can move their feet and toes freely, which allows for the natural development of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in their feet. This can help with their balance and coordination as they learn to walk.
3. Allows for better grip: Bare feet can provide a better grip on smooth surfaces, which can help with walking and prevent slipping.
4. Allows for natural cooling: A baby’s foot can be a natural to regulate their body temperature. Being barefoot allows the baby’s feet to breathe and cool down if they become too warm.
However, it’s important to note that in certain situations, such as when a baby is outside in cold weather or on rough surfaces, it may be necessary to provide them with protection for their feet. It’s always a good idea to consult with a pediatrician for advice on what is best for your baby’s specific needs.
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#barefoot #noshoesforbaby #babyshoes #babies #Kindermusik #parenteducation #parenteducator #parenttips #parentinginfo #motherhood #fatherhood
How we can be present for our kids at the holidays
Let’s talk PRESENCE. Life is busy, especially during the holidays. While we are in the same space as our children, you might find your mind is in a million other places. Taking some time to be mindful with our children, allows us to focus on the present moment only and not on things that have happened or things that are going to happen. When we are fully present with our children, they learn from us. When we are fully present, our children feel seen, heard, important and special.
How do we do this?
1. Slow down and just take in the present moment through all of your senses.
2. Observe your child without agenda. Simply watching and observing all the amazingness that is your child, will slow your mind down from expectation and future planning.
3. Sing a song. Music is a magical tool that naturally brings presence. It’s very hard to sing a song and think of much else in that moment!
4. Dance together. Moving with baby reduces stress and calms baby down. It also will calm your mind.
5. Come to Kindermusik! Well of course we are going to say that. Hee hee. But seriously, it’s very hard to come to Kindermusik and NOT be present because we do all of the above in class. We slow down, observe, sing and dance. Amazing! That 45 minutes each week is worth SO MUCH for learning, bonding, presence and mindfulness. Give it a try.
Happy Holidays!
Try a class for $5 (in-person & virtual)
growandsing.com
School Year 2022 – 2023 in-person and virtual classes registration is ongoing until May. We know you’ll find an option that will be the perfect learning experience for your child (or YOU, hint hint, private lessons…). Have questions? Just contact us.
We are currently offering in-person $5 preview class opportunities for our baby, young toddler and toddler music classes as well as a full preview week for $5 for virtual classes. Give Kindermusik a try! In-Person Central Florida Kindermusik classes held in Orlando and Volusia at UCF/Oviedo, Winter Park, Baldwin Park, Lake Nona, Winter Garden and Port Orange.
Holly Lesnick is owner/director of Grow and Sing Studios, an award winning Kindermusik accredited program. She is a proud mother of two amazing kids, music therapist and Kindermusik University Coach for Kindermusik Internation Corporate.
October Kindermusik $1 Demo Days are here!
October is here and that means KINDERMUSIK $1 DEMO DAYS at Grow and Sing Studios are coming! Have you been meaning to come try out a class, or are you just finding out about our program for the first time? We invite you to come check out one of these classes FOR ONLY $1, have some fun, make some music and hopefully fall in love with the magic of Kindermusik! Reservations are required and space is limited.
We are “traveling minstrels” so our classes are offered at different locations around town throughout the week (including virtual!).
First, choose the class you would like to preview based on the calendar above. If you do not see a class that works, you can also view all currently running classes at growandsing.com/registration (if your chosen class is full, you can always sign up to be on the waitlist). $1 October Demo Days are available in Oviedo/UCF, Winter Park, Baldwin Park, Winter Garden, Lake Nona and Port Orange. PLEASE NOTE – This is not a guarantee of availability. Once you register you’ll receive an auto generated email. Following that, we will send you a confirmation email which will let you know if your preview spot(s) are available in the class you signed up for. If that class has filled with paid members, you’ll be offered another class. If no other classes work for you, you will not be charged and your preview class will be canceled. We reserve the right to cancel your preview class should the class you signed up for reach maximum capacity with paid members. In this situation you can either choose another class or be refunded. Currently due to Covid, there are no more than 12 children enrolled per class at a time (8 in Winter Park). Spaces only count for children, all parents are included free, always.
Read about our covid adaptations and classroom tips here: https://www.growandsing.com/covid/
TO SIGN UP FOR AN IN-PERSON OCTOBER $1 DEMO DAY CLICK HERE.
TO SIGN UP FOR A VIRTUAL OCTOBER $1 DEMO WEEK CLICK HERE.
We will confirm your reservation as soon as possible!
Click here to contact us with any questions. We are here to help!
Hot of the press! Grow and Sing Studios awarded Kindermusik Top Program Award for 2022
Hello to our musical community!
Will and I own and operate Grow and Sing Studios, a small family business which was established in 2005. Since then it’s been a roller coaster but one thing has always been at the core of our motivation, and that’s passion for children’s education, passion for music and passion for independent small business. We never anticipated what would happen in 2020, and as we all know it affected EVERYONE professionally and personally.
This award is based on how many children we reach through Kindermusik. Over the last 2 years, not only did we make class sizes smaller to keep safe (therefore reducing our potential numbers), but we’ve had a complete changeover in our team. Our previous team members that were with us for years moved onto new endeavors. Will and I have spent the near part of a year interviewing and interviewing, training and training, and finally we have reached a moment in time where we have a working team again. We just finished training this team a couple months ago. So, to be honest Will and I weren’t sure if we would make the Top Program list this year. We had no idea and we were at peace with whatever happened.
I’m excited and proud to report that even through all of that, we made the list and are once again a Kindermusik Top Program. Maybe not as high on the list as we were in 2020, but still on the list! This one might be the sweetest because even through everything, we kept our heads above water (sometimes treading very very fast) and made it through. Grow and Sing Studios is pushing forward and ready to reach as many children as it can!
I would like to acknowledge all team members old and new because we ALL had a part in this award this year!
Thank you to:
Lisa Petko
Kristen Bozard
Angelyn Rhode
Marisol LaBoy
Grace Warren
Jadyn Johnson
Stefany Rodriguez
Thank you to all who have supported our mission to connect families through the magic of music over the last 17 years.
Love, Ms. Holly (and Mr. Will)
Connecting Families through the Magic of Music.
Stay Connected (and perhaps comment on our announcement on our social pages. Thank you!) facebook.com/growandsingstudios instagram.com/growandsingstudios
LINKS:
Enroll for Summer (we’ll pro-rate if you want to join us now!)
Try an in-person class for $5
Try a FULL week of virtual for $5
Visit our website
It’s happening! Summer Kindermusik 2022 is here!
Many classes are close to capacity but there is still room. Join us for a 5 week session filled with fun, learning, great LIVE music, talented musicians, instruments, amazing curriculum and brain igniting activities. Let’s do this!
How? Head to growandsing.com/classes/in-person/ and read about our classes, then keep scrolling and you can click on the class that works for you! Classes held this Summer in UCF/Oviedo, Winter Park, Winter Garden and Port Orange.
Looking for unlimited virtual classes (1 fee, access to ALL classes) head to https://www.growandsing.com/online-classes-menu/. You can try out an entire week for $5.
We can’t WAIT to meet you and your amazing kiddos!
Kindermusik Accredited Program
Kindermusik TOP program (15 years consecutively)
All educators background checked
EVERYONE WELCOME HERE
October Kindermusik $1 Demo Days are here!
October is here and that means KINDERMUSIK $1 DEMO DAYS at Grow and Sing Studios are coming!! Have you been meaning to come try out a class, or are you just finding out about our program for the first time? We invite you to come check out one of these classes FOR ONLY $1, have some fun, make some music and hopefully fall in love with the magic of Kindermusik! Reservations are required and space is limited.
We are “traveling minstrels” so our classes are offered at different locations around town throughout the week.
First, choose the class you would like to preview. You can view all currently running classes at growandsing.com/registration. $1 October Demo Days are available in Oviedo/UCF, Winter Park, Winter Garden, Lake Nona and Port Orange. PLEASE NOTE – This is not a guarantee of availability. Once you register you’ll receive an auto generated email. Following that, we will send you a confirmation email which will let you know if your preview spot(s) are available in the class you signed up for. If that class has filled with paid members, you’ll be offered another class. If no other classes work for you, you will not be charged and your preview class will be canceled. We reserve the right to cancel your demo class should the class you signed up for reach maximum capacity with paid members. In this situation you can either choose another class or be refunded. Currently due to Covid, there are no more than 10 children enrolled per class at a time. Spaces only count for children, all parents are included free, always.
Please Note: One $1 demo class per family. If you want to bring a second child, or sign up for a second demo day, the charge will be $5 for each additional child or class. To sign up your second child or for a second class, click on the $5 preview class option.
MASKS ARE REQUIRED FOR ADULTS. MASKS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR CHILDREN. Read about our covid adaptations and classroom tips here: https://www.growandsing.com/covid/
We will confirm your reservation as soon as possible!
Click here to contact us with any questions. We are here to help!
Is my child uninterested?
We are back in person which has been SO amazing! The connections, the smiles… it’s something we missed so much during our almost 18 months of being only virtual. Being in person with Kindermusik comes with some common questions from parents. These are questions we haven’t answered in a while, so we wanted to revisit this topic and see if we can reassure you that your child is thriving no matter their learning style.
Whether you are in our Kindermusik classes, another parent child class, or even getting back out there with playdates and social opportunities, you may be noticing that your child isn’t instantly jumping right in, or seemingly excited to be there. However, what you see on the surface many not be the entire story.
Children learn in so many different ways. Some learn by listening (auditory), some learn by moving (kinesthetic), and some learn by touch (tactile). Some children, especially in new environments may appear disinterested, when in reality, they might just be processing. Many times parents interpret this passive learning as their children not liking the class, activity, or experience. This might not be the case at all. In fact, when you go home, or when class ends and your child is back in their safe place, they might start showing you all that they learned. It’s quite amazing to see!
The best learning experiences are those that integrate the senses, learning domains, developmental needs, and interests of the child. For example, a great integrated activity might involve singing, language, imagination, listening, creativity, problem solving, and pretend play. This level of integration creates an optimal and meaningful learning environment for each child.
Preparing a safe and secure learning environment is a top priority. When in this type of environment, children are able to access the part of the brain which is responsible for learning and memory. With you by your child’s side, you are creating a safe, loving place to return to at any time. The key is making exploring and socializing an option, but not judging how or when your child may integrate in. Inviting them to join and participate at whatever pace they need without expectation is the best gift you can give as you both return to these kinds of activities.
I hope this eases your mind as you head back to an in-person experience. Wishing you well.
School Year 2021 – 2022 in-person and virtual classes registration is ongoing. We know you’ll find an option that will be the perfect learning experience for your child (or YOU, hint hint, private lessons…). Have questions? Just contact us.
We are currently offering in-person preview class opportunities for our baby, young toddler and toddler music classes as well as a full preview week for our virtual classes. Give Kindermusik a try! In-Person Central Florida Kindermusik classes held in Orlando and Volusia at UCF/Oviedo, Winter Park, Lake Nona, Winter Garden and Port Orange.
Holly Lesnick is owner/director of Grow and Sing Studios, an award winning Kindermusik accredited program. She is a music therapist, and proud mother of two.
Transition Talk
✨Who else is going through a lot of transition right now? Transition and change is so hard isn’t it? Will and I just moved our oldest daughter Anna into her first college apartment this past week. While it’s not too far, it’s still out of our home. She’s been under our roof for almost 20 years. We didn’t realize how much the transition would affect us, mostly in the form of FATIGUE.
So, this might seem like a strange comparison, but it immediately came to my mind and I wanted to share it with you. In Kindermusik classes we have observed that for children, the most challenging time for them is not during the actual activities in Kindermusik, but in the time in between. The TRANSITIONS. Moving from one moment to the next. Sometime in class something might get collected or taken away (like an instrument), and a child might feel immediate feelings of sadness, fear, or excitement! The unknown of what happens next. It’s intense!
Sadness, fear or excitement. The exact feelings Will and I are experiencing through this life transition of moving our daughter out of our home.
🙌My reflection: What a beautiful gift we are giving our Kindermusik families. In our classrooms, we are working on transitions within in a safe, loving, judgement free environment. We are helping young children work through transitions, which is a LIFE SKILL we all must possess.
💜AMAZING. Thank you @kindermusik_international
🎵Sending love, light and musical memories,
Ms. Holly
Classes: Grow and Sing Studios
Mugs: @raedunn
Shelf: @hobbylobby
Rainbow Quote: @tjmaxx
💜🎵💜🎵💜🎵💜🎵💜🎵💜
Message from Ms. Holly + Happy Thanksgiving!
Greetings! I want to start by letting you know that practicing gratitude is scientifically proven to increase happiness by 25%. Simply by finding things (even the little things) and stating you are grateful will help you be happy. Not only that, but practicing gratitude also:
I wanted to start this blog post off with that bit of information because Thanksgiving is truly my favorite holiday. Why? Because it reminds us to practice gratitude, which is something we should do each and every day of the year.
It’s been a really rough year. We all know it and we all feel it. However, there are so many blessings, even small ones, that we can feel gratitude for.
Personally, I have had a life filled with a lot of loss. My father passed away when I was four years old of Leukemia. My adopted father passed away when I was in college from a scuba diving accident. It would have been very easy to give up even back then. To NOT have gratitude. To just be sad and dwell on what wasn’t good. I’m not going to pretend that every day was happy. I had some bad ones. BUT, in the journey of losing two very important people in my life, I realized even as a young child and then reminded as a young adult how GRATEFUL I am for the days I got to spend with them. I KNOW that there are SO many people in the world right now working through this same realization. Whether it’s loss of loved ones, friends, or even a job they loved. I send you love and peace as you work towards the gratitude for the time you had.
Throughout this pandemic, which has now been 9 months long and really scary, I’ve had to go back to that space of gratitude. I’ve had to be intentional each day when I wake up. To look around, take in a breath, and be grateful for another day. Another day filled with breathing, music, laughter, children, nature, animals, amazing co-workers, and yes, binge worthy television (whew thank goodness for Netflix!).
If you are reading this, I want to say THANK YOU. If you are reading this, you are somehow tied into the incredible musical community we have created at Grow and Sing Studios, or tied into me personally. It hasn’t been easy keeping our studio going over the last 9 months and it would be SO easy to find the bad things and dwell on that. However, instead, we are currently serving over 100 students between our Kindermusik classes and private lessons and classes. Now that is something to celebrate and be grateful for!!
THANK YOU for believing in us.
THANK YOU for making music with us.
THANK YOU for being in my world.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENERGY, INSPIRATION, AND CREATIVITY.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING LOVE.
Happy Thanksgiving!
With gratitude,
Holly Lesnick, Owner/Director
Grow and Sing Studios