by Holly Lesnick (aka Ms. Holly)

My 8 year old son Aiden and I have a daily morning ritual. Before I’m allowed to even get up and out of bed, my husband cuddles him while carrying him to our room. Aiden crawls on me, and we cuddle and hug for a long time. Before that, I am always groggy, and tired and craving my coffee… but something happens after that hug. It invigorates me, and brings me a sense of happiness and peace. I’ve always had a feeling it does the same for him too.

Well today, I came across a simple article at benefitof.net, on the health benefits of cuddling, and it confirmed what I already knew to be true! Cuddling has many health benefits!

I’ve learned through this article, that cuddling reduces stress and induces oxytocin release. Oxytocin is produced primarily in the hypothalamus and acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain. This article also states that cuddling actually lowers blood pressure, along with improving mood and relationships. Well, no wonder I’m better after my daily morning hug with Aiden, then before it!

In Kindermusik class at Grow and Sing Studios, we have what we call “quiet time”. I dim the lights, grab my guitar, and asked parents to take their child to their own space in the room where they can bond together. I quietly walk around and serenade, leading these quietly bonding families in song. I spend many moments educating parents that relaxation is a learned behavior and that the earlier we learn to relax the better. Well, in addition to this benefit, in every class, families are enjoying the health benefits of cuddling as well.

So try to get in some cuddles today, and get healthy!

Ms. Holly at Grow and Sing Studios cuddling with her son Aiden.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! We hope you enjoyed your day with your family and your precious little ones.

We are about to begin our final week of Spring Kindermusik classes. Summer classes resume the week of June 17th so we will be on a break. THIS IS A PERFECT WEEK to do a free preview class to see what our classes are like, or if you are in our classes, to bring a friend!!

Tuesdays – Avalon Park, Dr. Phillips, Port Orange

Wednesdays – UCF/Oviedo, Hunter’s Creek, Port Orange

Thursdays – UCF/Oviedo, Lake Nona, Deland

Fridays – Downtown

To find out what classes are available this week and to schedule your preview class contact us at 407-970-2774 or email us at .

Come see what we are SO excited about!
Grow and Sing Studios
“Connecting Families Through the Magic of Music”

We are SO excited to announce that our brand new website is LIVE. This new Grow and Sing Studios website works on ALL devices, from smartphones to tablets/ipads to computers! Check it out! It’s now much easier to navigate from anywhere and enrollment is easy!

We want to give a huge thanks to Rhubarb Productions for creating our site, and all their guidance and patience through the process. Our studio is pretty busy these days, with a lot of offerings and locations and it took a lot of work to get our page just right!

Our new Grow and Sing Studios page at www.growandsing.com lists all our class options, piano lessons, birthday parties, and SO much more. Read what parents are saying, learn about our staff, and view our gallery of pictures. We also have beautiful pages dedicated to our new programs, Simply Music Piano Lessons and New Mommy Meetup mommy and me classes.

Grow and Sing Studios
“Connecting Families Through the Magic of Music”

Grow and Sing Studios Kindermusik in Orlando and Central Florida
#kindermusik

Visit us at https://www.growandsing.com/

While we strongly encourage the children who attend our classes to show their parents respect, we couldn’t ignore the fact that this kid has his priorities straight!

It’s time to register for classes. We start SOON! Fall classes begin the first week in September.

Click here TO VIEW CLASSES
Click here to REGISTER

Offering music and movement classes, art and book time, baby signing, playdates and summer camps for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and young children.

Servicing East Orlando, Avalon Park, UCF/Oviedo, Downtown Orlando, Lake Mary, Lake Nona, Hunter’s Creek, Port Orange, Winter Springs, Casselberry, Voluisa County and Dr. Phillips.

We can’t wait to have you join us!

As kids are returning to school and our classes are about to head back to session, how about spending some time documenting your kiddos. Consider taking pictures that you will cherish, without the struggle and posing that normally accompanies picture taking. How you ask? Simple. Capture your kids doing what they do naturally. Those are the pictures you will love, and that will be most memorable.  Unlike the “I’m attempting to smile Mom, but my face looks like I’m growling instead” pictures. We all know those, right?

When our Kindermusik photographer Rachel V visits a studio class, she focuses on the things we don’t. Things like the way your child’s face lights up when the parachute comes out, or how excited they are to choose their own movement during the class hello ritual. Most importantly, when they look at you and see your love for them written all over your face! Those are the moments you’ll cherish forever. Not the picture of your kid standing next to a wall saying “cheese”.

And so, Grow and Sing Studios’ Ms. Leslie and Ms. Holly have some simple tricks to turn your point and shoot camera into your best friend.

1. Turn your flash OFF. Flash distorts natural color. Leslie’s favorite room to snap pictures in is the playroom. It has huge double doors to outside that lets in tons of natural light. Rachel V captured this picture in their playroom on the floor! By far the Watson’s favorite picture of their kids!

Photo courtesy of  rachelvphotography.com

2. Try to avoid interrupting your child’s play. Allow them to go about their business, and you’ll capture some gems. Try to take the pictures on their level and snap while they aren’t paying attention to you.

Pardon the mess, We were camping and C found pine cones!

3. Document time passage. For the younger kiddos, these stickers below for their shirts are so much fun! For the older kids, consider an annual “survey ritual” like this one. Fill out the survey, and save with a picture in an album each year!

4. Natural settings create beautiful memories. Whether it’s the beach, the mountains, a walk down the street or a bike ride, when a child is fully engaged in their surroundings or activity, you can’t go wrong. Ms. Holly loves capturing her family as they take evening strolls, or play at the beach. Rachel V of course captures those moments in class.

5. Have fun with FUN apps! If you are taking pictures from your phone, there are some really fun apps you can use to tweak or customize your photo. You may want to try Instagram which has fun filters and frames. If you want to create a collage or grid, try Photo Grid, or PhotoFunia. Oh the fun you can have!
Most importantly, take pictures, print some and back them up on a jump drive to keep somewhere safe in case your computer takes a hit!

Our team can’t wait to see you all in classes soon. If you haven’t registered yet, Come join us!!
Click here to view our Fall Class Offerings.
Click here to REGISTER.

Classes start the first week in September!

Content contributed by Ms. Leslie and Ms. Holly, both of whom are mommies of 2, and always snapping away! 

What!!? No Kindermusik for a whole month? We know, a scary thought! What are you going to do to occupy your tots mind you ask? Have no fear, Grow and Sing Studios is here! During class breaks and even on a normal week, one of our amazing teachers, Ms. Leslie, has a 3 year old who loves to be busy, learn and explore the world around us. Ms. Leslie has shared 5 fool proof fun ideas you can do at home to have some fun together (other than listen to Kindermusik songs)! So here’s a mix of indoor and outdoor activities this Kindermusik educating momma loves!

1. Two words : Shaving cream!

We did this on a hot summer day with friends. We filled bowls with shaving cream, painted the slide and let the ids go crazy! Your local dollar store sells Barbasol, be sure NOT to get menthol! Keep a towel and a bucket ready for hand washes and eye wipes! Turn the sprinkler on to wash off! Need more help with this check out GrowingaJeweledRose‘s post or MoldstadMemories on shaving cream fun!

2. Make homemade Playdough together

Playdough is super easy to make at home. Cooking with kids teaches so many important things like following directions, step by step planning, measuring, gross and fine motor skills and reading! Best of all, it keeps in the fridge for a long time! Here’s a recipe I use:

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

1 cup water

1 Tablespoon oil

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

Food coloring by drops

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a pan and stir.  Cook over low heat, stirring until a ball forms.

2. Add food coloring and mix thoroughly until desired color.

3. Cool on foil. Store in covered container.

3. Bubbles and a Bubble Snake Maker!

Bubbles and Kindermusik are synonymous! I haven’t met a Grow and Sing Studios kiddo who doesn’t love bubbles!  This is usually the time of year Target has their summer items including bubbles and bubble makers on clearance! There is also a really cool tutorial here at ComeTogetherKids to make a bubble snake maker! It’s a really easy project using a water bottle and washcloth. Have a competition to see who can blow the longest!!

Photo courtesy of  education.more4kids.info

 4. Read together!

Something so simple does so much for your little one’s brain! Just 20 minutes a day, no matter their age, strengthens your relationship, encourages listening and language skills and establishes a strong learning foundation.  Part of the fun for kids is being able to hear a story come to life. Books give children a way to use their imaginations unlike television does! When a book is read to you, you picture the book in your own head along with the pictures in the book. TV simply takes the creativity out! Your local library is waiting for you! If you’re unsure what your child will like, stroll around the kids section, normally the librarians leave some fun books out for them! Show your kids how to look on the computer for books in the catalog.

 5. Kindermusik Dance Party!

One of our favorite things to do! Put on some tunes and shake the sillies out! Head on over to http://play.kindermusik.com (Kindermusik’s e-music website) and find some new favorites!  Some fun songs to check out are Windshield Wiper Dance, Put your Left Paw in, Hey Lolly and whatever else your feeling! Be silly and have fun with your kids!

Don’t worry classes come back soon and we already miss you! You can always sign up for a Kindermusik Playdate! Don’t forget to enroll for Fall classes for tons more fun!

See you soon!

Posted by Ms. Leslie, Licensed Kindermusik Educator and mommy of 2 who is ready to shake her sillies out

Photo by Rachel V Photography: http://rachelvphotography.com

We are celebrating a milestone! We have just reached 1000 “likes” on our Facebook page. To celebrate our amazing Grow and Sing Studios community, and thank you for all the support, we are going to have some FUN and give away HUGE prizes (and little prizes too)! :)

To participate, please share a photo or video on our facebook wall of any of the following:
Your child (with you perhaps)

• Enjoying Kindermusik in class
• Using Kindermusik materials at home
• Enjoying some music or musical instruments
• dancing/singing
• other musical and bonding activities
• funny musical moments

(you get the idea!!)

This photo contest will run through May 15th.  ONE entry per family!

On May 16th the following prizes will be given away:
1) Winner of “most creative picture/video” will win a $200 Grow and Sing Studios gift certificate which can be applied to classes, birthday party, or any other Grow and Sing Studios service. This prize may be gifted!
2) Another winner will be picked at random draw for a $95 free summer semester (or if you are already enrolled in summer, you can apply this credit to another service). This prize may be gifted!
3) 10 more names will be randomly drawn to each win a 10 song download card to play.kindermusik.com (Kindermusik’s e-music site)
4) 2 more names will be drawn for out-of -towners only to each win a copy of “Connect Through Music“, our music and movement DVD created by us!

If you do not live in the Central FL area and don’t have anyone here that you think would benefit from a prize related to free classes, please note that in your entry, and we’ll enter your name only for the download card and out of town prizes. 

We hope you will have a GREAT time with this contest ,and we can’t WAIT to see all the amazing photos we know you have, or will take. : )

We have an amazing lineup of Summer programming! From baby classes, to family style, to art and babysigning. We even have DROP OFF classes for ages 4-7 so mom can go get a starbucks and relax!!! Check out all our summer information here  and join us today!

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