Tag: orlando mommy and me
Time to register!!
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
We can’t wait to have you join us!
Picture Perfect!
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!
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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.
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Pardon the mess, We were camping and C found pine cones! |
- 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!
Summer Kindermusik is over. Now what?
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!!
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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
A picture is worth a thousand words celebration contest!
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. : )
Summer Early Enroll Discount ends May 1st! Enroll today!
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!
Voted “Best Music Class”
Parents picks winner 2009
We are proud to announce that we have won for the 2nd year in a row “Best Music Class in Orlando” in the Parent’s Picks awards by Nickelodeon at parentsconnect.com.
If you haven’t yet experienced a music class with Grow and Sing Studios, please come on down to our FREE DEMONSTRATION AND OPEN HOUSE EVENT on Thursday, August 20th!
10:30am – Demonstration class for Babies up to 18 months
11:15am – Demonstration class for all ages up to 7 years old
These will take place at our UUUS location near UCF / Oviedo. Directions can be found here! https://www.growandsing.com/location_kindermusik_orlando.php
We will raffle off prizes, sing songs, dance, play with scarves, keep rhythm with instruments, and much much more! Please email to let us know you are coming!
REGISTRATIONS ARE CURRENTLY BEING ACCEPTED FOR CLASSES WHICH BEGIN NEXT WEEK!
To register click here: https://www.growandsing.com/register_kindermusik_orlando.php
Downtown Summer Classroom Details!
Hi everyone,
As we move into the HOTS months of Summer, we had to evaluate what would be best for our summer classes. The FUCO location classroom that we had been using is in an older portion of the campus, and the air just doesn’t work very well when it gets hot outside. It’s perfectly fine when its cool outside, but hot temps = hot classroom which isn’t good for dancing and moving about! :)
So.. we are taking a little move over to their main hall for summer and they are graciously letting us use their library! This is still on the same campus as before, just in a different building. It’s a WONDERFUL space, and we are really really grateful and excited for the permission to rent and use it!
It’s a VERY cool room, and we can adjust the air levels ourselves, so there is NO concern about it being too hot! Everyone will be quite comfortable. It’s a fully carpeted room as you can see below, and bigger than the other classroom.
I wanted to be sure to share this info with those who took classes downtown in the Spring session, as this could most definitely influence your decision to join us for Summer since it was starting to get hot in the other classroom towards the end of the session. :) Also, wanted to be sure those who are currently registered for summer know where you will be going!
We are VERY excited about this move for summer and we think you will be quite pleased! Because this classroom is bigger, we have decided to change the schedule a bit by removing the 1:30pm music class. The schedule can be viewed by clicking here. Downtown classes are listed as FUCO (First Unitarian Church of Orlando).
To join us for summer click here to REGISTER ONLINE
DIRECTIONS:
This classroom is in GORE HALL.
From Hampton Road, Make a left onto the campus and Gore Hall is directly on your left after the office. Go in the main glass entrance, and the Library is on your left.
From the Robinson entrance, go straight to the back parking lot and make a right. Gore Hall will be on your right. Go in the main glass entrance, and the library is on your left!
and now some pictures to get you even more excited!!!!
Summer classroom downtown
Enter here!
Amazing parking right in front!
We hope to see you this summer. If you are already registered, we look forward to seeing you for class #1 on June 12th!!
Best,
Holly Lesnick
Owner/Director
Please Vote for Grow and Sing Studios!
We were once again nominated for Nickelodeon’s Parent’s Picks awards! Please help us keep our title!! :) You can vote once per day. Click on the link below and vote vote vote!!!
http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com/parents-picks/orlando-fl-usa/best-orlando-music-class
THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!!!
Holly
Maestro again!!!!!!!!!!!
Maestro Award
We proudly received the following letter yesterday:
April 1, 2009
Dear Maestro,
Congratulations on earning Maestro status for the 2009-2010 license year, which begins today, April 1, 2009! This recognition is for the educators who serve the most children, are the most masterful teachers, or distinguish themselves through outreach. This is an “august” group – the best of the best.
This mission, that we collectively call Kindermusik, couldn’t possibly have the breadth of benefit for children without you. I know you have made great sacrifices and applied liberal amounts of elbow grease to get to this level. I appreciate you and your efforts and will do everything I can to help Kindermusik serve your continued success.
Thank you for all you do on behalf of music and children.
Most sincerely,
Michael G. Dougherty
Chairman & CEO
We are excited and ready for Summer. Registration is underway. Click here for the link to the Summer page on our website!
All the best,
Director / Owner
Licensed Kindermusik Educator
Registered Music Therapist
Local Representative for the Central FL Partnership of Kindermusik Educators
https://www.growandsing.com
Pictures of our new Downtown location
Hi everyone. We are very excited about our move to the First Unitarian Church of Orlando in Downtown. The folks there are welcoming us all with open arms, and we can’t wait to begin! Come see for yourself on Friday, December 19th from 11:30am – 1:30pm. I thought I would give you a little sneak preview as many of your are in the process of registering!
View from the classroom door – a courtyard where you can visit or picnic before and after class.
Parking is VERY big and easy!
As you can see, it’s a lovely classroom, lovely grounds, and GREAT parking. There is also a playground to use when the preschoolers aren’t using it!
The classroom is a bit smaller than we are used to, so we are limiting our class sizes to 7 or 8 children MAX. It’s very cozy, clean and will make a wonderful KM environment for you and your child.
Of course, don’t forget about our other 3 AMAZING locations as well. So many classes and locations to choose from!!
You can register here:https://www.growandsing.com/register_online_kindermusik_orlando.php.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email or call!!
All the very best,
Holly
Holly Lesnick
Director / Owner
Licensed Kindermusik Educator
Music Therapist
Local Representative for the Central FL Partnership of Kindermusik Educators
https://www.growandsing.com