As fun as a new routine can be, having a rough plan for the week can help to keep things in check and avoid the “I’m bored!” chants that inevitably prevail. Here are a few ideas to get you going.

1. Kindermusik always fits! Register for a summer camp or class! It will be a weekly appointment to get together with friendly faces and give you and your little ones a shared experience that lasts throughout the week!
2. Plan a standing park and picnic play date with friends! Whoever can make it, makes it. Don’t underestimate the power that comes from 60 minutes of connecting with another human who speaks in complete sentences and uses big words. And the energy that Junior expends will pay dividends during nap time, later.
3. Check out your local library or museum‘s summer programs. Seeing the world through their eyes and discovering new things can be some of the most precious times. Take pictures and videos–even if just on your phone–their little voices and faces are changing so fast and this was the first time they saw that dinosaur, or that waterfall, or that giant goldfish.

Download, print and laminate this great graphic here to inspire you to plan your week and get the most out of summer!

From www.somewhatsimple.com

This post brought to you by Jenny Leggett.

“Our children are being offered food at every turn. And adding just one extra snack each day can make a big impact. In fact, it’s possible that childhood obesity is driven by as little as 165 extra calories a day for kids ages 2 to 7, say researchers at both Harvard and Columbia universities. That’s roughly the amount in a handful of potato chips.” –Yoni Freedhoff, M.D.

Then there’s the etiquette of snacking. Isn’t it still a rule of thumb that in a group situation, if you don’t have one for all, then it’s rude to eat in front of others? And what about public places like the library or the museum? Shouldn’t we keep food and drinks confined to eating areas out of consideration for keeping things clean and neat for all?

“Toddlers and preschoolers can go two to three hours between meals and snacks, older kids three to four. As much as you can, avoid on-the-go snacks — in the car and the stroller, in the shopping cart, or as you’re going out the door. Grazing this way makes it harder for kids to eat the right amount because they’re so distracted. Mindless eaters don’t have the chance to really savor food or pay attention to their body’s hunger or fullness signals, so they often end up over- or under eating.” –Sally Kuzemchak, R.D

While most pediatricians will tell you that a toddler will eat when they’re hungry, the key is offering wholesome food at designated times, and in designated eating places. Food needs to be eaten when it’s offered, or if they choose not to eat it, then their next opportunity to eat is at the next offering. Popcorn in the family room for a movie should be a treat, not a rule.

“‘One small sweet treat a day can help teach kids about balance and to not see sweets as forbidden foods that become even more alluring.” –Kathy Isoldi, Ph.D., R.D.

Ultimately, we want them to make independently healthy food choices. A good at-home exercise: Put up a food pyramid poster and let kids put a sticker on the food group they are eating, if it’s not a real food, no sticker! Kids and parents can see what they’re actually eating and drinking.

There can be a lot of social pressure for children to behave in certain situations, but ultimately, we all know that children are children and comforting them with food is not a healthy choice. Extreme situations call for extreme measures (read: plane trip) but as a daily practice, we ALL could probably use a little snack smarts!

graphic credit: Parents Magazine

This post brought to you by Jenny Leggett, who needs to get her own food chart and stickers–is there an app for that?

A great idea for toddlers and their little hands!
Photo originally posted on mynameissnickerdoodle.com

Children are born with the natural ability to appreciate a task that needs to be accomplished and to see the steps to complete it with a smile on their little faces.

Not so much, right? Chores for children can sometimes become a chore in itself for parents. It’s a basic character builder, though, and a pursuit worthy of pursuing. So, if you’re like me and sometimes need to hear the same old thing in a new and inspirational way, here are a few ideas and principles.

1. Age appropriate chores and expectations. Obviously a two year old is going to have different abilities than a 12 year old, but knowing that fine line between challenging our kids without frustrating them can go a long way in getting the best cooperation from them. A job worth doing is worth doing well–but, in the beginning it’s more important to encourage effort and initiative. Remember, what’s old-hat for you is brand new to them. Make sure you take some time to demonstrate the chore, do it with them, and then let them do it.
2. Think outside the trash. There are so many chores that need to be completed–some are more mundane than others. It all needs to get finished, so along with the usual suspects of trash, table, and toilets, think about other things that need attention and delegate away! There is nothing wrong with helping your kids to discover chores they might actually enjoy! Yes, it’s a chore, but one child might enjoy cleaning the fish bowl, while another child might enjoy matching socks.
3. Variety works wonders Two successful discoveries I have made on the Chore Journey: 1) Chores happen on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and we all celebrate NO CHORE DAYS. 2) If you don’t like your chores this week, fear not, you can spin the wheel anew, next week. The reason we do MWF chores is because sometimes the bathroom trash really ISN’T full and this mom needs to know that MWF I can give 100% to the encouragement and, ahem, follow-up that’s required and know that there’s a bit of a break from it the next day. The “chore wheel” is nothing more than a system of six chores for three kids–two chores for each kid, each week. Next week, you get two different chores. This combination cuts the moaning and grumbling by half!
4. Just add music! Toys Away, is a great soundtrack to play or sing during chore time for little ones. But any music will do, no matter what age! Make it a dance party, sing show tunes, make it fun and forget that it’s a chore. Be silly and smile–that’s what they’ll remember.

Similar to the chore wheel idea; pick a chore or two for this week and two different chores next week! Found on Pinterest!

There’s a soapbox somewhere in here about delayed gratification and anti-entitlement attitudes, but I think as parents we know what we hope for in the end, and that it’s the means to the end where we need more encouragement. Chores open up so many opportunities to connect with our kids–if we look for those opportunities.

“I like the way that you did your chores without complaining! Thank you!”

“That was a big job, and you finished it all! How does that make you feel?”

“I have so many chores to do today, and you have some, too. Let’s work together and get them done faster!”

One more thing I’ve learned over time is that chore systems can be helpful, but it’s okay to make adjustments that fit your family’s schedule or season and it’s okay to change the system completely! Be consistent about building responsibility, but change the tool if a new tool is called for. Start somewhere, and keep trying.

This post brought to you by Jenny Leggett, who has been known to actively resist emptying the dishwasher during the day, in order to “save” it for the kiddo’s after school chore time.

When Caroline doesn’t want to take a nap…she goes to her door, takes off her pants, and slides them under the door into the hallway…as some sort of signal to me, I guess? I’m just thankful it’s only the pants.

–Miss Jenni, Mom and Kindermusik Educator.

Nap time. Quiet time. Rest time. Book time. Whatever you call it. Kids need it! Parents need them to do it!

Who needs a nap time or at least a rest time?

• Toddlers generally require 10 to 13 hours of sleep, including an afternoon nap of 1 to 3 hours.
• Preschoolers average about 10 to 12 hours at night, plus an afternoon nap.
• School-age kids need about 10 to 12 hours at night.
• Moms need enough time to have a cup or two of tea, listen to the quiet, scratch out a grocery list, and check a few emails–times and tasks may vary.

Ideas for making nap time or rest time successful

Routine, routine, routine. Now, this doesn’t mean that you’re a slave to a schedule, it simply means that when you repeat an order of events, it helps their little brains to anticipate: next is the story, next is the kiss, next is the music, next is the promise of sweet dreams, and next is the rest of our day together! And the beauty of this routine is that during the transition from “a napper” to “a rester,” you can easily adjust the routine by saying, “Even if you don’t need to sleep, you can lay there quietly and look at books” or “You don’t have to sleep, but you do need to stay in your room and play with quiet toys.”

Miss Jenni (Mommy to two little ones and Kindermusik Educator) says this, “We are right in the middle of this transition from nap time to quiet time. I am still trying to figure it all out (and mourn the loss of her beloved NAP time!) but I will say that CONSISTENCY is big big big. Young children are creatures of habit and if you do something out of place or out of step — it can be the end of the world as they know it! I will still read her a book and sing our songs (our normal nap time routine) and then leave her alone for her quiet time. For us, we’re noticing that she is not tired at all at the normal nap time so we’re playing around with this “quiet” time where she has to stay in her room with the lights low. She is free to move around the room, read books, play with toys, etc. I strategically choose which toys end up in her room right before quiet time and remove some that aren’t quite quiet time-appropriate.”

Is your toddler an expert negotiator when he or she knows nap time is imminent? Use a song like May There Always be Sunshine that you both can sing that helps them to initiate and cooperate with the routine of nap time or rest time. If you haven’t already, you might think about having a play list set up on a MP3 player that might include some Kindermusik lullabies, or even some Kindermusik stories that they can listen to.

We all need those times where we break from the pace of the day and take time to cultivate the quiet. It’s especially true for our child’s developing brain, but it’s a good practice for our adult brains, too.

This post brought to you by Jenny Leggett, who remembers many the time of laying on the bed with her toddler, listening for the slow, steady breathing of her sleeping toddler, and then ever-so carefully sliding off the bed herself and making her escape out of the bedroom and into the one and half to two hours of “me-time.”

(photo courtesy of smithsonianjazz.org)

Jazz is a uniquely American art form. It’s a hybrid form of music that fuses together African rhythms, American blues and European chamber music. There are so many different styles of jazz from early ragtime and swing to bebop, cool and west coast jazz, Latin jazz and more contemporary fusion jazz. Jazz is a music that knows no limits, no boundaries. What a fun style to enjoy with our children!

When asked what the definition of jazz was, Louis Armstrong famously replied, “If you’ve got to ask, you’ll never know.”

Exposing our children to different styles of music can be a fun way to share a musical experience at home or on a drive. Ask questions and play a kind of “Eye Spy” like: What instruments do you hear? A saxophone? A bass? Drums? Trumpets? Trombones? Turn on the jazz tunes while you’re making dinner (also known as the hour when everyone wants to meltdown) and see if a little jazz music is just what everyone needs to make it through dinner, bath time and bedtime. Who knows, maybe it might lead to a little dancing in the kitchen!

Listen to some music where they use “scat singing,” a kind of improvisational vocal singing and then try your own version! They’re using a lot of scales and you can, too! Remember, no rules–get creative!

Not sure where to start? There’s an app for that! Mobile device applications are a great resource to do the thinking for you. Use popular ones like Pandora or Spotify and create a Jazz Station or an Ella Fitzgerald station and start listening!

No matter what your musical background, we can all benefit from listening to more music and more styles of music. And, what a gift to our children that they would continue to become more and more aware of the vast variety of music that is all around them.

This post brought to you by Jenny Leggett who loves the memory of her youngest at age two singing, “Hit the road Jack…no mo’, no mo’, no mo’, no mo’!”

Calling all Fairies!

At The Nest in Woodinville
Saturday, April 27, 10:00-11:30am

Redmond Town Center studios
Saturday, April 27, 1:30-3:00pm and 3:30-5:00pm

Ages: All fairies, 2 and up. Must be accompanied by a twinkling grownup!

Sparkle, Shimmer and Glitter are requesting the presence of all fairies to an enchanted Fairy Party.

Discover your inner pixie talents by creating your very own fairy to take home. Dance, sing and twirl with the seasons, eat dainty fairy cakes, and read stories with the Story Fairy. Miss Allison will also be at the Redmond parties!

Put on your favorite fairy outfit. Grownups can dust off their wings, too.

Everyone is invited! You do not need to be a current Studio3Music family to attend. The cost of our fun-filled Fairy Party is only $15 per child. Adults are free. This special event has limited spaces, so RSVP early.

Please fill out the secure form below to register. Payment must be received at the time of registration. Be sure to scroll down to complete all information.

Get my glitter on at the 10:00 party in Woodinville!
Get my glitter on at the 1:30 party in Redmond!
Get my glitter on at the 3:30 party in Redmond!

-posted by Miss Analiisa, The Story Fairy, who is busy helping gather flower skirts and leaf wings, so you can make your own sweet little fairy to take home!

Superheroes Unite!

Friday, April 26, 3:30 – 5:00pm
Studio3Music Redmond Town Center Studios

Ages: All superhero boys and girls, 2 and up. Must be accompanied by a favorite grownup!

The universe needs you, Superhero boys and girls. The evil Dr. Staccato has escaped, and is on a mission to take over the world! Come to our superhero training session and learn secret musical magic powers. Lots of swooping, swishing and sneaking involved! Make your own cape and eat super snacks. Bring your grownup and let’s put a rest in Dr. Staccato’s plans with music, stories, games and problem solving.

Put on your best disguise. (Grownups are welcome to come incognito, too.)

Everyone is invited! You do not need to be a current Studio3Music family to attend. The cost of our Superhero Party is only $15 per child. Adults are free. This special event has limited space, so RSVP early.

Please fill out the secure form below to register. Be sure to scroll down to complete all information. Payment must be received at the time of registration.

I’m Ready to Save the World!

-posted by Miss Analiisa, who is busy planning super satiny reversible capes with custom superhero logos.

Every once in a while, I get to hear a story from one of our Studio3 families that deeply touches my heart. And in turn, I get to hear a story of how music has a profound affect on the development and well-being of a child. Be sure to watch the video at the end of the post.  Once you get over the awe of how strong this former professional ballet dancer dad is, you’ll love watching his tender and playful interaction with Alex, and his passion that children with Autism “not be limited because of a label”.

From Alex’s mom Courtney:

Kindermusik has been such a valuable experience for my son Alex and myself. Alex was diagnosed with Autism at age 2. When we started with Kindermusik, he spent the whole class wrapped around me with his head buried and not speaking at all due to extreme social anxiety and generalized fear. The wonderfully sensitive and respectful teachers understood how to encourage interaction and gain his attention with brief glances and smiles, and not pushing too quickly. With regular attendance Alex’s comfort level increased and he began sitting in my lap and watching, then playing the instruments and venturing around the room on his own!

Having the opportunity for him to observe and be involved with the other children helped to increase his confidence and ability to interact with others. The group dances are a wonderfully non-threatening exercise that has inspired bonding. In our last class he was bouncing the ball with the teacher and told her “stellar job” at the end. Alex’s amazing gifts are now able to shine through and develop with the help of Kindermusik. My husband and I want to share our story to help people better understand Autism so that all autistic children get the opportunity to fully develop into their incredible selves. My husband has made this video audition for the TV show and physical competition “American Ninja Warrior” to use it as an opportunity to raise awareness about Autism through our story.

-posted by Miss Analiisa, who thinks that Alex’s Daddy has a Ninja Warrior heart!

Be sure to subscribe to our blog so we can send more fun activities and great info your way.

-posted by Miss Allison, Stacey and Michael, who admit that their favorite part is the crashing waves that knock their castles down.

Split! Splat! is certainly one of those that’s fun to flip through. This picture book mixes sound-words with sing-song rhyming in an airy, fun way to celebrate the rainy day — and encourages kids to immerse themselves in the muddy results. “Squish! Squash! Squoosh!”

My 2-year-old likes to refer to this book as the “chucka wucka” book, after her favorite word play in the book. She attempts to read along with many of the pages, sashaying her little shoulders as she gets into the swing of things. Like many children’s picture books, there’s a tiny animal that makes an appearance on each page — in this case a mouse — that the girls like to find.

As a read-aloud, I had to get through it a couple times to recognize when one “little song” gives way to another — from a little rain song, to a little mud song, to a little sun song — and to establish the changes of rhythm. That said, my girls don’t much care how it’s read. After all, it’s the sounds of the words themselves that are center stage here.

Some other favorite books of ours, in large part because of their use of onomatopoeia:

Beep and Bah by James Burks

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin

Demolition by Sally Sutton

Listen, Listen by Phillis Gershator

Mommies Say Shhh! by Patricia Polacco

Snoring Beauty by Bruce Hale

– clickity clacked by Melissa, who looks forward to making a little crunch, crackle and clap song this spring with her girls.

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