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BEFORE CLASS

  • Provide snacks for your child at home. Please do not bring food or drinks to class.
  • Please leave toys, pacifiers, sippy cups, etc. at home or in the car. Your child will need to have his hands and voice free to participate.
  • Please arrive on time. All children need a few minutes to settle into a new environment, so feel free to come 5 minutes early to facilitate a comfortable learning environment.
  • Listening to the CD frequently will help a child feel a sense of familiarity. This will make the class more enjoyable for them. Unfortunately, you will get tired of it long before they do.
  • Please set your phone to silent or vibrate. We understand that sometimes emergencies arise and you need to take a call. In that case, please step out of the room so that your speaking does not distract the children.
  • We request both adults and children go barefoot or in socks in Kindermusik to help keep the floors safe for crawlers. Also, children learn through their senses, including touch/feel on the bottom of their feet. Barefoot is best for sensory development. It is easiest to experience movement in bare feet.

DURING CLASS

  • Kindermusik is a special time for you and your child. We encourage you to use the class time to fully enjoy and participate in the activities with your child.
  • Toddlers learn by discovery and imitation. So no matter what your voice sounds like or how silly you feel, you are the child’s best teacher and they do what you model for them.
  • Kindermusik is a shared family experience. Unlike a playgroup, Kindermusik is not a time for visiting. Focusing on the activity will help the class move along smoothly, whereas visiting distracts all the children and parents, ultimately leading to a chaotic environment. You are always welcome to come early or stay late to visit. You may also enjoy the playground if it is not being used by a school class.
  • Encourage your child by describing what she did and showing your delight. Using phrases such as “You rang the bells” or “You tapped your sticks very fast”, rather than “Good job” will foster intrinsic motivation in your child and enhance her self esteem.
  • Allow your child his or her own response. Your child’s response may be to retreat to a corner or wander around the room. Even if your child’s response is inward or different, it is still that child’s way of learning. It is difficult for parents to watch their child sit motionless or do something completely different than the rest of the class. Our philosophy asks for acceptance and respect of your child’s response. We trust the child to interact within the environment when the child is ready. Please refrain from manipulating your child’s response. It is appropriate to encourage and model. Remember that Kindermusik is process oriented, not performance.
  • It is perfectly normal for children to run, tumble, scream, cry, and protest. And all children will do these things. Please keep in mind, however, that some behaviors, although very natural for a child, may be disruptive during an inside activity.

For parent of 3-5 year olds: Additionally, your child may react differently when you enter the room. This is a typical 3-5 year old reaction. They may have been fully participating until you enter, then shut down completely. Or they may have been perfectly behaved, and then suddenly act-out when you enter.

  • If your child becomes upset or disruptive, please take her outside the room and set appropriate boundaries before returning. This helps the class move smoothly and keeps all the children focused.
  • Running is not permitted for the safety of the children. Also, please stop any “contagious behaviors” that affect the class.
  • All children have rough days. If your child is upset and unable to settle in, it is best to leave and try again another day. If your child is misbehaving, a stern warning followed by going home usually prevents the behavior’s recurrence. You are always welcome to make-up the class and try again on a better day.

AFTER CLASS

Please try to find time to enjoy the home activity book/journal and read the story book(s) with your child. It will only enhance the in-class experience and increase the value of your Kindermusik investment.