Scarf play with music for a newborn?  OH YES! Discover the magic of scarf play with music for your newborn and how it can engage their senses and promote development.

Multi-Sensory Stimulation:

As your baby feels, touches and sees the scarf moving, and hears the music match the movements, so many of their senses are sending messages to the brain all at the same time. In turn, your baby’s brain is absorbing and integrating this sensory information, building neural connections that can become automated awareness, leaves their brain energy for new things to learn.

Interactive Play for Development:

Because infants rely on interactive play with a loving family member to stimulate them,  calm them,  and enable them feel joy… all which are key to optimal infant development, scarves offer a gentle way to accent your play and spark creativity.

Incorporating Scarf Play in Family Time:

Mommy and me music playtime with a scarf can provide all of that…  moving the scarf along with vocal play, describing words, upbeat tunes or sweet lullabies.   Daddy and me activities can be a bit more robust, holding baby up to their chest facing out, and marching through the room with a scarf hanging over their legs… swishing on their skin with the movement.   Siblings can lay down in front of Baby, facing them for some delightful infant tummy time playing peek-a-boo, or bouncing the scarf to the beat of rhymes they chant.  Scarves are actually a wonderful prop for infant play with your whole family seated in a circle around them tossing the scarf to each other and peeking out at baby in turn.

Understanding Your Baby’s Sensory Sensitivity:

Be aware, each baby has their own sensory sensitivity.  Now is a good time to carefully watch to see what your baby is communication to you and adjust accordingly.  When your baby seems to avoid or whimper during scarf play, you may need to slow down, start with just visual play or only gently touch extremities.  Often young babies can become averse to scarf play when it is immediately used on their face and it may freak them out since they don’t understand it.   Any peekaboo play should start with your own face, and they will love it.  Once your baby knows what to expect, and enjoys this multi-sensory play, they may be eager for more close to the face movement and robust movements.

Enhancing Scarf Playtime:

Try this:  Start with vocalizing on “aah” or “ooh” going higher or lower in pitch MATCHING the movements of the scarf above them as they are laying on the floor.  (They love your voice, even if you don’t.)   You may include describing words to add the benefit of language development.  Use directional words such as up-down, around, over-under, in-out, or action words like swoop, swish, swirl, hop,  jump, etc.

Add a personal touch by singing your baby’s name.  As you slowly move the scarf upward, focus on the first vowel in their name as the pitch in your voice slowly climbs higher before finishing their name in a playful way.  Enjoy the same going lower until the scarf rests on their belly.  If they reach for it, let them bat it around and maybe even grab it and pull it in toward the center of their body.

Enhance your play by playing some instrumental music and move the scarf along with the flow of pitch, with small movements for quiet music and bigger movements for louder music.

Benefits of Scarf Play:

As a tiny infant, your baby may not be moving their head side to side yet, so seeing the bright blurry scarf flow above them, and hearing the pitch of your voice sync with the scarf movement is an incredible learning experience.  As your baby starts to move their head side to side, they are eager to practice and develop their independent eye tracking to watch the scarf glide across their vision.

As your baby reaches for the scarf, they are practicing their ability to extend their extremities, and as they grab at it and pull it in, they are practicing their ability to flex and hold, critical gross motor skills for infants.  Stephanie Johnson, in her book “Baby Bare” calls the first three months of a baby’s life the “Squishies” stage, and these specific visual and motor skills are the first most important aspects of their critical  early development.

Before babies can try to imitate anything, their brain is programmed to learn quite complex concepts from their experiences.  Babies’ brains are primed to create neural pathways for intervals and math through the more rich classical and jazz music.  Simply listening is a delightful background for their daily experiences, but interactive play while listening is when the real learning occurs. Once a child begins to try to imitate, we adapt it for their singing range  and capabilities.

Choosing the Right Music:

The barbershop quartet version of “Home Sweet Home” on the free Kindermusik APP (available for any mobile device) is found in the Theme: Relaxation, and has a wonderful high and low flow, perfect for scarf play.  For a delightful song with verbal directions, enjoy “Up, Up in the Sky” with your little bird.  Download the APP today for music YOU will love to listen to repeatedly as well.

Next Step….Kindermusik!

For an ongoing supply of new ideas and music you can use together with your baby, join us anytime during your infant’s first three months with our special Newborn Offer.  If your baby is older, sign up today to Preview a Class and see the musical magic in action with other families with newborn infants, and babies up to walking.

 

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We hope this inspires you to embrace scarf play with music as a valuable tool for newborn sensory development, fostering a strong bond and providing enriching experiences for your baby.

With Music and Magic,
Team Grow and Sing Studios

Dear parents of babies and toddlers in Central Florida,

As a parent, you know that raising a little one can be both incredibly rewarding and downright challenging at times. From sleepless nights to feeding difficulties, you’ve likely experienced a variety of stressors that come with the territory of new parenthood. But did you know that there’s a fun and effective way to help your little one’s development and provide some much-needed unplugged quality time together? Enter Kindermusik music and movement classes.

Kindermusik is a research-based program that uses music and movement to stimulate your child’s brain and promote development in a variety of areas. From language and social skills to gross and fine motor coordination, Kindermusik classes offer a well-rounded approach to early childhood education that is both enjoyable and effective.

But Kindermusik isn’t just beneficial for your child’s development. It also offers a valuable opportunity for parents to unplug from the distractions of daily life and connect with their little one in a meaningful way. In today’s world of screens and constant stimulation, taking a break from technology and focusing on your child’s growth can be a much-needed breath of fresh air.

At Grow and Sing Studios, we offer Kindermusik classes for babies and toddlers in various locations around Central Florida, including Winter Park, Oviedo – UCF, Winter Garden, Lake Nona, Baldwin Park – Orlando and Volusia County. Our program has been recognized as a top Kindermusik program 16 times, so you can trust that you and your child will be in good hands.

Enrolling for a $5 preview class, or even for our 6 week summer Kindermusik session is a fantastic way to try out this program and see firsthand the benefits it can provide. Not only will you and your little one get to enjoy the fun and engaging activities that Kindermusik has to offer, but you’ll also have the opportunity to connect with other parents in your community and form lasting friendships.

If you’re looking for a way to help your child’s development and spend some quality time together, we highly recommend trying out a one of our Kindermusik classes led by an Accredited Kindermusik Educator. Enroll now and watch your child thrive. We can’t wait to make music with you and your little one!

Learn more by visiting our website. There are quick links at the top once you click, and deeper menu options as well.

Holly Lesnick
Founder / Owner / Director
Grow and Sing Studios

👣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

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!

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

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

COSTUME WEEK IS COMING!

All of the costume fun starts this Monday in all our classes and runs through the week – October 25th -29th, 2021.
We welcome those who haven’t attended one of our classes yet, to attend in-person to demo a class for $1. This offer is part of our OCTOBER DEMO DAYS.
Click here to sign up for in-person ($1)
Those who would like to attend our virtual program can attend an ENTIRE week of Halloween fun for $5. Click here to sign up for virtual ($5)

In person demo days are based upon available spaces remaining. We are very careful not to overfill.
Virtual classes are always available to enjoy!

Classes will include musical songs and activities with a Halloween flair. Costumes encouraged!
Join the fun!

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/

CLICK ON THE $1 CLASS LISTING HERE. VARIOUS DAYS/TIMES/LOCATIONS ARE AVAILABLE BESIDES 10AM ONCE YOU CLICK! Classes held T-W-Th at various times between 9am-12pm. 

We will confirm your reservation as soon as possible!
Click here to contact us with any questions. We are here to help!

🎵This year has been anything but typical. Teaching isn’t always the easiest job in the world but it’s definitely one of the most rewarding. We, the teachers here at Grow and Sing Studios are so incredibly passionate about educating not only young children but their entire families. Sharing how music affects minds and bodies is what we love to do! We have always known that bringing families together through music is a gift like none other, but this year we learned it can be taught in MANY different ways, through many different mediums.

🎵Our team isn’t the only one that pivoted, and adapted to make the learning happen. Each and every teacher in the world has done that! But we couldn’t let this Teacher Appreciation Week go by without a HUGE shout out to team Grow and Sing for not only making it through this challenging year, but STAYING COMPLETELY TOGETHER AS A TEAM! Our team that we had in 2020 is our same team we have here in 2021. That took passion and teamwork from each and every teacher here at our studio. Now THAT is the definition of perseverance, dedication, teamwork and accomplishment.

🙌PLEASE GIVE A “WOOHOOOO” TO:
Lisa Petko
Angelyn Rhode
Marisol LaBoy
Kristen Bozard
Holly Lesnick
Will Lesnick
Aiden Amato
and a big thank you to Jasmin Vilca for volunteering her time!

🎵As we head into our 16th Summer of Music, we want to send our endless appreciation and gratitude to our Grow and Sing Studios families. Thank you for believing in us! Oh and thank you for your flexibility with our pivots!

~Team Grow and Sing Studios

#ThankATeacher #musicteachers #kindermusik #teacherappreciationday #teacherappreciationday2021 #teacherappreciation

October 5, 2020

Hello Families,

We want to check in with you, our community, to update and assure you that we are continuing to take the health and well-being of our community, customers, and teachers very seriously.

We miss seeing you in the classroom, we really do. We feel it’s important to take a moment in an open and honest way, to discuss as a studio where we are coming from as of today. There are 2 strong aspects that have us continuing on in a virtual setting.

1. As you most likely know, our classes are group interactive classes with babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Typically these classes are held in a room, with various props and instruments. When, for example, 6 children are enrolled, it means that at the very least 13 people are in the room because of course our classes include loving caregivers. We know that you, the adults, can remain socially distanced with masks on. However, it’s virtually impossible to require these things of your children. Babies and toddlers naturally explore by putting objects in their mouths. They want hugs and they want to explore with all their senses including touch. When we do return back, we’ll have to consider this aspect so everyone is safe.
2. The other aspect is our reality as a small Kindermusik business. Without of course getting into all of the ins and outs of running a studio, we hope we can help you, our community, understand our challenges. Typically for a class to run we have to pay our rental fee and our teacher fee. In addition to those, there are administrative fees, insurance, and operating costs. If we were to hold a class at half capacity which is 6 children, we are actually losing money to hold the class. We typically do that because we have faith the class will grow over time. But in this scenario, there is no room safety wise for class growth. As a very small local family owned business, we just don’t have that money to spend in this covid climate. To hold a class past break even would essentially put a large group of people together in too small of a space which compromises safety. For example, 8 children, would be 17 people in the classroom… you get the idea.

As of right now, due to those main reasons, we must continue virtually. As the weather becomes a bit more dependable, and not quite so hot and rainy, we are considering offering some programming outdoors which could eliminate rental fees. We are currently brainstorming that idea.

Here’s the thing though. We’re having a BLAST with our families via our online classes! Our Kindermusik Virtual+ program is NOT a lesser program, but simply a different one. Consider this. For now, instead of enrolling and paying for 1 class per week, you are enrolling and paying for 12 classes you can come in and out of at your leisure throughout the week. We know it’s not the same. We totally do. BUT, we do know (because parents are telling us) that children are learning from our program. Laughter, smiles, bonding… all the things that Kindermusik typically provides is still happening. In fact, there are children meeting other children, and at the end of class they tell each other “I love you!”. Also, we want you to remember that in the end, the goal of Kindermusik is for YOU the adults to lovingly engage with your children. Whether in person or virtual, THAT is the goal. So if you need to put your device up high out of sight and let it guide YOU as you interact with your child, that is great. If you want to interact visually with us too that’s great, but not required.

We do ask that you strongly consider us. We are a small local business who needs you so we can keep this amazing program going. Our focus right now is to keep all our teachers in work so that when it’s safe, they can return back to doing what they love in person. Your registration means SO much, and contributes so much to keeping us in business so we can provide loving classes for years to come.

We invite you to try an unlimited week for $15 to see what you think. In addition, a new online Bilingual Birdies unit (Jungle Animals) begins this week if you are interested in Spanish music classes. The Bilingual Birdies route also includes the 12 Kindermusik Virtual+ classes. You may know that we have our private online piano and voice lessons but did you also know that we have adult self care Yoga and Tap classes? New 5 week sessions begin this week!

We are all in this together. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and make adjustments and changes along the way.

One more thing, we are nominated for Best Music Lessons in the Playground Family Favorite Awards. Could you take a moment to vote here, and click on Grow and Sing Studios on page 4? Let us know when you vote so we can give you a big “thank you!”.

All the very best,

Holly and Will Lesnick
Owners, Grow and Sing Studios

Kindermusik Virtual+ | Bilingual Birdies+ | Online Birthday Parties | Online Voice Lessons | Online Piano Lessons | Online adult beginner tap classes | Online adult yoga | Online Store

 
 
 
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