Avg cost per class: $ 3.50
Initial Registration Fee: $ 0
Class length: 45 minutes
Class Size: 15 maximum
Parent Expectation: Participate in activity with child; Some time to socialize (unless you are chasing down your child like I was)
Overview: Prayer requests; Prayer; Singing Christian and secular songs with movements; Parachute (sometimes); Story book reading; Bubbles
I loved being in and exposing my son to a group of Christians singing and having fun together. The music was not my favorite, but my son seemed to enjoy it some of the time and the price was right. D had a lot of trouble paying attention during this class and I spent most days chasing him down and trying to get him to participate. He was the oldest in the class, which probably didn't help.
Staff: Holly Davis was very prepared and excited to get this program started. She started each class with prayer requests and really seemed to care about you and your child.
Heights Baptist Church off 75
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Gym Dandies (17 - 20 months)
Avg cost per class: $ $2 -$6 (you can go 3 times week, but same presentation each time)
Initial Registration Fee: $0
Class length: 45 - 60 minutes (you can stay and play through the beginning of next class)
Class Size: 20 maximum
Parent Expectation: Watch child in open gym setting; Participate in circle time with child; Ample time to socialize
Overview: Free gym play with lots of ride on bikes and push toys, balls, an outdoor type toys (like little tykes slides). Short circle time with singing, drums, sticks. Parachute Play. More free play in open gym if you stayed through beginning of next class.
This class is all about social interaction for both kids and their moms. You have ample time to chat because you can see your child from any location in the gym and because of the free play time, your kids get the opportunity to negotiate lots of social issues like sharing. I really liked the price too! My son lived on the little bikes and push toys when we went and liked the slide alot too. D was not incredibly cooperative for circle time or for the parachute even after 12 weeks of going 1-2 times a week. Most of the other children participated well though.
Staff: Lisa Morales is the teacher and creator of this class at Richardson Recreation Centers (www.cor.net). She is super nice as very laid back and understanding of your children. She has a masters in early childhood education.
Initial Registration Fee: $0
Class length: 45 - 60 minutes (you can stay and play through the beginning of next class)
Class Size: 20 maximum
Parent Expectation: Watch child in open gym setting; Participate in circle time with child; Ample time to socialize
Overview: Free gym play with lots of ride on bikes and push toys, balls, an outdoor type toys (like little tykes slides). Short circle time with singing, drums, sticks. Parachute Play. More free play in open gym if you stayed through beginning of next class.
This class is all about social interaction for both kids and their moms. You have ample time to chat because you can see your child from any location in the gym and because of the free play time, your kids get the opportunity to negotiate lots of social issues like sharing. I really liked the price too! My son lived on the little bikes and push toys when we went and liked the slide alot too. D was not incredibly cooperative for circle time or for the parachute even after 12 weeks of going 1-2 times a week. Most of the other children participated well though.
Staff: Lisa Morales is the teacher and creator of this class at Richardson Recreation Centers (www.cor.net). She is super nice as very laid back and understanding of your children. She has a masters in early childhood education.
The Little Gym (demo class at 20 months)
Avg cost per class: $22
Initial Registration Fee: $35/year
Class length: 45 minutes
Class Size: 15 maximum
Parent Expectation: Participate in activity; Watch child; Ample time to socialize
Overview: Circle Time with singing/movement. Free play. Two skills demoed by teacher. Children could choose to try or to play freely. Ball time. Bubble Time. Closing Song.
Lots of gross motor time. This was great for a 20 month old. My son was all over the place and only participated in circle time once when we ran in circles. (Probably typical for a first class.) D loved all the obstacles presented by the gym atmosphere. He participated well and repeatedly in the gross motor skills (somersaults).
Staff: There were 3 people there when we arrived. All made an effort to call my son by name and speak with him - very impressive! The teacher for our group was great - young, energetic, very kid friendly.
www.littlegym.com
Initial Registration Fee: $35/year
Class length: 45 minutes
Class Size: 15 maximum
Parent Expectation: Participate in activity; Watch child; Ample time to socialize
Overview: Circle Time with singing/movement. Free play. Two skills demoed by teacher. Children could choose to try or to play freely. Ball time. Bubble Time. Closing Song.
Lots of gross motor time. This was great for a 20 month old. My son was all over the place and only participated in circle time once when we ran in circles. (Probably typical for a first class.) D loved all the obstacles presented by the gym atmosphere. He participated well and repeatedly in the gross motor skills (somersaults).
Staff: There were 3 people there when we arrived. All made an effort to call my son by name and speak with him - very impressive! The teacher for our group was great - young, energetic, very kid friendly.
www.littlegym.com
Play Wisely (3 classes at 20 months)
Avg cost per class: $12.50
Initial Registration Fee: $50
Class length: 30 minutes
Class size: 1 -4 students
Parent Expectation: Assist child closely per instructions; Minimal time to socialize
Overview: Flash card sets by coach. Gross motor skills. Flash card sets again by coach.
I was so impressed that flashcards held my son's attention. The teacher uses lots of rythym and pattern in her voice and presentation. The child is location objects, seeing parts and wholes, counting, naming shapes and colors. The gross motor activities so far have included lots of ball play, somersaults, walking on odd surfaces, and spinning. All of the activities are research based
.
Staff: Coach Patty, the founder and teacher is great. She is very knowledgable and friendly. She helps the parents understand why each activity is important to the development of the child.
www.playwisely.com
Initial Registration Fee: $50
Class length: 30 minutes
Class size: 1 -4 students
Parent Expectation: Assist child closely per instructions; Minimal time to socialize
Overview: Flash card sets by coach. Gross motor skills. Flash card sets again by coach.
I was so impressed that flashcards held my son's attention. The teacher uses lots of rythym and pattern in her voice and presentation. The child is location objects, seeing parts and wholes, counting, naming shapes and colors. The gross motor activities so far have included lots of ball play, somersaults, walking on odd surfaces, and spinning. All of the activities are research based
.
Staff: Coach Patty, the founder and teacher is great. She is very knowledgable and friendly. She helps the parents understand why each activity is important to the development of the child.
www.playwisely.com
Baby Signs with Kristy ( 6 week class at 14 months)
Avg cost per class: $ 25 ??? (I need to look this up for sure.)
Initial Registration Fee: $
Class length: 45 minutes
Class Size: 5 maximum
Parent Expectation: Participate in activity with child; Some time to socialize; Review at home with child
Overview: Sign language demo by teacher; Parent/child practice; Music with signing; Parent information and handout, Sign and play time with relevant toys
This is a good idea for parents with no prior knowledge of sign language. For me, I had watched videos and looked up needed signs on the net. 90% of what is presented is really geared toward the parent even though it is a parent/child class. I learned maybe a handful of new signs because I'd already been studying them. I'd recommend this class for the parent who wants someone to show them, but not for the child. My son did not pick up any signs from this 6 week series.
Staff: Kristy is really nice and has a PH.D in psychology I think. She was great with the kids and very prepared with toys and even snacks related to the weekly theme. She is not fluent in ASL, but was wlling to look up any terms I wanted to know.
www.babysignswithkristy.com
Initial Registration Fee: $
Class length: 45 minutes
Class Size: 5 maximum
Parent Expectation: Participate in activity with child; Some time to socialize; Review at home with child
Overview: Sign language demo by teacher; Parent/child practice; Music with signing; Parent information and handout, Sign and play time with relevant toys
This is a good idea for parents with no prior knowledge of sign language. For me, I had watched videos and looked up needed signs on the net. 90% of what is presented is really geared toward the parent even though it is a parent/child class. I learned maybe a handful of new signs because I'd already been studying them. I'd recommend this class for the parent who wants someone to show them, but not for the child. My son did not pick up any signs from this 6 week series.
Staff: Kristy is really nice and has a PH.D in psychology I think. She was great with the kids and very prepared with toys and even snacks related to the weekly theme. She is not fluent in ASL, but was wlling to look up any terms I wanted to know.
www.babysignswithkristy.com
Music Together (8 - 20 months)
Avg cost per class: $ 17
Initial Registration Fee: $ 35?
Class length: 45 minutes
Class Size: 12 maximum
Parent Expectation: Participate in activity; Watch child; Ample time to socialize
Materials: Two CDs and a songbook are provided for each semester
Overview: Hello song. Singing/movement songs. Instrument Free Play. Lulluby. Goodbye song.
Hands down, my absolute favorite class! D had some trouble concentrating once he starting learning to walk. I could generally redirect him and get him to participate for 70% of the class. What was impressive to me though was to see D do things at home that we'd done in class when I didn't think he was even paying attention. We listen to the CD in our car all the time and D is able to predict the song upon hearing the first few notes. This is so exciting to his nearly tone deaf mother who has to watch the teacher to stay on the beat. This class is multiage levels up to about 4 I think, but it totally works somehow.
Staff: Franchise owner, Dana Parkoff is an awesome teacher. She has both business and teaching skills. She's great at teaching and redirecting both the kids and their parents. The other teachers are good, but Dana is the best teacher and we were so glad to have her as our class teacher.
www.musictogetherdallas.com
Initial Registration Fee: $ 35?
Class length: 45 minutes
Class Size: 12 maximum
Parent Expectation: Participate in activity; Watch child; Ample time to socialize
Materials: Two CDs and a songbook are provided for each semester
Overview: Hello song. Singing/movement songs. Instrument Free Play. Lulluby. Goodbye song.
Hands down, my absolute favorite class! D had some trouble concentrating once he starting learning to walk. I could generally redirect him and get him to participate for 70% of the class. What was impressive to me though was to see D do things at home that we'd done in class when I didn't think he was even paying attention. We listen to the CD in our car all the time and D is able to predict the song upon hearing the first few notes. This is so exciting to his nearly tone deaf mother who has to watch the teacher to stay on the beat. This class is multiage levels up to about 4 I think, but it totally works somehow.
Staff: Franchise owner, Dana Parkoff is an awesome teacher. She has both business and teaching skills. She's great at teaching and redirecting both the kids and their parents. The other teachers are good, but Dana is the best teacher and we were so glad to have her as our class teacher.
www.musictogetherdallas.com
Gymboree (trial class at 6 months)
Avg cost per class: $
Initial Registration Fee: $
Class length: 45 minutes
Class Size: 15 maximum
Parent Expectation: Participate in activity with child
Overview: At 6 months they just really didn't do much. Sang songs and had parent manipulate childs body to move. I'll try this again at older age.
thoughts
Staff: Friendly.
www.gymboreeclasses.com
Initial Registration Fee: $
Class length: 45 minutes
Class Size: 15 maximum
Parent Expectation: Participate in activity with child
Overview: At 6 months they just really didn't do much. Sang songs and had parent manipulate childs body to move. I'll try this again at older age.
thoughts
Staff: Friendly.
www.gymboreeclasses.com
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