Anyone who knows me (or has read much of my writing) will probably have figured out by now that I'm a big advocate of music education for kids. I thoroughly believe in the power of music to help kids grow and develop - not just intellectually, but socially, emotionally and physically too.
Which is why I'm such a big fan of a few local places that offer classes and drop-ins targeted to the tiniest amongst us.
If you have a baby or a toddler at home and you want to expose them to music, then you might be interested in checking out Music Box New Westminster - the music school on the second floor at River Market.
Director Vashti Fairbairn and her team offer a number of options for wee ones, starting with the Mini Music drop-in for those from zero to five years old. It runs Fridays at 10 a.m., and it's free to drop in.
Parents and caregivers attend with the child and join in the singing, stories, instrument play, movement and other fun.
Donations are accepted for Music Heals, an organization that helps to support music therapy services in communities across Canada.
For the older tots, there's also a Music Kids Club for the three- to five-year-old crowd. Each session offers a music-based class that ties a theme together with songs, arts and crafts, movement, stories and imaginative play. Drop-in sessions are on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. for a cost of $25 (or $20 with a club card).
Check out www.musicboxnw.ca for more details.
Not too far away, also downtown, you can find The Stage New Westminster (230-50 Lorne St.), where director Stefanie Swinnard and her team offer Stage Baby (for zero to 18-month-olds) and Stage Toddler (for 16- to 35-month-olds) classes - new sessions are starting Jan. 26, Jan. 27 and Jan. 31.
The classes are based on the Musikgarten curriculum and incorporate music, movement, stories and a variety of imaginative and creative fun.
Check out www.thestagenewwest.ca for more details.
In Sapperton, you can find Kids In Motion Creative Arts Studio, which has among its offerings both Rhythm Babies (starting Feb. 3) and Rhythm Kids classes - introducing movement and music to the tiny crowd. Owner Jessica Hanson and her team also offer dance classes, including pre-ballet and Ballet Boogie, for kids as young as 2.5.
Check out www.kidsinmotiondance.com.
(Incidentally, all three places also offer multiple options for older kids and youth as well, but I'm just focusing on the tiny tot crowd for the moment!)
Are you involved in early music education in New Westminster? This is by no means an exhaustive list of the options. If you know of any other great program that local parents should know about, then send me an email - [email protected].
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If you've ever wanted to send your kids away to join the circus - or maybe run away to join it yourself - then this one's for you.
Vancouver Circus School (which you may already know is located on the second level at River Market) offers a couple of different options for family fun.
For those with wee ones, you can enjoy the Circus Parent and Tot Drop-in fun starting with babies as young as six months old. Whether you have a baby, a toddler or a preschooler, you can enjoy trying out various circus apparatuses - trampolines and aerial silks, anyone? - and equipment like scarves, balls, spinning plates and more.
Sessions are on Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m., with a drop-in fee of $10 per child ($5 for an additional child - and note there's a two-child-per-adult maximum).
There's also a Family Intro to Circus on Saturdays at 10 a.m. Families can try out trampoline, juggling and aerial silks, and instructors will be on hand to help out.
Children must be at least four years old, and there's a maximum of two children per adult.
It costs $50 for a family with two adults and two children, $35 for one adult with two children, or $25 for one adult and one child. Drop-in spaces are limited, so advance registration is recommended. Call 604-544-5024 or email [email protected].
The school also offers a variety of other registered courses and drop-ins, including aerial silks, juggling and unicycling.
Check out www.rivermarket.ca or www.vancouvercircusschool.ca for more details.
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Here's another one for parents with young children.
If you're not already acquainted with StrongStart, you may want to explore it this winter.
StrongStart Early Learning Centres are a free drop-in program for kids from zero up to age five and their parents and caregivers. The sessions are run at local elementary schools and give small children a place to place and explore, with learning activities, stories, music and art.
For those on the east side of town, you can find a StrongStart centre at Richard McBride Elementary School (331 Richmond St.) from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to noon. Call 604-517-6090.
In Queensborough, there's a StrongStart at Queen Elizabeth Elementary School (921 Salter St., 604-517-6080). It runs Monday and Friday 9 a.m. to noon, and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m.
For west side residents, there's one at Connaught Heights (2201 London St., 604-517-6010), which runs Monday to Friday from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Families can drop in at any time, any day, and you don't need to pre-register. You will need to register on site, and you're asked to provide a piece of ID verifying your child's name and birthdate.
Check out the details at the New Westminster School District website.
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Do you have a child who's above their healthy weight?
Local families are being offered a chance to take part in MEND - Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do It! - a free, healthy lifestyle program that empowers kids and their families to become fitter and healthier.
Families with kids aged seven to 13 can participate in sessions twice a week for 10 weeks. Parents and caregivers join their children to learn how to choose healthier foods and spend more time being physically active. There are group sessions and activities, with practical demonstrations, games and tips - plus fun physical activity sessions for the kids while parents can discuss their progress with trained program leaders.
You can check out www.bchealthykids.ca for information about the MEND program.
The New West program runs at Centennial Community Centre and Olivet Baptist Church from Jan. 25 to April 1. Sessions are Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m.
Register by calling 604-777-5120 or email [email protected].
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In my last column, I brought you information about some family and kid storytime programs at the New Westminster Public Library - this edition, I thought I'd introduce you to a few of the library's other offerings.
If you have a young bookworm in your house, the library offers a Young Reader's Book Club - kids can takehome a different book every month and then discuss it with other kids who like to read. Sessions are coming up Thursdays, Jan. 22, Feb. 19, March 26 and April 16 at the main branch; and Wednesdays, Feb. 4, March 4, April 8 and May 6 at the Queensborough branch. All sessions run from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
The nine- to 12-year-old crowd can also enjoy Creative Tweens sessions, which give kids a chance to drop in after school and make a different craft to take home.
It runs Thursdays at the main branch from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., with sessions on Jan. 29, Feb. 26, April 2 and April 30. It's also offered Wednesdays in Queensborough from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., with sessions on Jan. 21, Feb. 18, March 25 and April 22.
Keep an eye on www.nwpl.ca for all the happenings at the library.
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Do you have an item for Family Ties? If you have a family- or parenting-related idea to share, email Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
