New Toddler Class! Baby Animals and Me! Los Angeles, CA

Just Hatched 2011: New Baby Class, Los Angeles, CA

A gentle way to get out the house with new baby and connect with other families.  Inspired by Waldorf Early Education, Brain Gym and Attachment Parenting.

info@playgrouplosangeles.com

www.playgrouplosangeles.com

The Heart of Parenting

We’ve all been waiting for you.
For you.
Your arrival has been marked, has been recorded
on earth,
in the universe,
in the galaxies,
in all of space,
in all of time.

You come with a birthright, written in love and sung
through all Creation in words which promise
that no matter where you’re at,
you’re home
that no matter who you’re with,
you’re welcome
that no matter who you are,
you’re loved.
Welcome.
~ Rita Ramsey

If I Knew You Were Coming, Playgroup Los Angeles, CA

Strictly Business.

  As part of learning about upcoming 2nd Birthdays, our preschoolers tackled the task of putting the icing on the cake (blueberry muffin and whipped cream).  

The first objective: to discover for themselves the concept that the icing shared some connection with the cake--eating it did not even occur to these guys until the grown-ups started digging in :)  

For the most part, the main attraction was exploring and investigating the creamy icing and eventually putting some on the cake.  

These toddlers practiced eye-hand coordination, tactile play, sensory integration: smell, taste, weight and feel, and some socialization and sharing; you can tell how seriously this task was just by looking at them.

Happy 2nd Birthday! from Playgroup Los Angeles

Playgroup Mommy-and-Me Class, Sherman Oaks, CA Open for Enrollment

Playgroup: Sherman Oaks!


Fridays at 10AM 


Come and play!  Sherman Oaks mommy-and-me style developmental playgroup now enrolling.  Ages 2-4, (walking toddlers welcome).


Each class will include music/rhythm, movement and an integrated art project--messy art/sensory integration activity.


All fees are non-refundable:


$65 for 4-week session; $85/twins and siblings
or
$22 drop-in rate, payable at least 1 hour before class time.


To register or for more info:


bedelberg@yahoo.com
(323) 841-0369

Green with Me: Easy and Recycled Art Projects for Young Children

When I have playgroups with older 2 year-olds and up,  I am always excited to get into easy art projects made out of the stuff that is available around the house--mostly the trash :)  My favorite resource for this kind of play, and I have looked at endless "green art" books is Laurie Carlson's, Ecoart!: Earth-Friendly Art and Craft Experiences for 3-To 9-Year-Olds (Williamson Kids Can! Series).

I suppose the second runner up is the even more classic (granola), Snips & Snails & Walnut Whales. Nature Crafts for Children.
 
My groups have danced and got our bodies ready to be steady with kids yoga and then have made kites, guitars, paper, rock necklace out of shopping bags, shoe boxes and the like.

Developmental Music at Silverlake Playgroup, Los Angeles

Emma, Age 2, Playing Pentatonic Glockenspiel

Auris has spent years perfecting the tones of their musical instruments and their Pentatonic Glockenspiel is among their finest. The Glockenspiel uses a five-tone scale which is specially attuned to children's aural needs.   Pentatonic instruments are recommended for early childhood and widely used in Waldorf schools.  You Are Your Child's First Teacher: What Parents Can Do With and For Their Chlldren from Birth to Age Six

Toddler Yoga

"Hey Bets! My daughter keeps asking me to show her yoga poses, cause she sees me do it, but i don't know exactly what to show her that would be interesting and productive at her age... she can't really do any poses yet... so do u have any info anywhere on yoga poses for toddlers?"


Good question! All babies, in fact, all children under age seven, learn the most through imitation so you doing yoga in front of her is the perfect start!  Get her a mat of her own because it is a special place for her own practice and gives some structure, make sure you announce "yoga time!" even if it is a five minute session.


The best thing would be to find a teacher with expertise in teaching yoga to toddlers and their parents who will be able to "play" yoga with your child; however, if that is not an available option where you live or you want to supplement at home, here are some great products for home use:

You can do the Yoga Kids dvd together, she will be able to do more of them if she sees you do them in front of her.  Also, you can help her find the poses by adjusting and spotting her.  The songs are sweet and the poses are very kid friendly.

A great yoga reference book for parents of young toddlers.

Snatam Kaur is such a wonderful kundalini yoga practitioner that I am compelled to recommend this dvd though I have not yet seen it myself.  Can't wait!

Remember you can do yoga with babies as well and a great reference book is Itsy Bitsy Yoga, same author (different book than the toddler):

Baby Yoga Class LA and Worldwide!

Finally someone who makes my baby yoga classes look pedestrian!  We love dads and especially way out baby teachers:

http://www.dadwagon.com/2011/01/18/dadwagon-qa-exclusive-interview-with-baby-yogas-lena-fokina/

       "Lena Fokina: either she just killed dinner, or she's doing double baby-yoga." 
                                                                                    Nathan, dadwagon.com

A great! baby yoga book for practicing at home:

If you are part of the chosen yogi parents and want to take a baby, toddler or kid yoga class here in Los Angeles contact bedelberg@yahoo.com

Final Silverlake Session 01/17-02/17, Play Group Los Angeles

Last play group before maternity leave, come join the fun!

There is no theme for this session just a 4-week pot of favorite developmental play activities!

Thursdays 10:30AM, open class/private home Silverlake, CA.

4 week session fee $65, sign up by 1/20.

Email: bedelberg@yahoo.com

"I Made It Out of Clay" Playgroup, Silverlake, Los Angeles

As part of our Holiday-with-Me class we learned to spin dreidels, played and cut shapes with homemade colorful dough, and made our own clay!

Storytelling as Healing

This is a must read for parents. Even if you do not become a storyteller yourself, the book is filled with insight and enlightenment about how to communicate with children in ways that are profound for THEM. It is well-written and refreshing, and it is not a parenting book yet becomes one.