HRM Parent Blog

Here's a real mix of classes open for registration now, some for March Break, some not. I feel a bit strange posting this just after my confession on overscheduling kids yesterday, but what can I do? I present the information, you do with it what you will. :) Have fun!

• Calling all 3-5 year olds! Come join the Ivy School of Music every week as they dance, sing, create and learn new things with music and friends! Music, Play...Hooray is the perfect group atmosphere to promote creativity through imagination and crafts, musicality through singing and rhythms, and interaction through our circle of friends. Each weekly session is 40 minutes long. Cost: $60 for 6 weeks (includes all-day admission at Aplaydia). These 6-week sessions start the week of February 15th and run every Monday or Tuesday (no program during March Break -March 15-19) at 10am. Please call 444-7529 or email the school (info@ivyschoolofmusic.com) to register. Drop-ins are welcome but the program is cheaper if you pre-register.

• WeeHands with Becky is holding a free workshop for parents on how to start signing with your baby on Wednesday, March 3 from 4-4:40pm at Aplaydia in Bedford. Hear about the benefits of signing, learn some strategies for signing and then sing and sign with your wee one! Pre-registration is required. Please send a short email to Becky (becky@weehands.com) to register. Receive a complimentary toddler pass to Aplaydia from 3-6pm on this day.

• Journey to Wellness will be running a 10-week mom and baby fitness class at Sharkey's in Bedford starting on February 11th. Class is at 9:30-10:30am and costs $100. Babies age six weeks to 12 months. Registration is required. Forms can be picked up at Sharkey's or by e-mailing info@journey2wellness.ca. For more information, please call Deborah at 222-1353.

• Is your child riding safely in the car? Have your car seat installation checked and get advice from a Child Restraint Systems Technician. Hosted by Child Safety Link and St John Ambulance. Cash donations for relief work in Haiti will be gratefully accepted. Sunday, February 7th at the Bedford Fire Station. Appointments are avaliable between 2:30pm and 5pm. Pre-register by calling Kim Mundle on 470-7324.

• Aplaydia and Ivy School of Music are offering March Break programs for kids 4-8 years. Music & Imagination Creations is for the younger set, 4-5 years, and runs every day during March Break (March 15-19) in the morning from 9am-noon. The camp incorporates music through theatre, games and songs, along with craft-making. For the older kids, 6-8 years, there is Musical Theatre, where students will learn Broadway classes and other musical hits and create stage props. This camp runs every afternoon during March Break from 1-4pm. Both camps include a small performance at the end of the week for friends and family and cost $89. For more information or to register call 444-7529.

• Pier 21 is offering camps during March Break for kids ages 5 to 12. Kids will earn about how climate change is impacting countries all around the world by participating in green-themed games, activities and create crafts that explore the southern tropics, desert plains, polar ice caps and more. Half-day and full-day options are available. Half-days are from 9am to noon or 1pm to 4pm and cost $15. Full days are from 9am to 4pm and cost $30 or $140 for the whole week. Early drop-off/late pick-up (8am-5pm) is also available for an extra $5 per day. Contact Elisabeth Tower by email at education@pier21.ca or call 425-7770 ext. 243 to register.

Have any information on classes and programs to add? Email charmaine@hrmparent.ca or leave a comment below with details!

Robyn Berman, mother and certified doula, has teamed up with Balance Health Centre for this new 6-week series for new moms and their babies. "Your 4th Trimester: Navigating New Motherhood" is a 6 class program (2 hours each class) that will take you through the most common questions and concerns of the immediate post partum period. It is intended for mothers and babies who are 3 months of age or younger (you can start as soon as your baby has been born if you like!).
 
The first session starts February 11th at 10am to noon, and continues as follows: February 18, 25, March 4, 25, April 1, 8. Cost is $145 (+tax) if paid in full by Feb 1 $165 (+tax) after Feb 1. Space is limited, so register now by calling 425-4848 or visiting Balance Health Centre. Balance Naturopathic Health Centre, 3514 Joseph Howe Drive, Halifax (across from the Superstore, behind The Healthy Bug).

Some fun classes for you to consider for your little ones:

• Music, Play...Hooray!! Calling all 3-5 year olds! Join the Ivy School of Music in Bedford as they dance, sing, create and learn new things with music and friends! Music, Play...Hooray promotes creativity through imagination and crafts, musicality through singing and rhythms, and interaction through our circle of friends. Each weekly session is 50 minutes long. Classes are limited to 10 children. Introductory Cost: $45 for 5 weeks (includes all-day admission at Aplaydia). Session dates (Tuesdays):  Nov 17, Nov 24,  Dec 1, Dec 8, and Dec 15, 2009, 10am-10:50am. Call Ivy School of Music (located in Aplaydia) on 444-7529 to register.

• Family yoga is back for children aged 3 to 5 years old at the Bloomfield Centre in Halifax with Lara Morris. The next dates are Sunday, November 22 and Sunday, December 13, from 10am to 10:45am. $12 per class for child and caregiver. Contact Lara on 422-4096 or email lara@laramorris.ca to register.

• Baby Talk Sign Language still has spaces open for its baby signing workshop this Wednesday evening (October 28th), where you can learn strategies and techniques to use American Sign Language (ASL) signs while interacting in enriching ways with infants and toddlers. The workshops are open to parents and/or caregivers only and they ask that alternate care arrangements be made for children during the 2 hour session. The cost for the workshop is $50 + HST per adult or $65 + HST per couple. Dates: Wednesday, October 28 at 7-9pm, and Sunday, December 6 at 9-11am, at Sticky Kids in Fall River. More information available here.

• Aplaydia in Bedford is running an after school care program, complete with tutors to help your child finish their homework, supervised play on the indoor playground, scheduled activities, music lesson (optional) and most importantly - FUN! Cost:  $20 per child per day (music lesson extra). Call to register or to inquire (444-7529).
  

• Arbonne Make-up Workshops are now available at Sharkey's Cuts for Kids in Bedford! Join Loly Crowley, an Arbonne Independent Consultant, for Smokey Eye "Smokin Hot" on October 14, 10:30-11:30am. Get all of your questions answered, create a beautiful look with customized colour that nourishes & protects your skin! $10 per person. Contact Sharkey's Cuts for Kids at 406-7074 for registration or if you have any further questions.

• Sharkey's Cuts for Kids and Andrea’s Music Studio are offering three music programs for kids. You can register for these programs ahead of time, or just drop in on the day. The Music Makers program is for kids ages 8 months to 5 years, and is on Wednesday mornings from 10-10:30am. $7 per child per class. Guitar (for ages 7-16) and piano for ages 5-14) classes are also available: learn to play a song within 3 lessons! Instruments will be provided for the lesson. Guitar is on Wednesday evenings and piano is on Thursday evenings. $12.50 per child per class. Contact Sharkey's Cuts for Kids at 406-7074 for registration or if you have any further questions.

• Infant massage classes are back again at Sharkey's with Betsy Webb from BE Massage Therapy. The class consists of four one-hour sessions designed to teach parents to massage their babies while paying attention to baby’s cues. They take place Friday mornings from 11am to noon, on October 16, 23, 30 and November 6. Cost is $90 including tax. Contact Sharkey's Cuts for Kids at 406-7074 for registration or if you have any further questions.

• Nurtured runs free monthly babywearing and cloth diapering workshops where you can learn all the in's and out's of these two sometimes complicated subjects. The next babywearing workshop will be on Thursday, October 15; the next cloth diaper workshop is on Thursday November 12. Pre-registration required and there is limited space. Check out Nurtured's website for more information.
  

• Also at Nurtured, join Karen Reed from Passionate About Birth for a free informative talk about Birth Options. Karen draws upon her experience as a mother, a nurse, a certified birth doula, a Lamaze birth educator and as well as from her present study as a Birthing From Within mentor, to support women and couples to be well informed about their birth options. If we don't know our options we don't have any and can't be active participants in our births. Saturday, October 17, 10am. Pre-registration required. Book via Nurtured's website.

Just a very quick note before I head off on vacation (woo hoo!) to let you all know about these new classes for kids accepting registration for their fall session:

Son Salsa (sound of salsa) Latin Beat Class for kids and youngsters (ages 5-16)
Learn to dance latin (salsa, merengue, bachata and cha cha cha). Focus is on musicality, beat and learning to move to any rhythm.
September 10th - December 3rd (13 weeks)
Cost: $150 per child (discount for 2nd child)
Location: North Woodside community Centre
Info: Izzie Halliday 429 3724

Learn the art of mime, movement theatre & improvisation
These workshops are designed to awaken the imagination, inspire confidence and creativity and introduce children to the art of theatre. Children will get their bodies moving and expressing in new ways and will learn to work together in a fun filled yet educational manner. Students will explore traditional theatre, mime, improvisation and mask. With over 20 years of experience as the founder and director of the award winning Jest In Time Theatre, Sherry Lee Hunter has both a solid history and a tremendous reputation as a master teacher of children and adults.
Classes for Children ages 6-8 yrs: Saturdays from 10-11am, Sept 12 - Nov 28, Tuition $165
Classes for Children ages 9-12 years: Saturdays from 11:30am-1pm, Sept 12 - Nov 28, Tuition $250
Located at Fort Massey United Church, 5303 Tobin St.
For information & registration call  Sherry Lee at 423-9954 or e-mail sheeye@hotmail.com