Parachute Games

Did you know that parachute games:

• Encourage cooperation


• Strengthen upper torso


• Refine perceptual skills


• Reinforce turn-taking/sharing


• Develop a sense of rhythm


• Requires following directions


• Promotes social interactions


• Enhances language development

Parachute games are non-competitive. People with differing abilities can all play the same game. What games? Here are a few simple ones:

• Put balls in the middle and make them bounce like popcorn
• Make waves of varying sizes - use your voice as a tool to emphasize directives - tell an ocean story
• Parachute Tag - lift the parachute high in the air - call out 2 children's names - they try to switch places under the chute before it comes down again
• Merry-go-Round - all the children face the same direction - use varying locomotor movements to make the chute move around - change directions and/or tempo
• See-Saw Pull - all the children sit holding the chute - they pull back and forth cooperatively

Don't have a real parachute? A bed sheet will work just fine. Or, come to our classes. We have 2 very colorful parachutes in different sizes that we love to pull out and use!

It Tickles!

This week's Young Child 2 class had visitors. Xavier's parents who work and play for the Kalamazoo Symphony brought a few of their instruments for Woodwind day. They also brought straws so we could get an idea of what it is like to play a double reed . . .

We Need Walkers!

Sign up or donate now . . .

Saturday, May 5
8:30am - 12:30pm
Arcadia Festival Site - Downtown Kalamazoo

6-mile walk or 1-mile Family Fun loop

Baby Breakdancer

Not sure who the guy at the end is . . .

Hippity, Hoppity

We had a nice surprise on our front walk this Easter morning . . . Bunny Tracks!

Nintendo Guitar?

From this ...

To this . . .

Click here to see the process . . .

Red Raven

More interesting info on retro recordings . . . have the kids look for the Raven . . .



These were cardboard children's records with the animation printed right onto the disc itself (later versions like the one above had the animation on the label of regular colored vinyl). The Red Raven included a little mirrored device that you pop onto the turntable's spindle that reflected the animation in such a way that while the record plays you get to see a little cartoon.

The effect is rather hypnotic (the mirrored device is an ersatz praxinoscope for all of you optics junkies), and a neat addition to the typical children's fare on the record itself. Sixteen Magic Mirror Movie records were released by Red Raven (making for 32 animations of course).

Copied from Retro Thing

Kiddie Rekords

Molly got me thinking with her guitar posts and I stumbled on this site today while looking for a story I remembered listening to when I was younger - One String Fiddle. It was part of a record set at my grandparents house that my mom listened to when she was growing up. I would love to be able to find those 78's . . .

Looking for Easter Crafts?

Here are some ideas from Kid's Crafts Weekly - just click here to be taken to the instructions page.

Imagine If . . .

Imagine if.......your water broke at 30 weeks.
Imagine if.......your 1st baby was born prematurely.
Imagine if.......you couldn't hold your baby right after he was born.
Imagine if.......your baby was hooked up to a ventilator less than 12 hours after he was born.
Imagine if.......your baby spent the first 23 days of his life in the NICU.
Imagine if.......your baby was hooked up to so many machines and wires that they had to be sedated so they wouldn't move.
Imagine if.......your baby had sleep apnea and was on a monitor for the first 6 months of his life.
Imagine if.......your baby was born with low muscle tone.

Imagine if you could help these babies!

This is Levi's story, and I am hoping you will check out my WalkAmerica Page and make a donation on behalf of Levi and his sister Hannah.

Every year, half a million babies in the U.S. are born prematurely. Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death and many life long disabilities. That means 1 in 8 babies today will be born prematurely! The funds we raise for WalkAmerica supports research that saves babies' lives. Please support our Kindermusik Team! Every penny helps! Think of all the good that came out of it for Levi and Hannah's family!

Do you like to walk? You can also sign up there to be a part of our Kindermusik Team.

Thanks to Erica (Levi's mom) for providing Levi's story

Will You Join Us?

May 5, 2007

Arcadia Festival Site

WalkAmerica is the March of Dimes biggest fund-raiser. It is also a national tradition with a 36-year history of success. Proceeds from WalkAmerica support the March of Dimes mission of preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality through research, education, community services and advocacy.

Join us for America's first, best and biggest walk and make a difference in the lives of millions of babies! Stay tuned for more info as the date gets closer . . .