Parent education, support & hobbies
Parent hobby program
Knitting & crocheting
This class – taught by the talented and charming Marc Smollin of The Little Knittery in Atwater Village – lets you enjoy the company and encouragement of other parents while honing your knitting and/or crocheting skills. Absolute beginners are welcome, as are folks with more advanced abilities – Marc can work one-on-one with you to help you learn the basics, or to tackle a particular project you’ve been struggling to complete. Meantime, your child gets to play in our fabulous classroom under the supervision of one of our parent & me teachers so you don’t have to worry about finding child care. Meets Saturdays from 8:45-9:45am. $180 for 6 classes, payable by cash or check (made out to Marc Smollin). Contact us to register.
Guitar
Have you always dreamed of playing guitar but just never made time for lessons? Has your desire to inspire creativity in your children finally created the motivation you need to get started? Or maybe you just want to be able to play along to your favorite songs or your child’s favorite lullabies. No matter your reason for participating, our group guitar class offers you a unique opportunity to indulge your latent musical talent in a fun and non-competitive group environment – and you won’t have to worry about losing precious time with your little one or finding a sitter since children can tag along and play and participate in some great activities led by one of our amazing parent & me teachers. With the expert guidance of Vicki Hill of McCabe’s Guitar Shop, you’ll learn basic chords, reading music and tabs, strumming and fingerpicking, and will be playing in no time. Meets Saturdays from 2:15-3:15pm. $180 for 6 classes, payable by cash or check (made out to Vicki Hill). Contact us to enroll.
Sling & Dance
Got baby weight? Or just like to boogie with your baby? Sling & Dance is a unique class that gives new and not-so-new moms a chance to bond with their little ones, get back in shape, and learn some slick new moves. You will need to bring your own sling or baby carrier of choice. There are slings that can be used for babies up to 40 pounds – what a great workout! Please feed your little one at least 30 minutes prior to class. Meets Mondays from 11-11:45am, and Thursdays from 1:15-2pm. $120 for 8 classes, payable by cash or check (made out to Sling & Dance). Contact us to sign up.
Voice
This class will give you the skills and confidence you need to sing in front of anyone – your baby, your friends and family, your adoring fans… Taught by Annie Stela, professionally-trained singer and pianist, KCRW-approved recording artist and performer, and Music Together instructor extraordinaire. Culminates with a recital at Wallaby where you can perform your chosen song (complete with live backup band!) for your invited guests. Includes child care provided by one of our parent & me teachers, so bring your little one(s). Meets Saturdays from 1:15-2pm. $180 for 6 classes, payable by cash or check (made out to Anne Dubrinsky). Contact us to register.
Spanish
Does your child speak more Spanish than you do? Would speaking Spanish be a leg-up in your professional life? Or maybe you’d just like to be able to communicate better with your Spanish-speaking caregiver? This class – taught by seasoned Spanish professor Ofelia Narvaez-McQueen – will teach you to properly speak, read and write basic Spanish. Meets Saturdays from noon-1pm. $210 for 7 classes, payable by cash or check (made out to Ofelia Narvaez-McQueen). Includes all materials AND onsite child care so you can bring your little one(s) with you! Contact us to register.
Have a great idea/request for a new hobby class you’d like to see added to our ever-growing roster? Please let us know!
baby sign language
You already know that your baby can communicate with you long before he can talk by using gestures like pointing, waving or blowing kisses. This class will enable you to teach your child to use natural and fun-to-learn American Sign Language (ASL) signs to tell you if he is hungry, thirsty, needs a diaper change, and other important stuff (“I see a cat/airplane/banana!”) until his verbal abilities catch up to his intellectual ones. Research suggests that compared to other children, infants who use sign language speak sooner and score higher on tests of language ability when tested after second grade, plus better communication makes for less frustrated babies and happier parents! This class uses the PBS-endorsed Baby Signing Time curriculum that encourages signing and speaking together – children hear the word, see the word, say the word, and model the word with their hands – and that uses ASL because, hey, why not learn a real language spoken by millions of people all over the world? Meets Thursdays from noon-12:45pm. $160 for 8 classes, payable by cash or check (made out to Sundra Oakley). Baby Signing Time books, DVDs and other supporting materials will be available for sale, but are not required for participation. Contact us to enroll.
Parenting 101
This series of monthly workshops was designed to help parents meet the many challenges of raising young children. Each hour-long workshop is facilitated by Shlomit Yelin-Arber, MFTI, who offers information, insights and solutions, and supports participants in sharing their own experience and ideas if they wish. Meets the last Wednesday of every month from 7-8pm starting February 29th. The cost of each meeting is $15 (cash only please). Please contact us with questions or to register.
Topic for February 29th: “What Is All This Drama?”
Do you find yourself arguing with your child over every little thing? Can’t take the whining anymore? Need a new strategy to handle meltdowns? This workshop focuses on children’s drama and parents’ reactions.
