the BIG true to kids picture!
personally and professionally speaking

preschool alternative classes

music, movement, art, science and cooking classes for children up to six years of age

birthday parites, special events, casual events, playgroup and activity dates for children up to eight years of age

True To Kids classes cover all the early basics; colors, shapes, numbers, support for language, fine and gross motor development, categorization, art, simple math, and early science concepts. Even in a music class, an art class, or even a science class, so many different learning opportunities are sewn into just sitting around singing songs and playing instruments, or painting, or mixing potions. The resources for teaching are everywhere, in everything, and if appropriate, I include them. The children take care of most of that for me anyway.

In music and combination classes, classic songs, songs from folk favorites, more contemporary songs, my own children's songs and more are included. True To Kids classes are big on spontaneous song writing as well.
I bring the their attention into the class from many different angles. As a musician and artist over all, I understand and appreciate the many creative perspectives that come in to play in the heart, mind and crystallizing talent of a child.

As an animal lover, I put considerable energy into encouraging the children's innate compassion for, and love of animals through all I do. I engage the children with songs and activities having to do with being kind and gentle with each other and all beings. I bring puppets to life for many purposes from O-livia with her O-val shaped shell who is often sleepy but will awake to the sound of children singing scales "o-O-O-O-l-i-i-vi-ah!", to Molly the white mouse and her 3 kids (blind), "Millie", "Mark" and "Mo" who are all about counting and RUNNING! "See how they run...".

I have been dancing my whole life in many different styles. Tap, jazz, ballet, and everything in between. Often enough, class has become "true to kids-a go-go!" I can't help it... In a perfect world I'd have instant access to a disco ball, a wooden dance floor, a ballet bar etc. When we get the beats pumping, feet thumping, bodies jumping, we generally raise the roof! Here in good Ole' Manhattan (I've been here twenty years), it's really hard for children to let loose as they so desperately need to. We have our crazy cost of living, the general stress of urban life, YOU are raising children, and we could all use a masseuse. The children feel it all. I leave my own personal stress stuff at the door, and show up to meet them from my heart, willing for whatever they desire that is appropriate to be made into, or woven into a class.

My years of musical theater training often show up in various improv exercises if the children need a shift. We explore emotions and more through acting exercises that often become musical in some way.

I find that the more senses that can be engaged in unfolding for them the magic of learning anything, the better. They are so in touch with their senses, and so excited beyond words as they begin to experience the things they love in fresh ways.

Listening is just as important as singing, drawing while listening to Tchaikovsky for instance. I flirted with an Opera career for years, so the classical finds it's way into class. I like to provide the children with tactile materials or encourage movement to African chants, or change the lighting to shift their experience of the environment while listening to the "music" of monkeys in the jungle being accompanied by exotic and equally musical birds and insects. We explore. I share music that all children can enjoy, while keeping in mind the fact that I am likely in the company of musical prodigies who are parched for more detailed information and tools.

I consider it my job to be as present for children as possible individually, and as a group, In order for them to know I take them seriously and respect them as much as any adult. I suspect this is why they often give me such joyful receptions when I run into families I work with out and about or at my various programs. They know I hear them. They know I listen. They know I see them. I meet them on their level with the best of my applicable wisdom and guidance. I am of course always learning and growing as I travel this path of being in service to the youngest of our big human family. I am only limited by restrictions of the space class is in and that's about it!

One of my first birthday parties for my little brother and sister!
I am 13 years old in this picture.

A Dream Come True

I began working with children when I was really still a child myself. I knew very early on that I wanted to teach and entertain children. At 13 years of age I organized birthday parties and started baby sitting. I began teaching formally in the class room ten years ago. I've been coming up with my own curriculum from the very start! In elementary school I always put together lesson plans for various groups. For example, I had a chess group in the second grade, and taught other children how to play.

I began creating music, movement, art and science classes after ten years of baby sitting and taking children to all sorts of classes in Manhattan. Every time I left a class I'd think "I could teach that class!". All my training, education and life experience screamed "You should be working with children silly!". It has been one of my life's greatest blessings to be able work with children.