Pipe Up

The Greatest Gift

2011-12-25T17:48:00.000-06:00

The little boy in this picture is now 6 1/2 years old and will soon be starting his final semester of Kindermusik. Here we are in the fall of 2006 in our first semester of Our Time. How I treasure the precious memories of our lap bounces, rocking times, and circle dances.
"Many things we need can wait. The child cannot. Now is the time his bones are being formed, her blood is being constituted, his brain is being developed. To her we cannot say tomorrow. His name is today." - Gabriela Mistral, Chilean poet, educator, and diplomat

I love this quote so much that I posted it on the bulletin board at our Urbandale location. Those chubby little hands that grasp at your finger will soon be lean and precise. That compact body that fits squarely into your lap will soon spill over into a tangle of long arms and legs.

At this time of year when we celebrate love and family, let's remember the most precious gift we can give our children: the gift of our time and attention. In the midst of all the hubbub, remember to stop and give a hug. Read a story. Sing a song. Play a game. And tuck away a precious memory or two!

-Posted by Molly Hagkull (a.k.a. Miss Molly)

2011-12-20T14:28:00.000-06:00

Labyrinths: Part 3

2011-12-11T22:10:00.000-06:00

Research - Stories - Photos

“Calm”… “Centered” … “Less anxious”… “Re-energized” … “Less stressed” … “More open” … “Peaceful” … “Quiet” … “More focused”… “Relaxed” … “More reflective” … “Creative.”

In his, “Commonly Reported Effects of Labyrinth Walking,” (2006, 2007), John W. Rhodes, Ph.D. cites the above responses from respondents. In addition, the “Bibliography of Articles and Studies Related to Labyrinth Research” posted on the Research page of the Labyrinth Society’s Website (www.thelabyrinthsociety.org) cites nearly 50 articles and studies related to the growing field of labyrinth research.

Elementary school psychologist and author of "Kids on the Path" (2008), Marge McCarthy, shares, “Walking the labyrinth allows for creativity and intuition to flower. Studies have shown that people are better able to connect with the right side of the brain after walking the labyrinth, which helps them think more clearly and creatively. It has been reported that children do better if they walk the labyrinth before taking an exam. Walking is not always momentous, but it always seems to have a positive effect. Sometimes walking the labyrinth is just an enjoyable experience!”

Friends on a walk in Mrs. C.'s backyard labyrinth

And, from my own personal experience facilitating labyrinth work with children at King Elementary School in Des Moines last April and May, I was deeply moved by these comments shared by children just after a first labyrinth walk:

“I felt like my grandma was with me while I was walking, but she’s really in Mexico.” -third grade girl
“I was thinking about my brother in prison.” -fourth grade boy
“I was happy and my heart jumping up and down.” -third grade boy
“I was slowing down.” -fifth grade boy
“Can you find out where you can get one of these things, so I can have one at my house?” -fifth grade boy

In this full to the brim season of so many wonderful experiences for our children, perhaps a labyrinth walk might be a fun and centering “date night” for you and your child, or, for yourself on the way to or from a last minute shopping excursion! Check out this local opportunity for an indoor labyrinth walk and holiday stress-busting breath:

December 15, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Come and go as you wish!
THE NEW! Franklin Public Library, 5000 Franklin Ave. Des Moines, 50310
(Free and open to the public. This is not a Pied Piper Studios' event.)

-Posted by Linda Christensen (a.k.a. Mrs. C.)

In the Kitchen with Miss Stacie

2011-12-04T22:38:00.000-06:00

With the holidays here and so many gatherings of family and friends, you may find yourself in the kitchen more than usual the next few weeks. Why not make use of the little helping hands you may have around the house? There are plenty of kid-friendly recipes available online, and with a few simple kitchen rules established, your child will love to help you measure, mix, pour and knead. Inviting children to cook with you helps develop many skills, including following directions, measuring, fine motor, and cooperation. Below is an example set of kitchen rules you might find helpful to read and use with older children, and one fun kid-friendly recipe. Bon appetite!

Rules for the Kitchen
1. Always ask an adult if you can use the kitchen.

2. Know which kitchen tools you are allowed to use.

3. Hands off the oven or stove without help from an adult.

4. Wash your hands with soap and water before starting your preparations. Wash hands as needed like after touching the trash can or picking items up from the floor.

5. Re-read the recipe several times.

6. Make sure you have all the ingredients you need before you start. Put them out on the counter.

7. Put all equipment, such as pans, measuring cups and measuring spoons out on the counter.

8. Clean up when you are finished.

Tag-a-Longs
These are very much like the Girl Scout cookies.

1 box Ritz crackers
1 small jar peanut butter
Coating chocolate

Cover Ritz crackers with peanut butter and top with another Ritz crackers to make a "sandwich." Melt chocolate and dip sandwiches in chocolate until covered. Allow to dry.

-Posted by Stacie Lopeman (a.k.a. Miss Stacie)

Family Traditions

2011-11-27T22:25:00.000-06:00

The start of the holiday season has me thinking a lot about our family traditions.

Traditions are so incredibly important to me because growing up we didn’t have many. So the few I did have, I still hold dear. Of course my husband has his traditions too, and we have also started some new ones as a family that we look forward to every year.

Traditions make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. They also make me feel safe and predictable - I love that! My 3½-year-old daughter Abby already looks forward to many of the Christmas traditions we have started with her. I thought she was going to lose it when she saw the Egg Nog sold out at Target. She loves the stuff, and looks forward to drinking it after our at-home Advent services. It is heart warming to see the joy on her face in remembering the past and knowing that we will do it again this year. Sharing the true meaning of the holiday season with our little ones each Sunday leading up to Christmas has been a true blessing and something the whole family cherishes.

Here is a list of some of our other Holiday Season traditions:
--Setting up our Christmas tree and decorating the day after Thanksgiving. This was the first year that Abby could actually help in this process. Little sister Katy (14 months) was somewhat confused.
--Setting up the ‘play’ nativity (Little People) and our decorative nativity set.
--Advent Calendar. I purchased a felt wall hanging Advent Calendar that is very kid friendly. Every night after dinner the girls put up one felt piece . . . with the last piece being baby Jesus on Christmas Eve.
--Our Christmas Party. We have a big family party the first Saturday of December every year. Being surrounded by our best friends and family is a wonderful way to get the holiday season started!
--Opening one gift the night of Christmas Eve. Always PJ’s. Always adorable and cozy.
--Christmas Eve Service- Going as a family to candlelight services on Christmas Eve.
--Food-We eat Chinese food on Christmas Eve, biscuits with chocolate gravy Christmas morning, (recipe from my best friend in elementary school. We reconnected on Facebook and I begged for the recipe. It’s truly amazing.See below for the Recipe.) and an old fashioned pot roast for Christmas dinner.
--Christmas Cookie Exchange. This one is more for me—I organize an exchange with my girlfriends. It’s super fun and I love to . . .well totally indulge in Christmas treats.
--Christmas Baking. YUMMY! I remember baking with my mom and I treasure those memories. I hope my daughters’ will feel the same. My favorites are fudge, chocolate covered pretzels, Russian Tea cookies (also known as snowballs), and of course sugar cookie cut outs. My husband Dan has the BEST recipe and we look forward to making them every Christmas. It is because of these cookies that Abby knows the word ‘process’. My, oh my, it’s a process! But so delicious and totally worth the effort! These cookies scream Christmas to Dan. It’s his mom’s recipe. (Recipe Below)

I hope whatever traditions you have with your family, that you have a wonderful Holiday Season!

Biscuits and Chocolate Gravy

Biscuits:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup vegetable shortening, plus more for pan
- 1 cups buttermilk
- 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
- Chocolate gravy, recipe follows

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in the shortening with a fork until it looks like cornmeal. Add the buttermilk, a little at a time, stirring constantly until well mixed.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead lightly 2 or 3 times. Roll out the dough with a floured rolling pin to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut dough into circles with a 2-inch cutter.

Place the biscuits in a greased iron skillet. Gently press down the top of the biscuits. Brush the biscuits with half the melted butter and bake for 14 minutes or until golden brown. Brush the hot biscuits with the remaining butter. Split the biscuits in half and ladle Chocolate Gravy over the hot biscuits.

Chocolate Gravy:
- 1/3 stick butter
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup cocoa
- 2 cups whole milk

Heat butter in a cast iron skillet over low heat. Mix in sugar, flour and cocoa. Slowly pour 1 cup of milk into the skillet and whisk well to remove lumps. Whisk in remaining milk, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick, being careful not to scorch. Serve hot over biscuits.

Grandma's Christmas Cookies
-1 C. butter
-1 1/3 C. sugar
-2 eggs
-2 tsp vanilla
-4 C. flour
-2 tsp baking powder
-salt

In one bowl, sift to combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add the egg and vanilla to the butter/sugar mixture; mix well. Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter/sugar mixture until a soft ball forms. Wrap and chill the ball for one hour. Cut the ball in half and roll out on floured surface. Cut dough with cookie cutters. Bake 10 minutes at 350 F degrees on greased cookie sheet.

Grandma's Christmas Cookie Frosting
-1 lb powdered sugar
-1/4 tsp salt
-1/4 C. milk
-1 tsp vanilla
-1/3 C. soft margarine/butter

Beat all ingredients until smooth. Add more milk if too stiff. Add food coloring of choice.

-Posted by Staci Gehlbach (a.k.a. Mommy to Abby and Katy)

The Gift of Experience

2011-11-20T18:42:00.000-06:00

Is your mailbox bursting at the seams with catalogs? Are sale circulars flooding out of your Sunday paper? Is your inbox inundated with limited-time offers? 'Tis the season for gift buying.

Part of the fun of the holidays is watching that look of delight on the face of your little one when they rip off that shiny paper. But...have your ever noticed that sometimes the most delightful part for your child is just ripping off the paper or climbing in the box? Or sometimes they unwrap the first gift and just want to play with it-- ignoring the pile of unopened presents.

Over my 6 years of parenting, I have done well and sometimes not-so-well at reigning in the holiday hoopla. When there are grandparents, aunts and uncles, and friends all eager and excited to bestow bounty on your children it can easily get out of control. How can I respect my family's wishes to give gifts without turning my family room into the Temple of Large Colorful Plastic? One way is to encourage gifts of time and experience that can be enjoyed throughout the year. Grandma still wants something to wrap? Pair an "experience" gift with a small related toy. Some ideas...

1. Did you know that Pied Piper Studios offers Kindermusik gifts certificates? Just email us or check with your educator to purchase one. Pair a Kindermusik gift certificate with a scarf or Doodle Drum for a magical, musical gift!

2. A wild idea-- a membership to Blank Park Zoo tucked in with a stuffed version of your child's favorite zoo creature. (In fact, purchase a membership before Dec. 15th and use the promo code GIRAFFE to get a free stuffed giraffe!) A zoo membership can also be paired with memberships to the Science Center and/or Living History Farms. Does your family travel? Your Zoo and Science Center memberships get you free or discounted admission at many other zoos and museums around the country.

3. For children old enough to enjoy theater experiences, consider tickets to a performance paired with the storybook the show is based on or a cd:

Preschool children and their caregivers can attend Friday Funday at the Des Moines Playhouse. Once a month, the Playhouse puts on these 45-minute interactive performances where children can enjoy live theater without the strict sit-down-and-be-silent expectations.
Children age 5 and up are invited to the Kate Goldman Children's Theatre at the Des Moines Playhouse. Stuart Little and The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley are playing this spring.
The Civic Center offers a 4-show season ticket package for their Family Series. Shows include Clifford the Big Red Dog and Music, Noise & Silence with the Des Moines Symphony. According to the website, shows are "enjoyed most by ages 4-10".
Willing to travel? The Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis is one of the most-respected professional children's theaters in the country. Spring productions include Harold and the Purple Crayon and Pippi Longstocking.

4. Enjoy a mini family vacation with an overnight stay at a hotel. Travel to the Great Wolf Lodge, Grand Harbor Resort, or Honey Creek Resort. Or stay close to home with an overnight at the Ramada Tropics on Merle Hey Road-- stay on a weeknight and take advantage of cheaper rates! Give a pair of goggles, a beach towel, or arm floaties with a gift certificate for your overnight.

5. Break up the winter monotony by cheering on a local sports team. My children love nothing better than munching on popcorn while watching Des Moines Buccaneers hockey or Iowa Energy basketball. A foam indoor sports set can compliment tickets to any sporting event.

-Posted by Molly Hagkull (a.k.a. Miss Molly)

Labyrinths: Part 2

2011-11-13T21:12:00.000-06:00

The Ladybug Labyrinth

Once,
There was a little,
    Teensie-weenie
    Ladybug.
        One morning,
            Ladybug decided to go
            On an adventure,
        For she loved to ride the sky-blue breezes of change.

She took off,
    Her little wings carrying her up into the sky breezes.
This morning, though, the winds blew and blew…
    Ladybug was tumbled this way,
        And then that way,
        Upside down
        Then right side up, until Ladybug had no idea where she was!

Finally,
    Ladybug was able to land on a splendid blade of grass
        Next to a dandelion and looked around.

She saw birds in the sky, she saw squirrel run up a tree,
    She saw green moss and ferns growing, and she saw a sign..
    A wooden sign, near a bunch of lupines…

The sign said… To The Labyrinth

So begins the delightful story, "Ladybug Labyrinth: A Journey Home", by Lea Good-Harris, Ph.D…. “a story for all ages, but especially for children searching for the voice of their hearts in the gentle twists and turns of the labyrinth.”

A favorite educational gift for little ones, just in time for the season, the twenty page Ladybug Labyrinth storybook is available with accompanying 11x13-inch canvas and companion child-safe ladybugs for children to engage in a tactile experience while enjoying the whimsical and inspiring storyline. The Ladybug Labyrinth kit and photos of Lea’s beautiful Santa Rosa labyrinths are available on her website at www.srlabyrinthfoundation.com.

Coming soon!- Labyrinths: Part 3- A bit of research, some tender stories, and photos of kids on the path we all know!

-Posted by Linda Christensen (a.k.a. Mrs. C)

Gratitude 5

2011-11-07T01:06:00.000-06:00

It seems each year that the passing of Halloween somehow signals an ever more furious rush toward the holiday season in our household. It's difficult sometimes not to feel like I'm running toward a finish line in mid-January when I welcome the letdown from the planning, preparation, and execution of both kids' birthdays, Christmas, New Year's, etc., etc. I find myself looking for ways to notice and mark the joys of being in the midst of a very full and very busy family life- falling into gratitude for the moments that come and go so quickly. After all, my children seem a little taller everyday. I can't afford to wish these weeks away.

November is the perfect time to think about practicing gratitude in your family too. You've seen all the Facebook status updates, right? Our hearts and heads (and tummies) are slowly turning toward Thanksgiving and all that this time of year means for each of us. As parents, it's good to be thankful and to show our kids what it means to keep our glasses half-full, if not overflowing. Learning to practice gratitude helps to hone optimism, a skill that inoculates our children from a future withered by doubt, depression, and negativity. And (thankfully!) practicing gratitude with your child doesn't have to be complicated. Here's one super simple daily ritual you can incorporate:

Gratitude 5:
Set aside a time each day to practice this game with your child. Around the breakfast table, in the bathtub, at bedtime- you choose. Have your child hold up one hand, or if they're too little to do it on their own, hold their hand in yours. Gently pinching or pointing to one finger at a time, say, "Listen to me. I'm thankful as can be for____." Let your child fill in the blank, or fill in the blank yourself. Repeat for each finger until you've made a list of five things that are oh-so-very-right in the world. If you like, take turns and switch places. Let your child hold your hand while you make your own list. Do your best to focus on non-material items when making your list, but understand that it's perfectly alright and understandable that your four year-old will likely feel a deep sense of gratitude for his Spiderman action figure. It's also entirely possible that your child's wisdom will surprise you. Tuck those sweet, funny, insightful moments into your own heart and give thanks for them.

-Posted by Jenn Horak-Hult (a.k.a. Miss Jenn)

5 ways to get your child ready to read

2011-10-30T23:54:00.000-05:00

Did you know that Kindermusik begins preparing your child to be a reader from the very first months of his life? Here are some ways to create an environment at home that will encourage your child to enjoy reading:

Kindermusik Home Materials include wonderful books to read together!

1. Choose a book with a repeated line to read together. Encourage your child to say the refrain with you. Children will quickly memorize the story, which gives them a sense of mastery. When a child feels success, they are more eager to practice a new skill. This makes pretending to read through memorization an important pre-reading skill.

2. Answer your child's endless "why" questions. If she asks you something you don't know the answer to, look it up together. This teaches your children that reading is a gateway to knowledge and creates interest in written words.

3. Call attention to sounds made by different letters in an age-appropriate manner. For your baby, that may mean repeating the sound of a certain letter for her to repeat back to you. For your preschooler, you might play a game where you give your child a sound, "ssss," for example, and have him name as many words as he can think of that start with that sound. This increases phonemic awareness which will later help young readers sound out words.

4. When your child tells you a story, ask questions to clarify. This helps children understand how to tell a complete story, a skill which improves reading comprehension.

5. Read the pictures in your child's story books. Ignore the words completely and just talk about the story the pictures are telling. This serves several purposes. First, it helps children understand that things can be represented by symbols. A picture of a bear represents an actual bear, just as the word "bear" does. Second, it helps children understand the development of a story. Third, it teaches children that if they are having trouble identifying a word as an early reader, they can look to the pictures for a clue. This increases feelings of success when just beginning to read.

-Posted by Stacie Lopeman (a.k.a. Miss Stacie)

How do you 'do' Kindermusik?

2011-10-23T22:16:00.000-05:00

As the Administrative Assistant for Kindermusik with Pied Piper Studios, I am often the first person to discuss the Kindermusik experience with a family. Many prospective parents are not too sure they will know the “right” way to participate in the typical Kindermusik class. The two most common questions I hear are:

1.    What if my child doesn’t do exactly what they are supposed to do?
2.    What if my child wanders around the room the entire time?

I reassure the parents/caregivers that there is no “right” way to participate in a class. As long as the little ones are having fun and no one is getting hurt, it is perfectly fine to not do exactly what all the other kiddos are doing. And our highly trained educators are so magical that very rarely will a child wander around the room for the entire class without zigging or zagging, or perhaps twirling here and there.

Also, while I have prospective parents captive on the phone, I proceed to tell one of the hundred stories I have about my adorable children and how they have participated Kindermusik. For example, my now 3 ½ year old Abby was in Village at Westside Dance Academy with Miss Jenn. One wall in that classroom is a mirror. She LOVED that mirror! One entire class Abby made out with her reflection. I sat by her side and modeled what Miss Jenn was doing while Abby proceeded to fall in love with herself.   Kids are quirky, right?   So just to be fair, I’ll share a little quip about Katy. Katy is my 13 month-old and is currently in Village. At home, Katy normally runs around and goes crazy chasing her big sister.   She is funny and ultra silly. At Kindermusik, she becomes much more reserved and likes to take it all in. Sitting quietly in class or kissing the reflection in the mirror are both perfectly acceptable ways to enjoy Kindermusik!

So no matter what age or how rambunctious your little one gets, there is no correct way to ‘do’ Kindermusik. Do not fear, no one will judge you or your little one because of his or her behavior…or singing abilities.

-Posted by Staci Gehlbach (a.k.a. Kindermusik Mommy to Abby and Katy)

Helpline

2011-10-16T19:44:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had to call that 24-hour nurse line? Your child isn't feeling well, and you're not sure what to do. The nurse asks you a series of questions (How old is your child? Did you take their temperature? Have you given them any medication?) and then tells you to: go to the ER. My friends and I joke that those nurses must have a giant flow-chart on the wall, and the answer to every question eventually funnels down to: go to the ER. Upset stomach? ER. Bug bite? ER. Hang nail? ER. Now, I'm no medical professional, and I'm not saying that there aren't times when the ER is necessary, but it can occasionally seem a bit extreme.

On the other end of the spectrum, have you ever called Poison Control? You feel somewhat sheepish admitting out loud that, "Yes, um, my baby just ate a clump of dirt with lawn fertilizer*," or "Uh, my 1 year-old licked an open lid of Comet Cleanser*," or "My 3 year-old just ate an unknown quantity of gummy vitamins*." But bless those Poison Control operators. They never say, "And just how did your child get that carpet cleaner* that he sprayed in his mouth?! What kind of mother are you? You really should get some effective child locks and keep a better eye on your child." Nope. In the calmest, most relaxed, most non-judgemental voice ever they say something like, "Oh, just wash out his mouth and keep an eye on him- he'll be fine!"

You have to wonder about some of the crazy calls they must get. Some items must be on their frequent-call list. Before you can even finish your sentence, "Yeah, my son bit open a glow-stick* and...", she's already saying, "Oh, those glow-sticks are non-toxic. Just wash out his mouth- he'll be fine!"

I almost wonder (I said almost; Fate, I am not tempting you by writing this) what you would have to do to get sent to the ER by Poison Control. My neighbor's 2 year-old once injected himself with his sister's epi-pen. Poison Control did call back periodically to see how he was doing, but that was it. (He was fine, by the way.)

I like to think that Kindermusik is sort of like Poison Control. We're not here to judge. We've pretty much heard it all. We know you're doing your best, and we're here to help. Not with extremes but with helpful suggestions to make your life a little easier and some reassurance that your child will be fine. Even if they do happen to eat a chunk of air freshener.*

* All actual reasons that I have had to call Poison Control. For the same child.

** Disclaimer: If your child is ill, by all means call the nurse-line and follow their directives. Also, keep the Poison Control number handy. You never know when you might find your child playing with turpentine. (Yes, that happened, too.)

-Posted by Molly Hagkull (a.k.a. Miss Molly)

Still a Pumpkin Eater

2011-10-09T22:55:00.000-05:00

It's been an interesting fall for our family. This season seems always to be associated with change...but we've had a little more than we're accustomed to. Our oldest, Leif, began his journey through the elementary years and headed off to Kindergarten and our youngest, Minna, jumped into preschool full steam ahead. At about the same time, we discovered that Minna had food allergies. She was diagnosed in early September with both a milk and egg allergy. Since she was already a vegetarian, that meant that she became a vegan the moment we left the allergist's office. I followed suit in an effort to support her and to make our home a "safe" place for her to enjoy food, family, and friends. We've had fun experimenting with lots of new techniques and tricks, and honestly, it's not been nearly as difficult as I thought it might be.

Minna enjoying a flight of "friendly milk"- soy, almond, and coconut

Now, fall happens to be my favorite time of year and it's really no secret around our house why that's the case. I love pumpkins. I love to look at them. I love to carve them. But most of all, I love to eat them. And I mean I LOVE to eat them. I put pumpkin in everything. From yogurt (now of the coconut milk variety) to burritos, risotto to pancakes, there isn't any food- sweet or savory- that doesn't benefit from a little boost of that delicious orange super food. This year has been no different except that I've had to learn a few new tricks for keeping my favorite flavor around without the help of any dairy products.

Here's one recipe I created for Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes that our family has really enjoyed. They're great for anyone in your life who may have milk or egg allergies, and they're definitely just about as nutritious as a frosted cupcake can get. Give them a try if you're curious and make sure to ask the little baker in your life for lots of help in the kitchen!

Miss Jenn's Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
1/4 Cup "milk" (rice, soy, hemp, almond- you choose!)
1/4 Cup cider vinegar
6 Tbs. water
2 Tbs. ground flaxseed
1 1/4 Cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. xanthan gum (we buy ours at Campbell's Nutrition)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 Cup granulated sugar
6 Tbs. all-vegetable shortening
3/4 Cup canned pumpkin
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Cup vegan chocolate chips or carob chips

-for the frosting-
1/4 Cup all-vegetable shortening
1/4 Cup vegan cream cheese, softened (we love Trader Joe's "This Is Not a Tub of Cream Cheese")
2 Cups confectioner's sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners (we made mini cupcakes). In a small measuring cup, make "buttermilk" by combining the "milk" with the vinegar. In another small bowl, combine the water and flaxseed meal and allow to thicken for a few minutes. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum, and salt.

In a separate bowl, cream together the sugar and shortening. Add the pumpkin puree and beat until smooth. Beat in the flaxseed mixture and the vanilla. Stir in the dry ingredients, alternately adding the "buttermilk" and finishing with the dry until everything is thoroughly combined. Fold in chocolate chips.

Pour the batter into your prepared cupcake liners and bake until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a rack while preparing the frosting.

Cream together the shortening and "cream cheese" until just combined. Add the confectioner's sugar in 1/2 cup batches. Mix until smooth and creamy and then add the vanilla.

Once cupcakes are cooled completely, frost, and enjoy!

-Posted by Miss Jenn (a.k.a. vegan vegan pumpkin eater)

Labyrinths: Part I

2011-10-02T21:22:00.000-05:00

Why? What are they? And where can I find one?

Ringing doorbells, singing cell phones, (in my case, croaking frogs!), buzzing alarm clocks, whistling tea kettles, four-beep alerts for the next incoming text message, barking dogs, crying babies. Laundry, groceries, cooking, cleaning. Off to the doctor, dentist, sick and well-baby appointments. By evening, it’s Meet the Teacher night, and, don’t forget…parent-teacher conferences are just around the corner! Birthday parties, play dates, pumpkin patch field trips, and here come the holidays! Violin, dance, gymnastics, and piano lessons. And, best of all, our beloved Kindermusik days!

When and how do we stop, or even slow the pace of wonderfully active and full child-raising days, long enough to take an essential and restoring breath? How do we experience some sense of balance and the renewal necessary to sustain physical and emotional health amid the many stressors of our contemporary times, whether the stress be lots of very good things, or difficult challenges?

For me, sixteen years ago, in busy years of parenting a teenager and young adult, labyrinths and many a labyrinth walk found its way into my life. I suspect that they are here to stay as I continue to experience the welcome tool they have become for resting, feeling my heart rate slow, noticing creativity and clarity, and for pleasure… feeling the warmth of sun on my face, or the coolness of sand beneath my feet. For just taking deep, slow breaths in my own gratefully, active life.

So, what is a labyrinth and where are they found? Labyrinths are ancient symbols of wholeness, giving purpose and meaning to their circular path, and are often seen as a metaphor for life’s journey. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has only one path leading from its entrance to its center, and back out by a winding route. Labyrinth patterns date back at least 4,000 years, and can be found in places as diverse a Peru, Arizona, Iceland, Crete, Egypt, India, Sweden, England, and France.

In the current resurgence of labyrinths, they are found in places of worship, hospitals, parks, cemeteries, prisons, in schools, business settings, (Wall Street, NY!) and in backyard landscapes. They are walked for rest, renewal, calming, problem solving, creative brainstorming, free expression, and for fun and delight!

In these crisp, clear, sunny, autumn days, perhaps a labyrinth walk will be in your path with its invitation to rest and breathe… deeply. Enjoy the nurture for yourself. And, be prepared to skip, hop, run, and jump if in the company of your children, as they delight in the joy of being on the path with you.

LOCAL LABYRINTHS:
(No appointments at any are necessary. If you spot others, please share in the comments section!)

First Covenant Church- 2700 72nd St., Urbandale (just a few blocks south of our Urbandale location): The Reconciliation labyrinth– north west corner, near to parking lot.

Glendale Cemetary- University and 56th St., Des Moines: Located at highest point, and easy access to walking path to new Franklin Avenue Library which has a great new children’s section!

Heartland Presbytarian Church- 14300 Hickman, Clive (less than 3 miles east of our Waukee location): Large installation, just off parking lot.

RETREAT CENTER LABYRINTHS:

Prairiewoods Retreat Center- Hiawatha, Iowa: a sand labyrinth experience.

Soul of the Prairie- Hubbard, Iowa: three labyrinths and a retreat center on a century-old family farm.

WEBSITES:

The Labyrinth Society: http://labyrinthsociety.org/

Paths of Peace: www.pathsofpeace.com

Coming Soon… Part 2: Labyrinth research/ Kids on the Path, Stories and Resources for Children… The Ladybug Labyrinth!

-Posted by Linda Christensen (a.k.a. Mrs. C)

Same Music. New ideas.

2011-09-25T21:57:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite things about Kindermusik is the variety of music we listen to. If you listen through your home CD, you will find music from Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and Native America. Music can inspire so many feelings for a person, and each person’s experience will be different. If you find yourself looking for more ways to enjoy the variety of music on your home CD, consider new ways to work music into your daily routine in the following ways:

Choose a piece of music to serve as a soundtrack for a favorite story.

Sharing a story is a great way for adults and children to bond. When a story is told to a particular soundtrack, hearing that music will always bring back comforting memories. Things to consider when choosing a story/music pairing: length of story and piece of music, whether the music is in a major or minor key and which would best fit the mood of the story, music and story building to a climax in the same spot, whether you can “hear” the voices of the characters in your music. Next time you listen through your home CD, think through your child’s library and see if any songs just seem to “go” with any of their books.

Create a “soundtrack” for your child’s playtime.

Make a playlist on your iPod or MP3 player full of upbeat classical music to play during your child’s busiest hours. Stimulating beats and major keys encourage high-spirited play from your youngster. Choose a variety of instrumental and sing-along songs to play along to. Every now and then, throw in a piece with a different mood and observe your child to see if that influences their play.

Draw what you hear.

Get out the paper and the crayons and turn on your CD. Choose a variety of music to listen to as you draw. Observe your child to see if their artistic style changes with the music. Watch for fast and slow strokes, short staccato vs. long legato strokes, note whether volume has an effect on your child’s drawing. When you are finished, play the music as you talk about what you drew. You will very quickly learn what inspires your child creatively.

Listen to themed music with your child.

There are many classical pieces that are based on a theme. Carnival Des Animeaux by Camille Saint-Saëns and The Four Seasons by Vivaldi are fabulous examples. Take some quiet time just to listen to the pieces, then discuss what connections you and your child can make to your own experiences. Does the music make you think of any particular animal that you know? What, specifically, causes you to draw that connection? Does the music make you want to move any specific way? Thinking critically about what you hear makes a person a better listener and compels us to understand what someone else was thinking when the music was composed.

-Posted by Stacie Lopeman (a.k.a. Miss Stacie)

The Lady on the Phone

2011-09-18T20:08:00.000-05:00

Hello, Kindermusik families! My name is Staci Gehlbach and I thought I would use my first blog post as an opportunity to introduce myself and to let you all know how I can best serve you and your family as the Administrative Assistant for Pied Piper Studios.

I am married to my wonderful husband, Dan, and we have two fabulous daughters, Abby (3 ½), and Katy (12 months). I found Kindermusik with Pied Piper Studios when Abby was 6 months old and we attended a demo class. To say I fell in love with the program is an understatement! Miss Jenn’s passion for learning and music was contagious right from the start, and I was so impressed with the structure and learning we have been able to do from such an early age.

Abby has grown to be quite the musical aficionado, and enjoys experimenting with different instruments and moving her body in new ways. Abby is also embracing her new found independence and responsibilities that come with starting Imagine That! class. Katy enjoys her time with her baby friends and finding new ways to express herself in her Village classes.

My professional background is in the education field, but I do not have a music background at all. However, like most people, I love music and dancing, especially with my kids! I also love talking to people and found myself telling many moms about Kindermusik…at the library, church, the park, in line at Target-- you get the picture. I think I told so many people about Kindermusik that Jenn felt compelled to hire me! So now it is my pleasure to talk to families everyday about scheduling preview classes, enrolling in our program, what class and location is best for their family, and how best to pay for their class. I get to work from home during my daughters’ naptime, so it is perfect for me! I am so passionate about our program and the families in it. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or other requests. You can reach me via email at info@piedpiperstudios.org or by phone on our studio's business line at 515.221.2948. I look forward to assisting you and your little ones!

-Posted by Staci Gehlbach (a.k.a. "the lady you talked to on the phone")

Read All About It

2011-09-10T19:45:00.003-05:00

My house is overflowing with books. I’ve craigslist-ed the baby blankets, the toddler blocks, and plenty of Melissa & Doug, but I can’t seem to part with the books. One of my great joys is hearing my boys, up in their rooms, flipping through stacks of well-loved stories and reading to themselves.

We all know how important reading is as a life skill. We read for information, we read for entertainment, we read to help us dream, connect, grow, feel and think. Did you know that there are many well-regarded studies connecting music and reading? Research has revealed a strong connection between participation in music instruction and increased reading comprehension scores. Music is a wonderful vehicle for teaching vocabulary, for story telling, and for dissecting and understanding the sounds that make up words, also known as phonemic awareness.

Our Kindermusik classrooms strive to be word-rich and print-rich environments where children will interact with text and language in a variety of forms. Our homes can be word-rich and print-rich, too: conversations, songs and rhymes, bulletin boards, refrigerator magnets, lists, signs…For me, though, nothing beats cuddling up with a good book. Here are just a few favorites from our house:

Board books

What Shall We Do With the Boo-Hoo Baby? Cressida Cowell
Little Gorilla, Ruth Bornstein
Bunny and Me, Greenspun and Schwartz

Picture books for limited attention spans

My Favorite Bear, Andrea Gabriel
Whose Mouse Are You? Robert Kraus
Too Many Bunnies, Matt Novak

Picture books with more text (that won’t make grown-ups lose their minds)

the George and Martha books, James Marshall
Officer Buckle and Gloria, Peggy Rathmann
Just Like Abraham Lincoln, Bernard Waber

Chapter books for early readers or to read-aloud

Nate the Great series, Marjorie Sharmat
Cam Jansen series, David Adler
Henry and Mudge series, Cynthia Rylant

Chapter books for independent readers or to read-aloud

Homer Price, Robert McCloskey
Caddie Woodlawn, Carol Ryrie Brink (this is my all-time favorite book)
Any classic book that has been made into a movie. You know how we always say, “The book was better than the movie?” I so want my children’s first experiences with these stories to be in the print form, rather than film. The first chapter book that I read to my oldest son was Stuart Little by E.B. White. He was 4 years old and was spellbound. We’ve also loved reading C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia.

Daddy’s recently-read books

Who’s Your Caddy? Rick Reilly. I think this is the second time my husband has read this entertaining take on golf by the Sports Illustrated and ESPN magazine writer.
Bad Blood, John Sanford. Personally, I don’t care for what I refer to (with a tad bit of negative bias) as the serial-killer-sexual-deviant-crime-novel genre, but my husband devours these books.
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, Daniel H. Pink. One thing I admire about my husband is his interest in reading “work” books for pleasure.

Mommy’s recently read books

Remarkable Creatures, Tracy Chevalier. I enjoy this Girl with a Pearl Earring author’s style of taking real historical people, places, and events and turning them into a fictional story.
Bossypants, Tina Fey. So, so funny. The kind of book that makes you wake up your spouse to read him the part that just made you laugh out loud.
The Des Moines Register. One of my simple pleasures is skimming the headlines and reading interesting articles as I sit at the breakfast table.

Grandpa and Grandma (who are visiting) are currently reading

(Grandpa) Half the Way Home: Memoir of Father and Son, Adam Hochschild.
(Grandma) Déja Dead, Kathy Reichs. (The TV series “Bones” was based on this series, but my mom says she likes the books better.)

What are some of your favorites??

-Posted by Molly Hagkull (a.k.a. Miss Molly)

We're Baaa-aaack!

2011-09-04T21:19:00.000-05:00

Those of you who have been with us for a looooong time may remember this blog. There was a time when we actively posted here with some great ideas, information, and inspiration for your families. (Anyone? Anyone?) And then, well, as many of you can likely understand, our own family grew and we went incommunicado for awhile. You know how it is. I don't think I've sent a holiday card since the birth of my second child over three years ago. It's been kind of like that for our studio too. Pied Piper Studios wed Early Childhood Music of Des Moines in 2009 and soon thereafter welcomed three new members to our family of educators. It's been a crazy-busy-wonderful transition over the past two years...and basically, we're all on solid foods now, sleeping through the night, and back into our pre-maternity wardrobe. Sorry that you've missed hearing our stories in the meantime, but now that we're through that tricky infanthood stage of expansion, we're glad to be back in touch!

Over the next few weeks, you'll have a chance to hear from several members of our team as well as some guest writers. Of course you can count on us for all updates and info concerning Kindermusik and the latest and greatest juicy bits of research on music, movement, and your child's overall development. But we're also looking forward to sharing a lot more.

We hope you'll Pipe Up!