BB @ Trial Classes

Some SMH mummies are organising trial classes at various baby learning centres. We joined in some of them to let Yuan2 have some fun :)

Staccato
http://www.staccato.com.sg/index.shtml
Date : 24 Jan 2010
Time : 11.30am-12.15pm
Location : Turf City
Fee : $30
Mag arranged this trial class for SMH May09 babies -- total 6 babies attended (Le Xuan, Vera, Justin, Jayden, Qian Hui and Yuan2). Too rush to feed Yuan2 cereal, so we fed her FM200ml before leaving the house at 10.30am.

Classroom setup
An empty room with windows (daddies were standing outside to observe the class)

Class format
With classical music in the background, the teacher intro various musical toys using flashcards and the babies get to play with egg shakers, glockenspial(similar to xylophone), scarf and toy piano(the highlight).

Review
Personally I find that the music is too "serious" and the teacher was unable to capture the attention of the babies.

Genius Space
http://www.genius-space.com/
Date : 30 Jan 2010
Time : 11.30am-1pm
Location : Pheonix Park
Fee : $40

The trial lesson was arranged by SMH Apr09 babies -- Yuan2 joined in so that we can compare with the previous trial lesson @ Staccato. Yuan2 woke up early from her nap and we fed her cereal at 9.30am. We reached GS at 10.50am and observed the Genius Tots class -- the kids were happily jumping ard to the music and each came out of the class carrying their art work.

Classroom setup
An L-shaped room -- one part is with table n chairs for snack time n art work and another part is mat with a large mirror (parents with babies sit opposite the mirror so that we can see the expressions on the babies' face during the class).

Class format
Tr Aida & Sue warmly welcomed us to the class. The 1st 10 mins was free play -- they lay out toys on the floor to let Yuan2 explore. Another 3 baby boys joined in shortly -- Kai, Esan & Caleb.

Part 1 - Letter B
Tr Aida brought out a box covered with shiny cloth. The babies were fascinated with the shiny cloth :) The boys were stunned while Yuan2 tried to crawl to the box. A big brown bear emerged from the box (in the form of hand puppet) and went ard to give a kiss on the babies' cheek -- so cute to see the babies' facial expression when the bear was up close!

Part 2 - Touch & Feel
A card with letter b in the form of valvet, beans etc. were passed to the babies. We hold onto babies' finger to "write" the letter b and whispher the "brr" sound to the babies' ear.

Part 3 - Eye co-ordination
Next the big brown bear re-appeared with bells around its neck. The babies' eyes followed the bear's movement -- moving left -> right -> up -> down with varying speed. All the babies did excellent!

Part 4 - Photographic memory
Tr Aida showed the pic of a pink triangle to everyone. Then she came up to each baby with 2 pics and asked the baby to choose. Correct pic was on the left and all the babies got it right. Next she showed a train and this time the correct pic is on the right -- yeah, the babies got it right, too!

Break : We brought the babies to the toilet to wash their hands followed by snack time. Yuan2 gobbled down the stars from the bowl(in the process spilled most of it on the table). Haha, Caleb and Kai "tabao" some snacks in their palms to the class!

Part 5 - Art work
Paper boats were placed on the floor and babies crawled forward to grab one. Yuan2 was a bit cranky at this time(she was hungry) and refused to crawled -- I juz pick up a boat for her. We proceed to the table and put on a bib on the babies. We put the babies' hands onto a plate of wet blue paint and imprint on the white paper provided -- this is the sea for the boat :) As I knew abt this messy part -- so I only let Yuan2 used 1 hand (easier to control). Gosh, the boys were making a big mess on themselves n their mummies! Caleb put his finger in his mouth and there was paint all over his mouth! Tr Aida assured us that the paint was non-toxic & washable and reminded us not to use the words D-I-R-T-Y and M-E-S-S-Y infront of the babies *haha* Yuan2 was fascinated -- haha, she must be thinking "why did my hand turn blue?" & "hmmm, what is this sticky thing on my hand?". We brought the babies to the toilet to clean up.

Part 6 - Foreign language
Babies sat infront of a TV to learn abt Spanish. Hmmm, Yuan2 was stoned and stared at the TV -- we seldom let her watch TV and that explained it!

Part 7 - Music & movement
Tr Aida played various tunes on the keyboard and got us to participate with clapping, singing and carrying the babies up/down/left/right etc. And the class ended with a happy note :)

After the class, we changed her diaper and feed her FM200ml -- and she poo-ed while cruisng along the bench (TK said she stopped and held on to the bench -- that's the time she pooed).

Review
Each part of the class is 10-15 mins -- Yuan2 seemed interested and participate with lotsa clapping n yakking. Tr Aida is able to capture the attention of the babies *very impt* I liked how the class was conducted -- except the foreign language part. We signed up for 1 term to enjoy the promotional price -- $370 for 10 lessons (new price is $440 for 10 lessons).

P.S. Now, Yuan2 still remember the big brown bear -- at home, we have a teddy bear and she will snuggle her face on it :)

Kindermusik
Date : 31 Jan 2010
Time : 1-1.45pm
Location : Tanglin Mall
Fee : $30

The trial lesson was also arranged by SMH Apr09 babies -- Yuan2, Le Xuan, Nigel & MY joined in with another 8 babies. Yuan2 woke up from her nap at 10.45am and gobbled down her cereal. We arrived at Tanglin Mall at 12.30pm -- juz enough time for me to grab a quick lunch at food court. TK went for his lunch while we were in the class.

Classroom setup
A big empty room.

Class format
We sat in a circle and introduced our babies in a sing-along manner. The rest of the class was alot of movement with babies -- carrying up/down/left right, use the feets to touch another baby's feet, use egg shakers, play with drums etc. There is a 1 min of slience where the teacher switched off the lights. And the class ended with swinging babies -- Yuan2 actually dozed off there and then! She zzz in the stroller for 1 hr after the class.

Review
Yuan2 was cranky for most of the lesson -- think she was sleepy or the class was too crowded. With so much movement with babies, I was tired! I find that the teacher cannot engaged with the babies.