Music Classes
Culture Kids is a pre-school class like no other.
After attending many classes during the 15 years I worked as a nanny I realised enough was enough and it was time for children’s classes needed to be taken to the next level.
Upon arrival, the first thing that you will notice is that all the environments are clean, comfortable and carpeted: a far cry from the venues utilised by the majority of other classes. My venues all have natural daylight and are warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. Each venue has plenty of space for pushchairs to be stored and visiting grandparents are always welcome to come and watch. Each child is greeted by one of my experienced, qualified members of staff and seated in a circle ready to begin.
There are a maximum of 12 children per session: this allows children to interact with others and mums and carers to get to know some familiar faces each week. Many wonderful friendships have blossomed from Culture Kids sessions. There’s also a ceiling on the number of children so classes do not become overcrowded and that each child has their fair share of the teacher’s attention.
The children can sit on their parent/carers lap or next to them but they are NOT expected to stay within arm’s reach of the child during the duration of the session like some classes. The session is very relaxed and the most important thing is that the children have fun and are at ease. Each session begins with the ‘Hello Song’, with each of their names incorporated into it: this helps them to recognise their own name and those of their piers around them; it also makes them feel special too.
Each of the classes is based on one of more than 40 different lesson plans that I have created. There is a different theme each week and not one of the classes is repeated within the school year. Themes include Thailand, Australia, Africa, Mexico, New Zealand and Ireland to name but a few. During the class the children listen to music, look at flash cards--of animals, people and transport—and play with toys and props: all of which are indigenous to the particular country they’re learning about. We also play music from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, so it’s not just the children tapping their toes!
We also use a variety of different instruments in class and again many are native of the countries the children are taught about. I have over 60 different kinds of percussion instruments and a minimum of 13 of each, so there’s never any need for the children to share. My props include over 20 different types of masks--including bats, ring tailed lemurs and orang-utans—and costumes such as grass skirts, leis, panda ears, Clownfish hats, tail feathers and reindeer antlers, among many others. My office is stacked almost floor-to-ceiling with props, all of which are immaculate and cleaned on a regular basis. Most musical instruments are made of organic wood and are fairly traded. Tired looking props are re-cycled by being shipped to The Gambia to be used in a pre-school or donated to underprivileged playgroups in Devon. Any broken toys are discarded immediately.
As the session winds down, we propel hundreds of bubbles into the room and the children are invited to jump and catch them in the class’ grand finale. We then sing the ‘Goodbye Song’ and the children are given a sticker that features the image of something they’ve learned about. They leave happy and their last words to us teachers are usually "What are we learning about next week?"
A child’s brain is like a sponge, the more information you fill it with, the more it will absorb. You are never too young to learn through fun! We dance, sing, dress up, read stories and do role-play which all adds up to a fun packed 45 minute session.
Venues
Mondays |
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The Kensington & Chelsea
Conservative Association
1 Chelsea Manor Street
Chelsea
SW3 5RP
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28 Portland Place
Marylebone
W1B 1LY
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Tuesdays + Wednesdays |
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Pizza Express
70 Heath Street
Hampstead
NW3 1DN
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Westbourne Grove Church
Westbourne Grove
Notting Hill
London
W11 2RW
(Tuesdays only)
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Thursdays |
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Me and My baby Therapy Clinic
10A Parsons Green
London
SW6 4TW
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Fridays |
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Grange Strathmore Hotel
41 Queen's Gate Gardens
Kensington
SW7 5NB
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Class Times |
| Start |
End |
Age Group |
| 10:00am |
10:45am |
2 1/2 to 4 years |
| 11:00am |
11:45am |
18 months to 2 1/2 |
| 12:00pm |
12:45pm |
8 to 18 months |
| 2:00pm |
2:45pm |
2 1/2 to 4 years |
| 3:00pm |
3:45pm |
8 to 18 months |
| 4:00pm |
4:45pm |
18 months to 2 1/2 |
Terms and Conditions
- All children and all adults must be wearing socks at all times.
- A one off registration fee of £20 per family is due at the first session along with the fee for the remainder of the term.
- Classes are charged at £14 per session, payable termly in advance.
- 2nd/subsequent children will be charged at £10 when attending concurrently.
- Subscription fees are non refundable/transferable and missed sessions cannot be made up or carried over.
- Completed registration forms must be handed in on the first session.
- Please make cheques payable to Culture Kids.
Testimonials
July 2010 - Helen and Max Noakes
Hi Mia
Max and I attend the Hampstead culture kids on Tuesdays at 3pm and have done since Max was 9 months (he's now nearly 20). Anyway, we are now leaving London to head to leafy Hertfordshire and I just wanted to say a huge thank you. We have both adored Barb and all the lessons. Max just loves it and I'm so sorry to be leaving. I just wanted you to know that we've got hundreds of special memories to treasure thanks to Culture Kids and Barbs totally enigmatic and wonderful cheery personality. She is an absolute gem.
Really sorry to be leaving and hope it comes to Harpenden soon!
May 2010 - Hampstead London Mum
I am a mum to an 18 month old boy. I and/or his nanny take him to 6-7 toddler classes a week to keep him occupied and he has been attending culture kids since he was about 10 months old. It is great to have a class in the afternoons as there are so few during this period. Sadly, we have to leave London and therefore leave the class but I wanted to let you know that Culture Kids is by far the best class I have ever attended. Barb, who runs the Hampstead class is utterly brilliant with infectious enthusiasm.
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