Mason was chosen in the Sponsor my Child competition as the winner of a year of fun with music at Kimbalu music classes.
Kimbalu is a music group for young children and their carers. The classes provide a fun, lively and relaxed environment in which there are opportunities for children and carers to both make new friends and enjoy quality time together. Held every week during term time, the session includes a half hour music class followed by toys and refreshments. During each class, songs both old & new are used to develop musical ability as well as language, speech & listening skills.
Autumn Term 2nd Half
Mason turned three this half term and was so excited to share his birthday news with his little friends and Lorrie & Kimba! Mason even had a Kimba themed birthday cake! This half term's songs had a wintery, fun theme with changes of words to songs to fit with the time of year. The children experimented with lots of bells, triangles and finger cymbals and had the correct modelling of how to play them from Lorrie. Mason has mastered following Lorrie's rhythms this term and has really enjoyed when the rhythms went faster and faster!
This term ended with a fun Christmas themed session with lots of Christmas songs to jingle bells - which the children confidently played due to their previous experience through the half term. It also meant the release of the new Kimbalu CD2 which has been on repeat in our car ever since. It's a great way to extend sessions at home (helped me to learn all the words to the new songs too!) Mason has become more and more confident in classes and this has been reflected at home teaching his Daddy the actions to the songs!
Spring Term 1st Half
Lots of big pictures of animals used this half term. Our favourite has been the 'Over in the Meadow' song. The turtles are always a huge hit with Mason. Lorrie always looks at the pictures closely with the children while they count and decide upon the colours of each creature.
Mason has also especially enjoyed 'Miss Mary Jane's' song and has confidently given Lorrie suggestions loudly about what mode of transport they could sing about next! It's always a train or a plane suggestion from Mason! :-)
Unfortunately Mason was admitted to hospital and has had a very tough month so has missed quite few sessions this half term.
Lorrie from Kimbalu
It's been delightful having Mason as our Kallikids 2014 Sponsored Child. He has grown from quite an introverted little boy who clung closely to Mum to a confident boy who, even after a few weeks, would suggest activities, play his instrument in front of others and happily join in independent activities with the other children. His awareness of music and his ability to listen carefully and discriminate between musical sounds has definitely improved as has his sense of rhythm. He will now happily play fast, slow, loud or quiet or getting faster or louder and likes to show his mum how well he can do. He loves to be one of the first up to say hello to Kimba and is always keen to give his suggestions or get involved with the picture songs. He had spent much time in hospital before starting Kimbalu and had missed out on many opportunities for interaction with other children so coming to Kimbalu was a really special thing for him to do with his mum. When Mason's little sister arrived, she came along from very early on and it was lovely to see him joining in and enjoying the classes still….and showing off his new baby sister :-) His mum, Beth, did so well making him feel it was his special time with her even though little one had arrived. Mason often brought his little monkey along so he could play with monkey if mummy had to feed the baby.
He has unfortunately had to miss a few weeks again just recently due to more hospital visits but we're looking forward to seeing him again at Kimbalu this week :-)