Sessions: 12

Cost: 0-6 months old FREE with sibling, $147 + 69 materials fee 1^st child, 10% discount for 2^nd child, 20% discount for 3^rd child, etc.

Time: 45 minutes,

Days: Tuesday nights 6:20-7:05 AND Fridays 10:30-11:15 AND Saturdays 10:30-11:15

Dates: 9/22 – 12/11 - Please note, 11/23 and 11/24 skip dates

Class size: 4min/12max  (with caregiver/s)

Kindermusik International has been the world's leading publisher of music and movement curricula for 0-7 year-olds for almost 30 years. All classes are guided by a child development expert, who uses research-proven curricula that has been proven to boost your child’s physical, emotional, cognitive, social, musical, and language development. Parent education is a key component of the Kindermusik experience. We know you are your child’s most important teacher, so we provide you with research-based home materials to bring the learning and FUN home. In addition, “Foundation of Learning Statements” are shared in class, through a weekly e-mail, and through a monthly newsletter to help you help you help your child to reach their full potential! All of PCU’s classes include: music, movement, active listening, story time, vocal play, instrument time, parachute play, American Sign Language, and more! Our Kind of Day is designed to apply musical and developmental learning in a multi-age, multi-child, family environment. Family Time helps children develop musical skills, as well as the social skills necessary to share, take turns, and strengthen the emotional bond among family members. Materials include: a family guide, 2 home long-play CDs, 2 Home Literature Books, 2 double egg shaker instruments, a kangaroo hand puppet with joey finger puppet, and a Domino Game with instructions.

To Register: Call (703) 228-4747

Kindermusik Sign & Sing, A&B & MORE! (6 mos. - 2 yrs w/caregiver)

KI Sign & Sing created by Signing Smart video clip!

  Home Materials include: 2 Family Activity Guides, 2 Diaper-bag dictionary flashcard sets: Ffirst Signs Flashcards & Animal Signs Flashcards, and a parent's DVD with 60 signs and a children’s DVD The Treasure Chest: Signs, Songs, and Rhymes with 90 signs.

To Register: Call (703) 228-4747

Signing Smart™: Beginner Play Class (6 mos. - 2 yrs w/caregiver)

Signing Smart Treasure Chest 2 video clip!

  Home Materials include: Signing Smart for Early Communication: Beginner Handbook, Signing Smart Video Glossary with 135 signs, and The Treasure Chest: Vol. 1: children’s video with over 30 signs. A $46 materials fee is due to the instructor the first day of class. Repeat students Home Materials fee $15.00.

Ages: 6 months – 2 yrs.

Sessions: 13 week class, 45 min

Cost: $190 + 46 materials fee ($15 materials fee for repeat families)

Day/Time: Wednesdays 10:30-11:15

Class size: 3min/12max (with caregiver/s)

Description: Signing Smart strategies integrate more than 130 American Sign Language (ASL) signs into songs, games, and activities developed to engage very young children and their parents.  Research has shown that Signing Smart with hearing babies and toddlers allows communication and spoken language to happen earlier and faster, while reducing frustration and tantrums. Most children have 2-3 words by 12 months, whereas, Signing Smart children typically have 25 signs and 16 words!  Most children start combining words into 2 word sentences by 20 months, whereas Signing Smart children typically do this by 11-14 months and some as early as 6 months!  NIH even found a 12 point IQ increase for 8 year-olds who used signs as young children. More research, class pictures, and family quotes at www.ParentChildU.com.

To Register: Call (703) 228-4747

Signing Smart™: Intermediate Play Class (12 mos. - Under 3 yrs w/caregiver)

Signing Smart Treasure Chest 2 video clip!

 Home Materials include: Signing Smart Intermediate Handbook and The Treasure Chest 2: Signs, Songs and Rhymes children’s DVD and CD with over 90 signs. Repeat students Home Materials fee $15.00.

Ages: 12 months – under 3 yrs

Sessions: 13 week class, 45 min

Cost: $190 + $37 materials fee due the first class session (Repeat student fee $15)

Day/Time: Wednesdays 10:30-11:15

Class size: 3min/12max (with caregiver/s)

Description:  Through engaging and developmentally-stimulating activities, you will learn how to use 130 ASL signs and Signing Smart Strategies to: decrease temper tantrums, facilitate your child's comprehension of abstract ideas and stimulate your child's memory skills. Songs, rhymes, parachute play and center time help foster emotional understanding, encourage symbolic play, enhance overall vocabulary and sentence use (signed and spoken), and advance your child's pre-literacy abilities through strategic sign use while reading, rhyming, and storytelling. It is recommended but not required that families have completed at least one session of Signing Smart or Sign & Sing.

To Register: Call (703) 228-4747

Signing Smart™ ASL Play Class: Holiday (6 mos. - Under 3 yrs w/caregiver)

Signing Smart Treasure Chest 2 video clip!

Home Materials include: Signing Smart Holiday Handbook : a non- religious handbook for signing families that contains photos of over 75 hard-to-find year-round holiday ASL signs, and festive song ideas that emphasizes how to be Signing Smart to lighten the pressures of the holidays and how to understand and experience this magical time of year from your child’s perspective.

Description: Developed for hearing children, Signing Smart uses American Sign Language (ASL) to get children communicating earlier and faster. This class will teach your child ASL signs for the Zoo environment through songs, games, and activities. For more information, go to www.ParentChildU.com. This exciting NEW class for infants aged 6 months-24 months. This class is for National Zoo FONZ members only. Class price is $40. This class is a product of Wide-Eyed Learning™ and was developed for a Zoo environment. Signing Smart™ strategies integrate American Sign Language (ASL) signs into songs, games, animal visits, and activities developed to engage very young children and their parents.  Research has shown that Signing Smart™ with hearing babies and toddlers allows communication and spoken language to happen earlier and faster, while reducing frustration and tantrums. Most children have 2-3 words by 12 months, whereas Signing Smart™ children typically have 25 signs and 16 words!  Experience animals in a whole new way! More information at www.ParentChildU.com.

Registration Information: Please note, zoo classes are for FONZ (Ffriends of the Nnational Zoo members only. FONZ Household Membership is $55/year and includes FREE zoo parking, a monthly zoo magazine, access to FONZ classes and discounted registration to events like BOO in the Zoo & Guppy Gala & more!)  To Register for classes and FONZ membership through the National Zoo online at www.fonz.org/classes.htm. Contact Vanessa Jones by email at JonesV@si.edu if you need help with registration.

ABC Music & Me™: Animals A-Dancing Created by Kindermusik (2 - 4 yrs)

Home Materials include a Family Guide and Home CD and are included in the price of this particular class.

Ages: 2 - 4 years

Dates: September 30; October 7, 14,

Time: 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

FONZ Members Fee: $60 (includes $20 home materials fee)

Description: Get active at the Zoo! This dynamic class emphasizes physical activity that supports motor skills and muscle development. Children will learn about animal movement while dancing, rolling, and hopping. They will also imitate animal sounds and participate in animal-themed songs, rhymes, and stories.

Registration Information: Please note, zoo classes are for FONZ (Ffriends of the Nnational Zzoo members only. FONZ Household Membership is $55/year and includes FREE zoo parking, a monthly zoo magazine, access to FONZ classes and discounted registration to events like BOO in the Zoo & Guppy Gala & more!)  To Register for classes and FONZ membership through the National Zoo online at www.fonz.org/classes.htm. Contact Vanessa Jones by email at JonesV@si.edu if you need help with registration.

ABC Music and Me: Around the Farm (2-4 year-olds)

Home materials include: includes a Family Guide, Home CD, and Rhythm Sticks & are included in the class price.

Ages: 12 months-2 years

Dates: October 21, 28; November 4

Time: 11:00am-12:00pm

FONZ Members Fee: $60 (includes $20 home materials fee)

Description: This Fall, Around the Farm, march tiptoe, stomp, glide and gallop like farm animals in this class about movement. Experiment with rhythms, pitches, and sounds while children play instruments, move to a steady beat, and sing songs. Animal rhymes and stories will keep your child engaged and learning all about farm animals.

Registration Information: Please note, zzoo classes are for FONZ (Ffriends of the Nnational Zzoo members only. FONZ Household Membership is $55/year and includes FREE zoo parking, a monthly zoo magazine, access to FONZ classes and discounted registration to events like BOO in the Zoo & Guppy Gala & more!)  Register for classes and FONZ membership through the National Zoo online at www.fonz.org/classes.htm. Contact Vanessa Jones by email at JonesV@si.edu if you need help with registration.

Please note, all of our parent-tot classes also include fun parent education.

Signing Smart™ Parent Workshop: Beginner (Adults of 0 - Under 3 yrs)

Signing Smart Treasure Chest 2 video clip!

Home Materials include: award-winning Signing Smart with Babies and Toddlers: A Parent's Strategy and Activity Guide - for parents or caregivers to begin signing with their hearing infant or toddler, as well as for those seeking additional tools or activities. Photos of over 130 ASL signs and more than 70 fun interactive activities for the home or childcare setting. One book included per household. 

Ages: Adults only please (Nursing moms of children less than 6 months of age are more than welcome but need to make sure all can hear the presentation). Perfect for expectant parents as well as those with children from 0-2. Cost: $55 includes Home Materials fee (50% discount for accompanying spouse/grandparent).  Description: The Beginner Signing Smart Workshop is for expectant parents or parents new to signing with their baby as well as for those who have already gotten started and are looking for support during the early phases. More than just motivating parents to sign, this workshop helps parents develop a plan for successfully signing with research-proven Signing Smart strategies and techniques. You will learn the Signing Smart Start - how many and which signs to use in the early stages - as well as how to build up your signs as time goes on. In addition, you will learn to create interactions in which your infant or toddler most easily learns signs, how to bring signs into your child's world, and how to recognize your child's first signs. Through instructor presentation, interactive activities and discussion, and video examples, you will learn over 35 ASL signs, as well as tools, strategies, and resources that will enable you to experience the success of Signing Smart from the very first day!

Date: Tentatively 9/9 and available upon request for prearranged groups.

Time: Tentatively 3:00-5:30 p.m.

Location: Tentatively Walter Reed Center

To Register: Call (571) 643-1002

Signing Smart™ Childcare Providers & Infant/Toddler Teacher Workshop

Signing Smart Treasure Chest 2 video clip!

Home Materials include: award-winning Signing Smart with Babies and Toddlers: A Parent's Strategy and Activity Guide - for parents or caregivers to begin signing with their hearing infant or toddler, as well as for those seeking additional tools or activities. Photos of over 130 ASL signs and more than 70 fun interactive activities for the home or childcare setting. Also includes 2 Diaper-bag Dictionaries – your choice of 2: First Signs, Animal Signs, Food Signs, or Holiday Signs.

Ages: Adults. Perfect for child care providers, nannies, babysitters, and even grandparents who provide care for children ages 0-2.

1^st Teacher Cost: $100 includes the $50 Home Materials fee, 2^nd & 3^rd Teacher at one center cost: $50 with no materials One materials fee included for every 3^rd teacher enrolled in a center. 

Description: This Signing Smart Workshop is relevant for childcare providers and teachers of hearing infants and toddlers and is specifically geared towards those who work with multiple children simultaneously. More than just motivating teachers to sign with the babies and toddlers in their care, this workshop helps professionals develop a plan for successfully incorporating signs and research-proven Signing Smart strategies and techniques into their classrooms. By using group-orientated Signing Smart strategies, teachers will enhance spoken language skills, facilitate cognitive and emotional development, and take advantage of this powerful classroom management tool. As a result, teachers will notice a decrease in children's frustration, aggression, and tantrums, and an increase in constructive interactions and positive affect. Through instructor presentation, interactive activities and discussion, and video examples, you will learn simple but successful Signing Smart techniques that make signing a welcome addition to your work with children. You will learn the Signing Smart Start in a group setting, as well as how many and which signs to use as you introduce Signing Smart to your entire class. You will further learn how help children access your signs in the hectic environment of a classroom, how to implement our simple and successful strategies that make signing a breeze, as well as how to recognize what signs look like on children's hands.

Positive Discipline Parent (or Child Care Provider) Workshop
What do we really want for our children? Do we want our children to become happy, responsible, independent, successful, etc. adults? Do our parenting methods match our goals or do we want children to simply do what they are told? If so, what kind of adult will such a child ultimately become? There are dozens of ways you can help your child learn to become a responsible adult. Perhaps the most powerful method is through modeling. However, it is tough being a parent! Tons of parents in a goal not to be permissive try talking to their child only to become frustrated and ultimately resort to power methods: yelling, grabbing, saying "Because I said so" and more. This teaches children the person that is bigger, stronger, and/or has the most power gets their way. Is that really what we want to teach our children? "More traditional parenting styles model bullying behavior" (Alfie Kohn, March 2007). Come learn positive discipline methods heralded by the best in the field. Come learn the research behind such approaches. Be the parent you always knew you could be through positive discipline. Be confident knowing you are helping your child become the adult you know they can be!