Urban Mamas

Are you looking for a fun weekly activity for you and your pre-verbal child to do together while also helping them to learn sign language? We are looking for more friends to join our Kindermusik "Sign & Sing" class offered by Tiny Talkers! Dads, Grandparents & Nannies are encouraged to bring their kids (moms too of course!).

Through songs, music, toys, simple instruments and loving playtime between you and your child, this class will show you many signs your child can use to communicate with you. Using research-proven methods shown to speed language development in hearing children, you'll see how sign language can ease frustration and enhance long-term learning abilities for your child.

A new session begins next Thursday!

Session A: Feb.21-March 21, 9:45-10:45 am

Where: Euphoria Studios: 1235 SE Division in Portland

Please pre-register!More info can be found here: http://tinytalkers.blogspot.com/

If you are interested in taking a 2 hour Baby Sign Language 101 Parent/Caregiver workshop, you can find that info here: http://tinytalkersportland.com

Join us Feb 16-24 for a Dougy Center fundraiser!  Enter your child into the third annual MOST BEGUILING BABES contest for only $25. 100% of that fee goes directly to The Dougy Center.  Your child's photos will be posted on my blog for your family and friends to vote.  The child with the most votes will receive prizes from Amy Vining Photography, Child's Play Toy Store, and more!  Our goal is to photograph 100 children, for a grand total donation of $2500.  We need your help!

Click on the photo above or right here for more information.  And thank you for helping to support such an important organization, THE DOUGY CENTER.

Hello Mamas and Papas,

I am an Infant/Toddler Educarer who is also the proud parent of a 15-month-old. I love my Moms' group, but recently I've been craving the support of other RIE parents. Does anyone want to join me for a once-a-month or so RIE parenting group?

Hello PDX Mamas and Families,

My name is Karen Chenier. I am a counselor, group facilitator, dance movement therapist, and a part-time professor at Portland State University's Psychology Department. 

In February, I am offering a New Parents Group (baby and parent(s)) and a Parents Only group.

You shall see various flyers posted up and around the neighborhood in the next week (New Seasons Market, Common Ground Wellness Center, Jim and Patty's Coffee House ect...)  If you wish to receive a informational flyer please call, or email, and I would be happy to send one to you. 

In addtion, I am scheduled to speak on the subject of Mindful Attached Parenting at the New Renaissance Bookstore, NW Portland  on Thursday, April 26th, 7-8:30pm.   

To give you a little background, I have an interest in the creative and somatic aspects of psychotherapy and wellness, and have over 12 years of experience in the field.  I specialize in working with individuals, couples, and families in helping to address parenting skills, school/work related problems, relationship issues, marital problems, divorce, and life-transitions, loss, anxiety and depression.  My office is located at Common Ground, Flanders House in NE Portland.

I am very happy to answer any quesitons you may have regarding the groups and services.  You may contact me by phone or email.

Warmly,
Karen

Karen Marie Chenier Ph.D, R-DMT
Counselor & Lecturer
Common Ground Wellness Center
Flanders House
2926 NE Flanders St., Suite 2D
Portland, Oregon
mobile: 503.206.2297
email: kchenierphd@gmail.com
website:  flandershousepdx.org

Kindermusik with Tiny Talkers!

 "IS TODAY A KINDERMUSIK DAY?"

Young children around the world are asking that very question every day. That’s because Kindermusik children can’t wait to sing, move, explore, play, express, create and simply experience the incredible power of music.

When it comes to choosing your child’s activities, the options seem endless. One choice provides more ways for your child to grow and thrive than any other. Kindermusik.

Kindermusik makes great parenting easier and Tiny Talkers is so excited to start offering these wonderful classes to the community!

Classes start in just 2 weeks- so don't delay, enroll today! More info:

http://tinytalkersportland.com/Baby_Sign_Language_kindermusik.html

SIGN & SING: Session A - Class Length: 5 week, 45 minute class - Ages: Birth-3 years

Tuition & Materials: $50 for 5 weeks ($10 PER CLASS- much less than other play based sign language classes in the Portland Metro area)

$35 for home materials (Home Materials are sold to you at my cost. I make no profit off of these.)

 Locations:  

New Seasons- Happy Valley http://www.newseasonsmarket.com/our-stores/happy-valley

The Warehouse (Portland Green Parenting) http://portlandgreenparenting.com/

 Current Schedule:

 New Seasons: Sign and Sing Session A - Tuesday 9:30-10:15 am - October 11-Nov 8

 The Warehouse: Sign and Sing Session A - Thursday 9:45-10:30 am - October 13-Nov 10

FAMILY TIME: BIRTH - 7 YEARS (OFFERED AS AN "ADVENTURES" CLASS)

Video: http://youtu.be/ZCbV7NcivWg

Class Length: 5 weeks, 45 minute class - Ages: Birth-7 years 

Tuition & Materials: $50 for 5 weeks ($10 PER CLASS- much less than other music & movement classes in the Portland Metro area)

$35 for home materials (Home Materials are sold to you at my cost. I make no profit off of these.)

Locations: 

 New Seasons- Happy Valley http://www.newseasonsmarket.com/our-stores/happy-valley

Current Schedule: 

 New Seasons: Adventures (TAUGHT FAMILY STYLE birth-7 years)- Zoo Train

Tuesday 10:45-11:30 am - October 18-Nov 15

  For more info, please contact Shira at 503.754.8776 or by email: shira@tinytalkersportland.com 

or simply checkout the website: www.TinyTalkersPortland.com (find the Kindermusik link at top right)

Indulge in devilish snacks while the kids enjoy their own treat bags, crafts, coloring and games!  You'll even score a free digital Facebook photo to show off your little gobling in costume.  While you're here, schedule your holiday family portraits and receive 50% off the session fee!

There's no catch... no charge... just bring the kids in for some fun.  It's Halloween!!!

Simply RSVP to amy's email at amyvining@me.com so I can make sure to have enough treats for all.  Looking forward to seeing you and your kids at the LITTLE GOBLINS PARTY!

Please join our FREE MOMS GROUP!

Our online community includes:

Message Boards to help you connect with area moms for support, advice and local information.

Support Groups so you can connect with other career moms, single moms, step-moms, adoptive moms, moms from different races, cultures and more.

Local Area Groups so you can meet neaeby moms.

Loads of events every month, including Mom's Night Out, Playdates, and Community Outreach.

Go to PortlandMetroMommies.com to register!

What Every Parent Should Know About Wills and Trusts

Presented By

 Michelle-Shari Kruss, Attorney at Law

Michelle-shari@Krusslaw.com

Our children are our greatest treasures, yet 74% of parents don’t even have a will.  Of the 26% who do, most have made at least one of the ten most common mistakes that leave their children and estate at risk.

 Have you:

1.    Made a plan?  The most common planning mistake is the failure to have any plan        at all, or having an antiquated or improper plan.

2.    Chosen a guardian, conservator, and trustee for your children?

3.    Chosen an alternate guardian, a temporary guardian, and provided a detailed                         description of your wishes regarding the raising of your children?

4.    Left money outright to minor children?

5.    Identified possible contingent beneficiaries other than your heirs?

6.    Properly signed your documents?

7.    Drafted a health care directive?

8.    Created a Durable Power of Attorney?

9.    Made handwritten edits to your Will or reviewed your Will recently?

10.  Coordinated your beneficiary designations with your Will language? 

Michelle-Shari Kruss’ practice focuses exclusively on helping new and busy parents address their estate planning needs.  For the past thirteen year she has been a frequent lecturer at many of our local hospitals, MOPS groups, playgroups, professional groups, and religious organizations. 

Babies can communicate their wants and needs very early in their lives because they have an instinctive need to communicate with others. The problem lies in the fact that they lack the muscle strength and coordination in their mouths that are necessary to form words. This is where using sign language with your baby comes to the rescue. Baby signing is a pre-verbal form of communication.

According to Linda Acredolo, one of the founders of the baby signing movement, “All the skills necessary to say words are very intricate and hard to conquer.” However, “It is a fact that infants develop the fine muscles in their hands before they develop those required for speech, so they’re equipped to communicate with you before they can speak.”

In addition to needing muscle control for speaking, toddlers must also recall how to say the actual word as well as correctly matching that word to the desired object. This is often a very confusing process for young children. Using signs comes quickly to most pre-verbal children because it simply makes sense.

Flash forward to your 18 month old child. It is likely that they are speaking a handful of words by now. However, now the issue is that while those muscles in their mouths are still continuing to fine-tune themselves, your toddler is often very hard to understand. Did he just say “hat” or “cat?” When an undecipherable word is combined with a sign, you are able to immediately interact back with your child rather than try and guess what it is he was trying to say. This, in turn, eliminates a potential opportunity for a temper tantrum based on a communication break down.

Written by: Shira Fogel, founder of Tiny Talkers, Baby Signing Workshops for Parents & Caregivers, located in Portland, Oregon. The next workshop offered will be at the brand new Sante Mama located in Vancouver on Saturday Nov. 6th  from 10-12 p.m.

www.TinyTalkersPortland.com