JUNE 2008

In this months issue:

For Babies (0 to 18 mths)
Books for Babies

For Toddlers (18 mon. to 3)
Reading, Rhythm, and Repetition

For Preschoolers (3 to 5)
The Fascinating World of Words

For Big Kids (5 and up)
Reading Aloud

Product of the Month
Finger Cymbals

Featured Educator
- Jo Byrnes

Featured Companies
- Yummy Mummy

Competition Winner
- Denise Cox

Children and books are an unbeatable combination.The ability to read allows children to take an idea and create from it a world of characters, scenarios and outcomes.

Encouraging your children to read this June transports them to a land of endless imagination and total immersion in a moment.

In this special issue of Parents Club Newsletter, we look at what benefits reading has on kids with particular attention to what you as a parent can do depending on the age of your tots.

Whether you are expecting or have big kids learning to read for themselves, it is never to early or late to start.

Here are some quick tips to get you started:

• Make reading part of the daily routine and try to make it at the same time
• Read with expression, feeling and animation . Make it soft and make it loud, but not too scary. Try using different voices for different characters.
• Read the story with your face as well as your voice.
• Share the reading with your child, maybe page by page, or even book by book. Let children play with, touch and handle the book. Let them help you turn the pages and learn how books work.
• Let them laugh and giggle and sing the words you read. They will learn to read it just like you.
• During reading time turn off any possible sources of distraction, like the television and radio so that you and your child can be absorbed by the story!
• Let your child see that you value and enjoy reading, and that it is a worthwhile and pleasurable activity. Children are great copiers.
• Make reading a family activity – brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and grandparents can do the reading too. Remember, both mums and dads can read! (Source: http://www.chrischeng.com)

Also in this issue, we present our June competetion winner, highlight one of our newest educators and feature one of our favourite companies.

And not to forget rewarding you for your ongoing loyalty and interest each month, see our June Parenting Club special offer on Finger Cymbals which are over 20% off.

Check out our online store for more bargains.

Winner of a free term of Kindermusik classes

Congratulations to Denise Cox of Tasmania who is this month's winner of one free term of Kindermusik from signing up to receive these Parent Club newsletters and special offers!

We'll be in contact with details of how to redeem your prize shortly.

Meet the educators

Want to know more about the amazing network of educators located throughout Australia and New Zealand ?

Click here to see our growing list of profiles . It might be someone you know!

We welcome your feedback on our newsletter.

Finger Cymbals

This pair of Finger Cymbals will add a little Middle Eastern flair. Combine with a drum and let the dancing begin.

Includes: Bronze Alloy Finger Cymbals, 2 pair in vinyl case

Ages: Preschooler - Young Child, 3 - 7 years

Usual Price: $17.95
Parent Club Special:$13.50
That's a saving of over 20% !

Books for Babies

There are numerous benefits for reading to your baby, and the earlier you begin, the better! Reading aloud teaches your baby about communication; introduces concepts such as numbers, letters, colours, and shapes in a fun way; builds listening, memory, and vocabulary skills; and gives babies information about the world around them. Plus, it is a wonderful shared activity you can continue for years to come – and it's an important form of stimulation.

Reading, Rhythm, and Repetition

Reading aloud is also an important way to help your child make the transition from babyhood to toddlerhood. Between the ages of one and three, your child will have triumphs and challenges. It can help for your child to hear stories about other kids and how they managed fears about what's under the bed and tackled the challenge of using the potty.

The Fascinating World of Words!

You may have noticed that your preschooler has become fascinated with print, words, and the letters of the alphabet. Now is the perfect time to provide your child with a healthy diet of books. And with frequent book readings, she will begin to understand that the words in the book (the symbols) are telling the story. Sharing books with your preschooler lays the foundation for learning to read, and children who love books are better readers.

Reading Aloud

Did you know that the simple act of reading aloud with your child could boost his future reading success? Reading aloud allows your child the opportunity to acquire necessary verbal skills, letter knowledge, phonological awareness, and a familiarity with the basic purposes and mechanisms of reading. By age six, children understand 13,000 words, and children who are spoken to and read to frequently have larger vocabularies and develop into stronger readers.

Read More

Jo Byrnes - Gold Coast, QLD

Jo Byrnes is a mother of three boys – Zac, Jai and Callum - stepmother of two girls – Dione and Renae - and believes that the secret to her love of music started with having more than her fair share of music in her life from a very young age. Her parents always had music playing and enjoyed going to life performances and concerts.

Jo's formal musical background began at age 10 when she fell in love with the piano and has since completed her Diploma of Performance in 1991. With over 20 years in the industry, Jo has performed at recitals, played in bands and accompanied stage productions, but the most rewarding aspect of her life as a musician, is teaching. “I enjoy communicating, playing and having heaps of fun with children of all ages and love encouraging them to learn the ‘language' of music. It is an achievement I take pride in.” says Jo.

Read more

Want to get debt under control?

We know, it starts off so innocently. That bit of plastic credit for life's little "emergencies". You swear to yourself that it will only be used for essentials. Then before you know it, the card is swiped and your signature checked, AGAIN!

If this sounds familiar, then log onto www.yummiemummie.com.au to register for our next FREE TELECONFERENCE happening Tuesday 23 June at 8pm.

On it, our resident money expert Sonia Williams of Show Mummy the Money will share:

• Why you need to open your statements each month and how you can work out where you're really at
• How easy it can be to swap credit cards and halve or even totally eliminate the interest you pay each month
• Tips and tricks to get your debt down once and for all
• The benefits you can enjoy from committing to consolidating your debt
• How soon you can expect to see results

Plus much, much more (and you'll have the opportunity to ask any burning money questions you've got!)

Register for this FREE conference call on Tuesday 23 June at 8pm, check out:

http://www.yummiemummie.com.au/articles/cms/9/join-our-next-conference-call-on-soon!