Recently, I signed my four- year old daughter up for an amazing class through our local community education program.  It is called JumpBunch, and I had heard so many great things about it and thought that it would be perfect for her.Many people who have met my daughter would not characterize her as “shy”.  However, in trying new activities, she has proven herself to not only be shy but also terrified of doing anything in front of others.  This class has really helped to bring her out of her shell and she cannot wait to go each week.  As a matter of fact, she asks daily, “Do we have JumpBunch today”?

JumpBunch is a national sports and fitness franchise which provides classes,

camps and birthday parties to children 15 months to 12 years of age.  The program is specifically designed to assist the development of children in physical fitness. The JumpBunch curriculum consists of over 70 different sport activities keeping it fresh and new each week. Through innovative techniques, the Coaches introduce and reinforce loco motor skills, large and fine motor skills, hand/ foot and eye coordination, stretching and the fundamentals of sports. One of the main objectives of the JumpBunch Coach is to build confidence and self esteem in a non-competitive atmosphere. JumpBunch Coaches instruct a class with constant praise, positive feedback and encouragement. A standard 30 to 45-minute JumpBunch class consists of two warm-up songs, a sport and fitness activity, a stretching activity, a creative movement song and a cool down song.

I love this program because it really does a fantastic job of introducing kids to many different sports.  Because of their ages, it really allows for them to try a little bit of everything and  not feel the pressure to get it right the first time.  The classes are also geared to specific age levels and because my daughter is young, I get to do it with her, which is something that I love.  The philosophy that they instill in the kids at the beginning of each class is great too.  All of the kids are encouraged never to say “I can’t” and rather “I will try again.” 

If you have the opportunity to sign your child up for one of the classes or utilize the program for a camp or birthday party, I would highly recommend it.  For more information about the program, visit the website at www.jumpbunchlocations.com/buffalo /.

1. KinderMonkeys – A Kindergarten Readiness Program.   Is your child prepared to enter Kindergarten in September?   Kindergarten is no longer play time and nap time. Children are expected to have skills, such as number and letter recognition, counting, and letter sounds. These fun theme-filled weeks will be full of skill exercises designed to give your child a head start going into Kindergarten this fall.

KinderMonkeys will be offered 5weeks throughout the summer, from 9:00 am – 9:45 am – each will have adifferent skill set and theme.

            7/19 – 7/23            “Underthe Big Top”               

            7/26 – 7/30            “Animal Antics”

            8/2 – 8/6                “Sea Us Learn”

            8/16– 8/20 “Sportsmania”           

            8/23 – 8/27            “MindBlossoms”

Each session costs $50 per child.

2. Use It Don’t Lose It!  Weekly Summer Skills Camp – Want to give your child a fun filled week that has an educational component?  These weeks will be designed specially to meet the needs of the age level, while allowing you to have flexibility in the summer to just sit back and relax by not committing to a summer long program.  Sign up for just one or two, or all five – whatever works best in your summer plans. Skills reinforced throughout the weeks will include math, reading, ELA, writing, book discussion circles, and map skills.

Each session will be $50 per child

Week of 7/19 – 7/23“Passport to Summer Fun”

7/26 -7/30   “Fishing For Fiction”   ***THIS week 5^th/6^th grade campwill

                      readThe Lightening Thief and study GreekMythology

    8/2 – 8/6     “Sea Us Learn”

    8/16 –8/20  “Sportsmania”

    8/23 –8/27   “America theBeautiful”

             Grades1-2             10-11

            Grades3-4             11:15-12:15

                            Grades5-6            12:30-1:30 

3. Individualized Summer Skill Reinforcement. Over the summer children can drop as much a half grade level in their learning from not practicing skills learned in school. Without reinforcement of math and reading skills, children can be at a disadvantage in the fall. Sign up for specialized individual instruction for children from PreK – 6 that will allow for reinforcement of concepts in your child’s grade.

Days and times will vary based onthe individual – Continue the sign up for 10 – get 11^th free!

Contact Michelle Bradford, Certified Teacher at  861-1205 Or by email  mmbradford@Buffalo.com

Hurry….class size is limited….

So this month has been a doozy.  Having the last name MURPHY, you would think that March would bring the “luck of the Irish”. Instead we have had more than our fair share of Murphy’s Law!

We have had one of the worst stomach flu’s run through nearly all of us (and now a need for new carpeting in our upstairs hallway), a trip to the ER for my husband with a rather scary diagnosis of a serious heart condition, a pretty interesting “disagreement” with my boss, and finally a sump pump that decided to quit resulting in a flooded basement.  It has been a heck of a month and I have to say…April cannot come soon enough!

So last night, after attending my son’s parent teacher conference, I decided that I needed a little “me time” before returning home.  Where else does a mom go to have some great “me time”?.............TARGET! 

As I walked through the aisles just browsing and thinking about how crazy things have been, I picked up a new toilet bowl brush (ours has had quite a workout lately) and a bag of milk chocolate eggs (thank goodness for Easter candy!).  I cashed out and drove home feeling like a million bucks!  20 minutes at Target, a brand new toilet brush, and bag of candy…who knew that it could be better than any therapist out there?!

So moms out there…am I crazy or do you find joy in the little things too?  Am I the only one that can find this kind of serenity?  

The team plans to collect the new pajamas and books through April 28^th.  People can leave their donations at Baby’s Sweet Beginnings at 231 Aurora St., Lancaster | Insty-Prints at 3959 Union Road, Cheektowaga | Monkey See, Monkey Do, 9060 Main St. Clarence during their business hours.  The final donation will be presented to The Pajama Program Buffalo Chapter at their “Fondue For A Cause” Event at the Melting Pot, Walden Galleria Mall on April 29, 2010.  They hope to collect 50 pairs of pajamas for this area.  For other drop off locations in Western New York, visit www.WNYKids.com.