Workshop Descriptions

NEW- USING SMALL PARTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

NEW - LOOKING THROUGH A LENS

1. SHAKE RATTLE AND ROLL

Suitable for 3-6 years

This session will offer a variety of simple ways to incorporate music activities into your program (without having a musical background!). I will show you ways to use musical instruments to enhance co-ordination, drama, movement, imagination, creativity as well as musical awareness. The children can create the simple instruments and props, therefore taking more ownership of the activity. These wonderfully creative activities are a very effective learning tool for not only physical experiences in early childhood, but for brain growth and development as well.

This session involves active participation so come and enjoy the fun while experiencing the interesting, original ideas that can enhance your program.

2. CREATIVE STORY TELLING TO ENHANCE MOVEMENT AND MUSIC

Suitable for 3-6 years

Our challenge as educators and coaches is to offer repetition of learned movement experiences as well as introducing new and interesting ones. This can be done so effectively through telling stories. Many important movement patterns, warm ups, stretching activities, music and drama, can be explored and hidden in the wonders of Story Telling. I will show you an array of ways to involve children in the creating of the movement stories as well.

This session will require active participation, so come dressed appropriately and for something different!

3. STORY BOOKS TO MOVEMENT.STORY BOOKS TO MUSIC

Suitable from 2-6 years

Find out how easy it is to choose a story book to read to your children, then how to extend the concepts from the book into a movement and music activity.

Popular children's books that are easily accessible will be discussed, plus ideas and props that can be created simply within your home, care or educational environment.

Come dressed for comfort and movement. Join us for a story and open up to a world of imagination and wonder for both you and the children.

4.  CREATIVE WAYS TO ENHANCE DOMINANT MOVEMENT PATTERNS

Suitable for 3-5 years

We need to offer dominant movement pattern experiences in our early childhood programs, and it can be challenging at times to make it appropriate and varied for very young children. This session will offer you a huge variety of original ideas using equipment, props, songs and creativity. The basic dominant movement patterns covered will be locomotion, swing, spring, landing, rotation, statics and balance.

Come along and join in the journey of imagination and visualization. Practical participation is part of this workshop session so come dressed for comfort and simple, low stress activity.

5. MOVING TO LEARN

Suitable for birth to 4 years

This session will be based on my book and music titled Moving To Learn. Often as parents, carers and educators of young children we want to understand why stages of development are vital but also how to enhance this growth and learning through music and movement.

Moving To Learn covers all of the developmental stages offering fun learning activities and an accompanying songs and has been described as "The manual that didn't come with the baby". The session will offer you information and how to use the songs and content in the book, to enhance your preschool program, home or care environments.

One important factor with the activities shown is there is little or no cost involved. Active participation is required, so come along and join in the fun.

This workshop is suitable for educators, child care staff, family day care staff and parents.

6. MORE IDEAS FROM MOVING TO LEARN

Suitable for birth to 4 years

You are already using the book and CD Moving To Learn your children love the initial songs already introduced and you want MORE!!!! This workshop can offer you more.

If you have attended the introductory workshop (see above) let me show you how to use more of the 67 songs, chants and movement activities. You may want new ideas and extensions? I have many to share (All songs and chants covered during this session have not be covered in the introductory session)

Come along suitably dressed for activity, come prepared for more fun learning to move, moving to learn, moving for a brighter future.

7. CREATIVE CAPERS 1

Suitable for 3-6 years

This workshop is based on my resource titled Creative Capers 1. Why movement activities are important and how to encourage the learning through the fun of participating in movement and songs will be covered. See how easy it is to integrate the movement and music concepts into other learning areas within your environment.

The emphasis of this workshop is focusing specifically on spring, landing, leg and knee awareness, rotation, locomotion and balance skills.

Come dressed for physical activity, a lot of laughter and a world of creative capers.

9. CREATIVE CAPERS 2 ... FOOD, FITNESS AND FUN

Suitable for 3-6 years

The three bears came for breakfast to my house the other day"

Experience exciting new and original songs, dance, drama, storytelling and props, created specifically to enhance essential fundamental movement, co-ordination, balance, imagination, spatial awareness and healthy eating.

The three bears love their porridge hot or cold.come along and see what other foods and wonderful movement and music activities they enjoy..you are invited for breakfast too!!!

This is a practical activity using loads of props and participating in the songs and activities.

10. CREATIVE CAPERS 3... Nursery Rhymes

Suitable for 3-6 years

Nursery rhymes can be so effective in providing creative movement and music experiences for early childhood learning. The workshop covers popular Nursery Rhymes but with an array of wonderfully creative ideas to extend the learning. Original music has been written for these Nursery Rhymes so be prepared to be surprised by the variety and creativity!

Come dressed for comfort to fly to the twinkling stars and sit on the wall with Humpty Dumpty (to name just a few)!

11. CREATIVE CAPERS 4 ... Themes and concepts

Suitable for 2-6 years

Often children will initiate a learning direction and movement and music, imagination and creativity should be as big a part of the integrated programming as other learning areas. This workshop offers you ways to extend concepts and create props so children can be part of the process.

There are a lot of original songs and beautiful music written specifically for this CD so come along to be part of the wonder of Creative Capers.

This is a practical activity so come prepared to join in the extension of concepts and themes.

12. MAKING INSTRUMENTS ... MAKING MUSIC

Suitable for 3-6 years

See how easy it is to create your own musical instruments. The children will enjoy making them with you and will take more ownership when using them to make music or to accompany songs. 

The session will show you how to use everyday items that can be recycled, adapted or improvised to make sounds and rhythm. Handouts will be provided explaining how to make the instruments used. Follow up ideas, activities, songs and chants using the instruments will also be demonstrated. So start collecting cardboard cylinders, ribbon, corrugated cardboard, small yogurt containers and electrical tape.

13. DON'T FORGET THE SMALL STUFF!

Suitable for 3-6 years

We often forget how effective the small stuff can be. The creative use of small hand equipment and props such as bean bags, ribbons, scarves, hoops streamers, rhythm sticks, ropes, hoops, bats, balls, mats, socks and many, many more items, is a wonderful way to enhance and stimulate so much learning... not just hand-eye, foot-eye coordination.

This use of the equipment can be introduced through songs, storytelling, drama and dance, with loads of visualization and lots of imagination thrown in as well!

Our role as an educator and carer is to offer repetition through practice, but the challenge is to offer it all in creative ways to keep the child's attention and enthusiasm.this session will show you how!

Be prepared for fun and participation using all the "small stuff".

14. CHILD DEVELOPMENT ... WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW!

Suitable for 0-12 years

We all know how it happens but need reminding of those important stages of development and why we need to do the activities and enhance the skills we offer children. This session covers interesting facts and information for children ages 0-12 years and is presented in creative ways... games, challenges, songs and laughter... nothing dull or boring happens in this session!

15. BRAIN AND BODY CONNECTION... AMAZING!

Suitable for all ages

It is fascinating to understand how the brain and the body are so connected. It can be an overwhelming topic and can be so complex but fear not! This session will explain it all very clearly and simply, giving you an understanding of how and why things happen, particularly from a movement perspective.

This information is so great to know and will help you with your programming and understand why we need to do what we do for a child's holistic development.

The session will be offered as a Power Point presentation as well as simple practical activities for you to participate in .So be prepared for the wonder of our amazing brain and our very clever body.

16. FROM FINE MOTOR TO GROSS MOTOR

Suitable for 0-6 years

This session includes a wonderful array of original songs, chants, poems and rhymes (from Robyn's CD's) as well as extending favourite and traditional ones.

Participants will go away with many ideas on how to develop a fine motor song into a gross motor movement activity. This session encourages creativity and imagination and will empower you to create your own activities using your favourite songs.

Wonderfully creative props and teaching aids will be used to enhance fine motor and gross motor learning.

This session will require physical participation so come dressed for comfort.

17. FUN FITNESS AND FUNDAMENTAL

Suitable for 5-9 years

Need creative ways to present the fundamental skills required to your classes....like running, jumping, swinging, balancing or rolling? This session offers you something different. Many new and exciting ideas will be explored using props, large equipment found in the gym or playground, a variety of hand apparatus, games, challenges and music will be experienced. The emphasis will be on fun, fitness and spatial awareness.

Come dressed suitably and be prepared for fun, fitness and fundamentals!

18. THE MAGIC OF RELAXATION

(suitable for all ages)

Relaxation and self awareness is something we should be experiencing at all ages. It is so beneficial if relaxation techniques are introduced to children at an early age so it can become a part of their natural healthy life style as they grow. There is always stress throughout our lives and it presents itself in so many different ways.

Not only does relaxation have a huge impact on a child, teenager or adults body but has a self empowering quality on overall health, self awareness and self confidence we can connect with our whole self through relaxation.

This session provides simple, creative opportunities to experience the variety of non threatening relaxation methods. Learn what creates stress and how our body responds to stress, and ways to offer relaxation experiences within your home, care or education environment.

The main focus is on children and relaxation, with a little grown up relaxation along the way!

Come along comfortably dressed. Please bring a cushion and rug.

19. STRESS, STRESS and MORE STRESS

Suitable for adults of all ages

In our modern age of fast living, fast moving, fast thinking and instant communication we can easily forget to relax. Stress levels can slowly creep up on us and

Before we know it our body and brain are on overload

This session is presented via PowerPoint and is so interesting and informative. The best part of all this is that we not only learn the triggers, signs and effects of stress but we actually practically experience stress release and relaxation activities.

So come dressed for comfort and come to de-stress!

21. DON'T CHILDREN JUMP NATURALLY?

Suitable for 2-6 years

As parents, carers and educators we all assume that children can jump properly and naturally. It is interesting when you look out into the playground that this is generally not the case. Many children just need to be shown how to land with balance and control. They also need to be shown their knees can bend and the many varied and interesting things the lower part of their body can do.

It all starts from babyhood and progresses through childhood. It is up to us to offer creative experiences to enhance this awareness.

This workshop offers original activities using original songs and music, props and equipment. Learn why it is so important for a child's physical development to get it right at an early age.

This workshop is practical as well as theory based so dress for activity and enjoyment.

21. LEARNING WITH ELASTICS NEW EXCITING and VERY DIFFERENT

Suitable for children aged 4 years and over

Remember playing with elastics when you were a child?

Now here are new and wonderfully original ideas for the use of elastics for use by individuals, pairs, groups of 3, small and large groups of children.

Elastics can be fun, versatile, inexpensive, safe, used for indoor or outdoor use, suitable for all ages, offers fitness, coordination, challenges, rhythm, rhyme, educational values, language and numeracy development, social skills and visualization.

Accompanying chants have been specifically written for this program and accompanying visual cards enhance the individual and partner activities.

This will be a practical session so come prepared to participate, suitably dressed and to have fun. Something for everyone!

22. SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED WORKSHOPS

I can create a workshop specifically designed for your staff needs and environment. There will be extensive consultation with you as to your requirements and two hour, half day or full day sessions are available.