Life in New York: how to diversify a child

Photo Kaleidoscope Folk Dance Club

All parents want the child’s development to be diversified: that he study well at school, be healthy and active, love nature, but at the same time he diligently studied music and painting, and also showed interest in history and literature.

In an effort to give children the best of everything, we sometimes overload them with circles and sections. ForumDaily picked up several options for extracurricular activities that will allow working in several directions at once.

Folk Dances in Brooklyn

A student who is forced to spend several hours a day at his desk, physical activity is simply necessary. Fortunately, there are many ways to organize it in New York: swimming pools, self-defense classes, football sections.

But if we want to add to the movement of the body the work of the mind, we should think about dancing: they improve motor memory and coordination, teach them to listen and hear music. And in the case of folk dances, classes also introduce the child to the cultural heritage.

At the beginning of 2016, a dance school opened in Brooklyn "Kaleidoscope"where 3 times a week are engaged in Russian, Ukrainian, Gypsy and Jewish folk dances children from 6 years.

This is what its founder Valentin Usmanov told ForumDaily: “The duration of the training is 2 hours: 30 minutes warm-up and strength training, 30 minutes - a classical lesson (choreography), an hour - staging dance tricks for boys and the basics of classical folk dance for girls, acting skills, dance performance. We do not divide children into groups in principle. They are always together - both in training and on vacation. Those older in age or experience help the younger ones, and the younger ones have someone to follow, and learning the material goes very quickly. In addition to dance technique, we pay a lot of attention to the cultural origins of dance - after all, any folk dance is a reflection of the traditions of different peoples in fun, sadness, and fight. Brazilian capoeira or Ukrainian combat hopak is a mixture of dance and martial art.”

Pupils of the Folk Dance Club Kaleidoscope have already spoken at events at Russian diplomatic missions in the United States, went to competitions in different states, and are now preparing a program for the Christmas tree. Photo Kaleidoscope Folk Dance Club

Folk Dance Club Kaleidoscope students have already performed at events of Russian diplomatic missions in the United States, traveled to competitions in different states, and are now preparing a program for the Christmas tree. The cost of classes is affordable - $150 per month for boys and $300 for girls.

If the child dances are not very interesting, parents are asked to pick him up from the club. But if the children do not miss the rehearsals and achieve success, then the monthly fee is gradually reduced to free classes.

Drawing and art history in the main museum of New York

Children's classes at the Metropolitan Museum are traditionally very popular with families living in the Upper East Side and Upper West Side areas. And this is despite the fact that visiting only one and a half hour lesson can cost you $200-300 per person, and a six-month subscription costs several thousand, depending on the specific program and the age of the child. But everything is not so scary: the museum has scholarships that you can get by filling out application form. It is important to know that a scholarship may not cover the full cost of education.

One of the most interesting programs is world mythology in the museum for schoolchildren aged 6-8 years. Children are not only told about the myths and legends of different peoples, but also shown exhibits related to them, explained how mythological stories continued to live in art for many centuries, and then are invited to create their own interpretations of these stories using a variety of artistic materials.

For older children there is an in-depth course dedicated to antiquity. Finally, the museum has a drawing club, but it is not at all like an ordinary art school - children draw right in the halls of the museum, drawing inspiration from its collections.

All these activities require a good understanding of English, so that for children who have not yet overcome the language barrier, they will not work.

Another thing parents should definitely know about the Metropolitan Museum of Art is that it hosts classical and contemporary music concerts both weekdays and weekends. The cost of an adult ticket is usually only $65-75 - not much for New York, and with each such ticket you can purchase up to 3 children just $ 1. Practically free attendance at concerts is available for children older than 7, but strictly accompanied by adults.

Cooking courses in all areas

Another way to introduce your child to different cultures is to enroll him in a culinary school or at least take him to a cooking master class. No one promises that after such an event, your 1-year-old son will bring you a home-cooked breakfast in bed (or at least cook breakfast for himself), but interest in food and its preparation is guaranteed. Child psychologists recommend attending such classes for preschoolers who are overly picky about food and have a poor appetite - how can you not try something that you yourself have prepared, especially under the guidance of a real chef. Even in the process of cooking, creative thinking is stimulated, fine motor skills are improved, the senses are trained - all this is important not only for kids.

Along the way, children will learn that people use different foods in different countries, healthy and unhealthy food can be found, that just a pinch of seasoning can change the smell and taste of the contents of the whole pan ... Culinary classes are usually designed for children older than 4 years, although difficult master classes may allow with 6-8 or even 10 years.

Some classes welcome or even require the participation of parents, and this is a great way not only to spend time together, but also to lay the foundation for an excellent hobby for the whole family for several years to come.

Cooking schools for children have become widespread in recent years and are now found in almost every area of ​​New York City. It’s also worth checking if there are one-time master classes in nearby restaurants and cafes - sometimes you can come to them for free, you just need to book a place.

Discover the secrets of nature in Queens

In 2005, writer and journalist Richard Lowe published a book “The last child in the forest”, instantly became a bestseller. This book reminds parents of a seemingly obvious fact: for normal development and a stable psychological state, children should definitely spend time in the fresh air, and not in the playground with metal ladders and a safe rubber coating, but in nature.

The child needs bushes, holes, tree houses, bugs, stumps - everything that is missing on city streets. In this regard, parents from Queens were incredibly lucky. Why from Queens? Because from other parts of New York it is inconvenient to get to Alley Pond Park, where there is a children's wildlife center called Alley Pond Environmental Center.

For kids 5-8 years in Ellie Pond there is an evening program Junior Nature, the cost of participation in which is from $228 to $276 for 12 lessons for 3 months. Primary school students are told about plants, animals, objects of inanimate nature, about physical laws.

But the program is not limited to experiments, crafts and games: the center is home to rabbits, turtles, snakes, birds and even hedgehogs that are exotic to North America. And if it’s not completely cold outside and not hopelessly damp, the children are taken for walks along the park’s trails. The main disadvantage of classes in the center is that there are too few places; Junior Nature can only attend 16 children. Getting into one-time classes is a little easier.

See also:

How many children can sit at the TV or computer screen: pediatricians recommendations

How in New York to arrange a child for free in the Pre-K

In New York, found a new way to help families with children

From the first person. How does American parenting differ from ours?

How Phelps and Biles: How much does Olympic champion education cost?

“Digital” children: what parents should learn

6 advice from scientists how to raise a child a good person

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