Should My Child Be Taking Classes During Covid-19

  Many studios and gyms across our nation have been working hard at developing new systems of class delivery and health protocols during this time of COVID-19. Some have been forced to be "locked down", and others have been working with area health officials, their insurance provider and their faculty and staff to continue to deliver their services to their area families. It has been a time of high stress, uncertainty and fear.

  But through it all, this is what we know. Children are not made to be locked down, They are a creature of constant movement, giggles and fun. Movement is their release for stress. Movement helps them to think and even work better in school. The one thing that should not be taken away, for any reason, is movement classes. Especially movement classes that actually teaches self confidence and resilience. Stopping these type of classes is like asking the person to stop breathing.

It is very important to a child to be in their movement classes right now. It is where they make and maintain friends that have a similar interest in having fun. It is where the music brings a playful mood or feeling. It is where the real world dissolves and the magical world, that all children want and need as a mental escape, appears. 

Movement classes offer so much for a child's growth and self esteem, that many movement instructors believe that it is vital to to all children's mental, physical and emotional health during the COVID-19 pandemic. And we believe that fully as well here at Academy of Fine Arts. It is why we are still offering classes and lessons, either virtually or in person.

Movement classes, music lessons and art classes have all been found to be beneficial to our well being as humans. It is why a brisk walk can lift your spirits and help with stress. It is why when you listen to calming music, you no longer are anxious. It is while painting a landscape , you may find yourself smiling. 

Instead of classes and lessons being thought of as an extra expense during a frightening pandemic, these may actually be the just right prescription to a healthier immune system. Classes and lessons can also be a happy distraction from every frightening moment due to COVID-19 and such great chaos and unrest in the world. 

There are many options for classes and lessons right now, from a free class on Facebook, to Zoom classrooms, in person small group classes and even private lessons. After 12 months of fear and uncertainty, it just may be the right time to research for a location that has 

1) health protocols in place, 

2)options for virtual or in person,

 3) private or small group classes, or 

4) an occasional free virtual class in your area.

Mary Myers is the Owner/Director of Academy of Fine Arts of Woodward OK

 

Did Walmart Kill The Power Of The Sticker?

 Teachers and parents throughout  more than a few generations have used stickers to reward children for good behavior or good work on their school papers. But, have you found lately that children are less than interested in stickers lately? That the "sticker" seems to of lost it's special super powers?

 Some could say that stickers are not as rewarding today as they were before the internet age. Others might add that children are overindulged these days, and a paper sticker does not match up to being given a cell phone. And there is probably some  truth in both statements.

 But can looking at all details and a trip to Walmart reveal a new answer all together! Remember the Walmart Greeters at the doors? Does your Walmart still offer that smiling, older adult image to greet you and your children?  If so, watch the greeter and see if you can see what we  have encountered here.

The greeters are very nice and sweet. Older adults that are just trying to supplement their monthly funds or wanting to be out among people. They say "Hello, welcome to Walmart." They make you smile and then it happens...….. out come the yellow smiley face stickers, and they are offering them to your children or grandchildren.

A gesture that seems harmless, they smile at your child and the child smiles back at them. You remind your child to say "Thank you" to be polite. Your child continues through the store with you, smiling with their bright yellow sticker. All is well. Or is it...….

A couple of years ago, I was putting tiny smiley face stickers on turned out little feet in ballet class. They were smiling and showing their first position in ballet class. If it was great effort (not looking for perfection due to the age group), I place a smile sticker on one of their shoes. The left shoe to be correct, because we were working on which was left and which was right.

Stopping in front of a student that was not making an effort, I encouraged her to give it a try so that I could give her a smiling sticker. Her blonde head and blue eyes looked up at me and she said, "That's okay. We are going to Walmart after class and they give you a sticker for just showing up!"  Hmmmmm, time to rethink about stickers to encourage work in class or to reward effort.

Offering stickers to our students has been a challenge in recent years, which means we have had to find "work arounds" to become creative, using layering strategies to help the children want to complete class or an assignment in great fashion. After some trial and effort, a new system was designed, and you guessed it! The system includes stickers!!

A couple of systems have been tried in the last couple of years, with some to little success. So we continued to work on the system to make it more fun, while still directing young children towards greater success in class. A new system will begin in October of this year and more details will be emailed out to parents, so that they can encourage their child to continue completing their class and work in high fashion.

Students are still encouraged to work hard in class and on certain movements or elements in class. Stickers are given out for effort, participation, completion in class (did not ask to sit down or refused top participate), knowledge of skill (recall from other lessons/classes), attention to proper behavior in class, leadership and camaraderie. Musicians are also awarded stickers for returning their practice forms , fully filled out and signed by a parent.

Once a student is able to fill their form with stickers, they are rewarded by spinning a wheel for a prize. Prizes can be a trip to the treasure box to select their own prize, candy, a t-shirt, gym bags and more! Prizes will change every six to eight weeks to keep the interest fresh. At the end of the season, during the recital a drawing will be held of all of the students that were able to spin the wheel. One grand prize will be awarded.

So, back to the question, "Did Walmart kill the power of the stickers?" Did they? There are no greeters at most Walmart stores these days to observe and test the idea that this was part of the demise of the power of stickers we used in classes. It does appear that stickers lost their magic in our classes. Was it because of the big yellow stickers with happy faces? Or was it because the greeters were so nice, they did not dare ask the kids "Did you do well in school today?" or "Have you been good for mom today?" before offering the sticker. Life  just became too easy to get that big yellow sticker. Why work for it when it can be given to you.

So, Walmart may of had something to do about the demise of the power of offering a sticker to our students, or maybe not. But for sure the little student telling me it was okay she did not earn a sticker in class, because she could get one at Walmart with no effort  may just be the worst thing in her lifetime. Work ethics are learned early. So if you still have greeters at your local Walmart, help them out with a run down of questions before the sticker is handed to your child.
Have you used your manners today?
Have you been a friend to someone today?
Have you did your best today?
Did you complete your chores?
Did you complete your homework?
Have you read a book today?
Have you worked hard today?

It does not hurt them to work for the sticker. It makes them stronger for the future.


Mary Myers is the owner/ Director of Academy of Fine Arts located in Woodward OK

Now Registering For Fall Classes!

Fall Registration Now Available in All Programs

Fall registration is in full swing this month. Fall session begins September 6th for all ages. Register online 24/7 or in person Monday -Thursday 9:00am- 4pm. Calls are accepted on Fridays and the weekend. Please call 580-256-3262 and allow the phone to ring long enough to catch up to our cell phone. Leave a message and we will call you back. Yes even on the weekend!