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New Drop-in Drama and Creative Musical fun for 2 and a half up to 6 years of age! New Saturday Morning Sessions!

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"Jacqu'in the Box"

Fun musical sessions for babies and toddlers from 0 to 4 years

"Jacqu'in the Box" has now been successfully established since July 1999.

Jacqui...

My name is Jacqui Tomlin and I have three children of my own- George, who is 13, Robert who is 11, and Henry who is 9. I was first introduced to music classes for children when George was 18 months old and decided to put his name down for a group whereby the fees were paid for the whole term in advance and the classes ended for the school holidays. I found it quite hard to find the money in a big lump sum to pay for these classes, having given up my full time job as an Air-hostess with Britannia Airways. Also George was still not in a set routine. On some days he would sleep mid morning and some days mid afternoon. I certainly did not feel like interrupting any of his sleep periods as these afforded me the luxury of time to sit back and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, or a chance to tidy up the mayhem in my house!

George attended these classes for one term only. Even though I could tell that he loved the music and the chance to play instruments, he was far too young to grasp the concept of sitting still and listening to the teacher and consequently I would sit and get agitated and embarrassed if George wanted to get up and wander about. I was quite an over protective mother at that time, as when George was just 17 months old I went in to labour at 36 weeks with his brother, but by some cruel act of nature the placenta detached whilst Harry was still inside and after he had been delivered by emergency caesarean he only survived for 48 minutes.

Somehow this made George even more special than I already knew that he was and I was determined that any groups that I took him to would first and fore-mostly be a tremendous amount of fun. This is what “Jacqu'in theBox music” sessions are all about.

So what is “Jacqu'in the Box”?

“Jacqu'in the Box” sessions last for 45 action packed minutes. Colourful props and puppets come out of my boxes each week to accompany all the action songs and rhymes and enhance the children’s perception of sound and rhythm. We then play a wide variety of percussion instruments and dance and sing along to a selection of carefully chosen tunes.

These sessions are very relaxed and are all about children having fun and expressing themselves in their own little ways. I am purely there to guide them and if they wish to get up and explore, dance, chat to me or wander around in their own little worlds then that is fine with me and I really do not want you as parents or carers to feel obliged to make them sit and pay rigid attention.

As the weeks go by they all take it in turns to join in, wander about, create mayhem, refuse to dance etc the list goes on.

It always amazes me that the child that everyone thinks pays the least attention has actually absorbed such a lot and whilst one week they may fiddle incessantly with an emergency exit, the next week they know all the actions to one of the songs from the previous week. All children are different and all unique, but each have the same basic instincts and behavioural patterns and from my experience I think that it is fair to say that each child will have its good days and its bad days and as time goes on the most angelic child will become the most infuriating demon. Wait until you have met all of mine!

So don't sit and quietly sweat when it is your child’s turn to run amok, for we are all parents and we all understand that at any time it could be our 'little treasure' who makes his presence felt. After all, to listen, to observe and react is what we are asking of them.

As long as they remain safe, and do not cause other children harm then wandering around the room is all part of their learning process and I certainly do not mind.

The children are, of course inadvertently learning a lot of new skills and growing in confidence. It is a great pleasure to meet and get to know your children. They are pure innocence and utter delight at the same time as being extremely fickle and hell bent on doing the opposite of what is required!

The very small "Jacqu'in the Box" recruits avidly watch and mimic the older children and their capacity to absorb their surroundings is amazing.

Often the new babies of the older children who already attend have been hearing the noise and the music from inside the womb and it is very rare occurrence that a small baby will cry at the sound of the instruments being played even though it can be quiet deafening!

Also the older children benefit greatly from shared experiences with their younger brothers or sisters.

Anyway, what I really wanted to convey is that these musical sessions are an opportunity for you and your children to have fun, make a noise, dance, feel the rhythm and generally relax together.

For all of us with busy, hectic schedules, working or juggling several children and other commitments, these classes are designed to be very flexible to suit everyone so you may come along to any of the classes on a drop-in basis and swap around according to your changing routines. There is no need to book and therefore you will not lose out if unable to come one week.

Obviously the size of the groups does vary and I can never be sure of exact numbers, however it is unusual to expect more than 30 children at once.

New recruits are always welcome and you may come along to any of the classes listed on the next page that suit you and may change from one venue to another according to your weekly plans.

During School holidays some of the sessions will still be taking place and older siblings who will join in constructively are welcome to join in too! As the sessions are run as drop-in classes it sometimes proves difficult to let people know if a session has to be cancelled for some reason.

The answer machine will be updated daily if any of the sessions have to be cancelled please ring 01296 422660/ 01296 589335 or Jacqui’s mobile 07948371615

All new recruits and those who have been coming to “Jacqu’in the Box” but who have not filled in a registration form must now register to join my new database of customers in order to keep in line with insurance regulations by paying a one off fee of £10.00 per family once you have decided that you want to come regularly. In return you will be given one child’s “Jacqu’in the Box” T shirt and one “Jacqu’in the Box” teddy bear per family and then you may drop-in to any of the weekly sessions as normal and pay on the day the drop-in price of £3.50 per child under 12 months and £4.50 per child over 12 months. £7.50 for two siblings and £10.50 for three siblings. (These rates also apply for registered childminders)

New and now up and running:

Drop-in Drama and Musical Fun sessions for 2 and a half to five years of age.

Hour long sessions to include weekly themed stories and role play with songs and music from popular to classical and from theatre and film.

Dancing and musical movement, Instruments, puppets, props and number and letter rhymes.

Terrific fun! Great confidence building!

Sessions will run from 3.30pm to 4.30pm

£5.00 per child and £8.50 for two siblings payable weekly

Parents/carers stay with refreshments.(separate area of hall for parents to stay with younger babies while class is in progress)

Please call or email to register for these sessions and get on the waiting list.

Monday 3.30pm to 4.30pm in Croxley Green at The Community Centre, off Barton Way

Tuesdays 3.40pm to 4.40pm in Downley, High Wycombe at St. James’ Church Hall.

Thursdays 3.30pm to 4.30pm in Amersham at Amersham Free Church, Amersham-on-the-hill

Saturdays 10.45am to 11.45am at The Red Cross Centre, Faversham Close, Tring

Must pre- book your place now for the Drama and music please call Jacqui on 01296 589335 or 07948371615 email: jacquitomlin@aol.com