Check out Nurture’s latest Blog Feature on Rebecca Kanov
Nurturelings, cared for by Arts & Minds is launching a comprehensive pre and postnatal wellness program.
To read more. Click HERE
JILL LOFTUS, founder of Honest OT, is available by appointment in Nurturelings’, onsite at Nurture.
She is the actual bomb… and we are so grateful for her services and support.
Why should your child receive Occupational Therapy?
Your child is not meeting his/her milestones, like crawling, walking, or talking.
Your child needs support with handwriting and hand development.
Your child is sensitive to touch, sounds, food textures, movement, and decreased body awareness.
To book a consult with Jill, and set up an appointment, email her: jill@honestot.com or text her: 646-483-8719
Friends,
I am writing to you after one week of our whole world changing. With that, my kids are no longer at school. My fitness community is now all on line. We are connecting with each other virtually more so than ever. Trips have been cancelled, my hair is a touch grayer, and we are all afraid of the grocery store - which is the only thing open.
I’ve been asked for years if I “homeschool” my kids. Seriously, it’s been one of the most common questions on airplanes for me.
Now, I can say, “Yes.” Except my children haven’t really done much school. We have basically been just getting through the day.
“Survival mode,” has taken on a whole new meaning for us. Our community is stressed, and boundaries and roles are shifting rapidly.
Normally, I hustle. I jump into action, I do. But this has been a hard one.
Arts & Minds’ Staff is here for you.
Childcare is closed…for now. No school…for now…. No enrichments….for now. No camps….for now. BUT, we have curriculum for you, while you are at home.
This is what you get
A TON OF MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
INCLUDING…
Awesome virtual Arts & Minds Classes taught by your favorite counselors and enrichment teachers.
Introducing two guest teachers, Nora Rachelson and Annie Hatter.
Daily creative activities to support you and your littles.
Fantastic content on beanstalk.co , where i contribute weekly. Beanstalk’s interactive live and on demand classes are offered for FREE now. These are NOT to miss.
Parenting support group with me, daily. Conveniently timed, if you would like to join with your favorite “end of the day” cocktail.
Stay sane tips from a few of my friends, including Arts & Minds’ curated boxes for Ju Ju Be Gone.
Fitness classes with my crew at Hot Mamas Exercise.
Use this list as needed. Refer often. It will be updated weekly. To receive list venmo @rebecca-Kanov $25 with the message “HOOK ME UP”
Wendy Kelly and I have a training for adults, who want to implement Arts & Minds techniques and curriculum. Supervision is available, and suggested following the initial 3 hour training.
The training is virtual, obviously.
$250
To register:
Email: info@artsandmindskids.com
2020 is a Leap Year, if y’all didn’t know.
I had the honor of interviewing one of our Junior Counselors, who happens to have her birthday on FEBRUARY 29TH!
Please meet Josie Koupal….
She is really turning 12 on this special day. It was so fun hearing how she celebrates her birthday every year. Its for sure memorable!
11-12 is the perfect age to be a Junior Counselor with Arts & Minds. If your preteen is interested in working with us this summer, send them my way… We usually have 3-5 Jr. Counselors in the mix over the summer.
All the info is HERE
WATCH OUR INTERVIEW and wish JOSIE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Starting this November, I am launching Arts & Minds’ latest Give Back Partnership with my dear friend, Coleen Sanders. Coleen is a real estate agent for Liv Sotheby’s - and is planting 100 Colorado trees in her client’s name for every house she sells.
Watch our video interview for more information our collective goal for our community.
I asked Coleen, Why trees?
“Trees clean the air we breathe and the water we drink. They contribute to a stable climate and overall health, and support wildlife and biodiversity. Trees also create beautiful landscaping for our environment and community. It estimated the average home takes 44+ trees to build.
I am excited to implement this initiative with my real estate business. This is a small way we can give back together. If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, or have a friend or family referral, I would love to help.”
Help us raise $4000 to host two tree planting events in Denver.
At all Arts & Minds events and locations, there will be an opportunity to give directly to One Tree Planted.
Give Today, and help us plant trees in Denver.
I am surrounded by special angels…some are near, and some are far. Some I have known for months, and some for many years. This delightful angel, I have known for 20+ years. Lacy is a rock star mama, business women now living in Western OZ. Her husband, Gordon and babies Hamish and Ruby - circle her with love and light.
Lacy’s give back to us - is her grounding presence, and wisdom.
When she was 16, younger than me at the time… I asked her for advice, and relied on her truth as guidance. Her mediation practice is that of a working mama of two littles…
Anything is possible. No judgment, no pressure.
Just the question.
How do you give to others? Do you give from your own reserve. What is your recharge?
💓Happy International Self Care Day💓
Love, Lacy Gow
My favourite daily method of self care is meditation given I am a former ‘action obsessed’ addict ✅ turned loving living present mama🧘♀️
Here are my top tips for starting a consistent practice:
➕Commit: on average it takes 66 days to create a habit so choose a schedule you can stick with even if it is 10 minutes a day for 5 days a week. I commit to 40+ minutes, 5 days a week.
➕Get comfy: find a position you can be in comfortably for the entire duration. I like lying in my bed with my heated blanket on but some people like kneeling, sitting cross legged, in a chair - whatever feels good for your body.
➕Focus on your breathing: I do a deep breath in for a count of 7 trying to expand my rib cage and push the air to the back of my lungs and then a deep breath out for another count of 7 trying to get all that air out from deep within contracting my rib cage. You may find a count of 7 a bit of a struggle at first, so find a count that feels comfortable and sustainable.
I focus on breathing in white healing energy through the chakra at the crown of my head and breathing out energy which no longer serves me through my throat chakra into an imaginary blue flame. Some people just count, focus on words like breath in love, breath out peace. Experiment and find what feels comfortable.
➕Silence v Noise: I sit in silence (or white noise if I have the baby monitor on) but some people enjoy listening to something (especially if you can’t find a quiet space). You can download Spotify for free and experiment with guided meditations/affirmations (I like Jess Shepherd), abundance music (I like Steve Halpern) or motivational speeches (I like fearless soul). Again, experiment to find what feels good.
➕Light v Dark: I like a naturally light room with the sun shining through as it helps with my visualisation of the healing light and makes me happy, but you may enjoy a dim or dark room. Some people even put an eye pillow over their eyes - again, I recommend experimenting until you find what feels best for you.
Then set your timer, get comfy, start your breathing and noise (if applicable).
Connect your pointer finger to thumb on your hands during the practice and when breathing in, keep your mouth closed and tongue on the roof of your mouth. When you breath out, open your mouth. I like to breath like I’m steaming a window.
As your thoughts start running away with you (as they do for everyone, all the time!) and you catch yourself off on a tangent, bring yourself (non-judgmentally) back to your breath.
Some days I find focusing easy and refreshing; other days it is a huge challenge and full on. Remember, this is an opportunity to bring us to the present and may not feel that relaxing some days! It is hard but extremely rewarding work❤️
About me: I am a life loving mama on a mission to bring more happiness and love into this world. I have two little people, Hamish (2y 9mo) and Ruby (9 mo), a fur baby Zeus and my partner in crime, Gordon. If your interested in learning more about my self care journey or just see what we are up to living on the other side of the globe in Perth, Australia, follow me on Instagram @lacykategow. Sending my love to you all and good luck with your meditation journey 💓
This May, we are thrilled to support Book Mark Buddies for our May Give Back Project.. Check out our video convo with our dear friends and founders Heather and Lanie Feig.
Book Mark Buddies mission is to empower children to see that they can make a difference at any age. Children decorate bookmarks to be sold for charity.
This May, all of our children will be creating and selling book marks. All book marks will be sold for $1, and donations accepted.
To make a donation to Book Mark Buddies, please Venmo @Rebecca-Kanov and put in the subject #welovebookmarkbuddies
We will have pop up events throughout the city this month, run by our team of Jr. Counselors and teen supporters! Stay tuned to Instagram for these events…
I am so excited to partner with Jill Loftus, - MS, OTR/Registered Occupational Therapistwww.honestot.com for a week of Summer Camp for kids ages 3 - 6. Thank you, Jill, for kicking off our Spring Blog Series with this post!
Out of the Toy Box and Back to the Basics
Parents are always looking for what’s new and exciting in the world of toys. But sometimes the latest and greatest is not always the best. What if there was a class that provided your kids with simple, easy to find and cheap toys and tools that would promote their developmental skills.
As a pediatric occupational therapist, I hear parents saying:
“My child holds his pencil like an octopus”
“My son just wants to play video games or be on his IPAD”
“My daughter has a difficult time creating simple craft projects”
“It seems like my child has two left feet”
Well, guess what?! The camp that Rebecca Kanov and I have created can solve this and many other questions and concerns parents are having regarding their children. We want to bring kids back to basics to build their foundational developmental skills!
Out of the Toy Box is a week-long camp that will allow children to develop creative thinking, gross motor, fine motor, sensory and social skills through play with everyday materials. We are using items, primarily from the dollar store that can create “box of fun” for every child.
For example, how many different activities can you create with a jump rope?
1. Walk across it
2. Jump over it, jump over it on the floor, tie it to chair legs and jump over an elevated level
3. Hang clothespins from it
4. Teach shoe tying with it
5. Make letters, numbers and shapes with it
Each day will promote a different developmental area including gross motor skills, fine motor development, eye hand coordination, sensory development, social skills and more! By the end of the week, your child will have a box filled with ideas for play! We are also including activity cards that show you 5 or more ways to use each item.
Where to find us this Summer……
Kidsense Pediatric Studio
June 17 - June 21: 12:30 - 2:30
$200/week
TO Book:
https://fareharbor.com/artsandmindskids/items/70504/
Sumer is upon us, y’all.
In Summer Camp world, it starts January 1st…. for reals. This is a little intense in my opinion, and really stressful to manage.
We, parents, experience the pressure of booking our kids activities WAY in advance, with the innate fear of having to entertain our children for consistent daylight hours.
Will our kids have a full experience? Will they remember how to read, or dress themselves come August? What will I do with my kids when I have to work, shower, grocery shop, or breathe? We go from zero to 60 in a blink. It’s all too much for me. And, I say that as someone who would rather my kids be with my all day, rather than at school.
Even when they are ungrateful monsters.
Summer for us = freedom. I love late nights, pool dinners, no plans. So this year, Arts & Minds is changing its tune.
We have DROP IN half and full day camps every day.
There is always movement. We will always do a creative arts project. We will always give.
This Summer, I am partnering with wonderful organizations in Denver: Hot Mamas Exercise - our daily partners and leaders of women’s fitness in Denver.
The Kid Conscious Project, Compost Colorado, Honest OT, Wendy Kelly Our neighbors Smith & Cannon, and Bumble Tea. Together, we are offering incredible programming for our children.
Through our partnerships we are connecting our littlest members of our community on an intentional level. And, to give your family holistic, creative offerings of support.
Coming UP this Spring and Summer
Professional training program with Wendy Kelly. April 8th 10:00 - 2:00. For more information and to register - email me: info@artsandmindskids.com
A Summer monthly workshop in partnership with The KidConscious Project. We are giving a portion of our proceeds to the Denver Children’s Home. Registration details coming soon.
One week of camp with Honest OT at their Lowry location. Details to follow.
Continued professional and parent support and education via my SOL Channel.
Summer Camp Registration for our Graland and Church in the City locations, can be found here.
And, of course Hot Mamas Exercise Childcare.
There are a ton of ways to get involved, and nothing has to be full time.
My goal through Arts & Minds is to give our children the platform to change the world.
Let’s make some magic this Summer.
Arts & Minds has a spot.
A good SPOT. We are so lucky to partner with the fitness queens of Hot Mamas Exercise, and the Denver landmark Church In the City Beth Abraham. Hot Mamas Exercise relocated to Colfax Ave, and their hot new space is rockin’. Church in the City has shared their community and unlimited space so we can create with your kids.
Where is our Childcare spot located? INSIDE Church in the City. Park in their lot, and walk around to be buzzed into their main entrance on 16th and York. After you drop off your cuties, walk one block across Colfax directly into Hot Mamas Exercise’s doors.
What we are doing? Offering a meaningful childcare experience for kids of all ages during Hot Mamas’ morning classes.
Meaningful Childcare = Movement and Creative Arts with your littlest ones.
You can register from one hour up to three. During the 8:30 and 10:30 hours, Arts & Minds Staff will lead a yoga or dance class, have story time, and engage in a developmentally appropriate art activity.
Oh yea, you can also purchase snacks each day. Just let us know when you drop off your kids.
At 9:30 daily, we will have an Arts & Minds class. YOGA, ART, DRAMA, COMMUNITY PROJECTS. Keep your eyes wide for opportunities for your kids to Give Back to our community partners.
What about the babies? Your baby engage in a fulfilling sensory experience… sensory play, socialization, music, and massage time.
Do you have to work out? Well, you should cause these classes are awesome. Register for 1 or 2 classes (I’ll see you there most mornings), run an errand, grab coffee, or shop in Teddi B’s.
How do you register for childcare? https://hotmamasexercise.com/sign-up-for-class/
Stay tuned… November, we are launching After-School Classes, Camps during school breaks, and our packages.
Questions? Email me. Text me. Call me. Message me.
My staff and I can’t wait to see what your kids create!!!!
xoxo Rebecca
646.369.6077 / info@artsandmindskids.com