Rutgers Presbyterian Church Announces Openings in Fall Programs for Children and Parents
New York, NY (PRWEB) October 07, 2014 -- Rutgers Presbyterian Church, located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, announces openings in fall programs for both children and parents, including playgroups for babies, toddlers and preschoolers, art and dance classes for children seven and under, and free parenting workshops.
For more than 20 years, Rutgers Community Programs (RCP) has been a place for families to grow together, offering a relaxed, fun environment where children can play, create, express themselves and explore, and parents can find friendship and resources to guide them through all stages of parenthood.
Rutgers Community Programs has availability in the following children’s programs:
Toddlerplay
Wednesdays, 9:30 – 11 a.m. through January 14 (Ages 18-30 months)
Toddlerplay offers families the opportunity to enjoy playing together in a fun-filled environment outside of the home (no nannies or babysitters attend, but parents and grandparents are welcome). Each 90-minute session includes circle time; art; active play in an “indoor playground” with balls, hoops, a slide, a trampoline and plastic cars; story time and more. Playgroup leaders are parents who have attended the playgroups with their children and are happy to exchange parenting stories, offer encouragement and play alongside the kids. Pricing varies based on start date.
Babyplay
Thursdays, 9:30 – 11 a.m. through January 15 (Ages 12-24 months)
Similar to Toddlerplay, but for a younger set, this unique group offers families the opportunity to enjoy playing together in a fun-filled environment outside of the home. Each 90-minute session includes circle time; art; active play in an “indoor playground” with balls, hoops, a slide, a trampoline and plastic cars; story time and more. Pricing varies based on start date.
On My Own Preschooler Playgroup
Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. through January 14 (Ages 2-3)
Young preschoolers get a gentle transition to drop-off in RCP’s nurturing On My Own playgroups. Instructors work with children based on their readiness and needs, with the ultimate goal of enabling children to feel comfortable and confident on their own. These playgroups combine adult-directed activities with child-led imaginative play. RCP offers hands-on activities for children to explore at their own pace, as well as circle time, art projects, stories, water play and active play. This program helps children learn important social skills: using words to express their feelings or needs, taking turns and more. Families are welcome to enroll their children once, twice or three times a week and register for one semester at a time. Each session is two hours long. Families provide a snack/lunch. Three adults lead these sessions. Pricing varies based on start date.
Art Play
Thursdays, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. through January 15 (Ages 3.5 – 5)
Children will learn basic art techniques, including how to mix colors, make a rainbow, do printmaking, create fashion jewelry and work with clay, wood, mosaics and more. Projects in this class connect with favorite art books written specifically for children, encouraging participants to talk about art as well as make it. Children are also given time to explore with materials of their own choosing. Pricing varies based on start date.
Ballet/Tap
Tuesdays, 4 – 5:30 p.m. through January 13 (Ages 4-7)
Young dancers will learn the fundamentals of ballet and tap in an atmosphere of warmth and support. This class offers a great beginning for children who are taking dance for the first time, encouraging their creative self-expression while providing a strong grounding in basic technique. Appropriate dance attire recommended and tap shoes required. Pricing varies based on start date.
Handprints
Mondays and Tuesdays, 10:15 and 11:15 a.m.; Wednesdays, 9:15 and 10:15 a.m.; Thursdays, 11:15 a.m. (Ages 1-4 with adult)
Handprints is a child-centered art program where the youngest artists are free to explore and be creative. Children enjoy the stations of RCP’s art studio at their own pace: play dough, easel painting and a special project each week that is set up at a large communal table. This program offers a safe and joyful space for young children to express themselves, where the process of creating matters, not the final product. Pricing varies based on start date.
Pricing for RCP children’s programs varies, based on one’s start date. Rutgers Community Programs offers sibling discounts of 10% off the price for a second child’s enrollment.
In addition to classes and programs for children, Rutgers Community Programs offer parents community, advice and support through various workshops and discussion groups, including:
Let’s Talk Toddler
Tuesdays, October 14, November 18, December 9 and January 6
RCP staff member and educator Anna Mudrick, M.Ed. will lead this monthly discussion group where parents are invited to support each other, ask questions and share advice about the joys and challenges of raising a toddler in a safe, confidential space. Mudrick brings her professional expertise in child development, as well as her personal perspectives as a parent of a toddler to her role as facilitator for these discussions. Full price for all four Let’s Talk Toddler sessions is $80 and $60 for families enrolled in another class. Prices can be prorated based on one’s start date.
Rutgers Community Programs is pleased to offer the following free parenting workshops:
Am I a Good Enough Mother?
Monday, October 6, 6-7:30 p.m.
Psychologist Michelle Canarick, Ph.D., will facilitate this conversation about issues that new mothers often struggle with: “Am I putting the baby to sleep the right way? Breast or bottle? Should I go back to work or stay home? Other moms can handle this—why can’t I?” Canarick will provide a safe space for mothers to talk freely about their concerns and receive support, while offering practical solutions without judgment.
Your 3-Year-Old: What to Expect
Monday, October 20, 6-7:30pm
Parents will understand all they need to know about their charming and challenging 3-year-olds. Learn what to expect from them socially, physically, cognitively and emotionally. Anna Mudrick will lead this discussion, and invite parents to contribute their ideas, ask questions and provide support to their fellow parents.
Your 4-Year-old: What to Expect
Monday, November 3, 6-7:30pm
Anna Mudrick will lead this free workshop for parents of 4-year-olds, to learn what they are experiencing as they grow from being a toddler. Mudrick will invite parents to contribute their ideas, ask questions and provide support to their fellow parents.
For more information or to register for any of the programs listed above, contact Jennifer Moore at 212-877-8227, x212 or at jmoore(at)rutgerschurch(dot)org.
About Rutgers Presbyterian Church
A warm, welcoming and highly progressive community that embodies the inclusion and diversity of New York City, Rutgers Presbyterian Church is dedicated to making peace and social justice a reality for all people through thought-provoking sermons, extraordinary music, exciting community programs and numerous opportunities to help others in need. Founded in 1798, Rutgers Presbyterian Church is located at 236 West 73rd Street between Broadway and West End Avenue in Manhattan. Sunday services are held at 11 a.m. For more information, visit http://www.rutgerschurch.org.
Brittnie Mabry, Phil and Company, http://philandcompany.com, +1 (646) 490-6446, [email protected]
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