BENEFITS: Kindermusik participant Katherine Elsworth with her year-old son Flynn.
BENEFITS: Kindermusik participant Katherine Elsworth with her year-old son Flynn. Nev Madsen

Teacher takes her Kindermusik skills to USA

IT WAS just supposed to be a bit of fun; some time out of the house for one-year-old Flynn Elsworth to connect with music at an early age.

However each week, Centenary Heights mum Katherine Elsworth learns more and more about the groundbreaking benefits of Kindermusik.

Kindermusik is a method of early childhood education and one of the most widely recognised music and movement programs for young children.

The method is not new to Toowoomba but the city is home to one of the most educated Kindermusik teachers in Australia and possibly the world - Diana Acheson.

Flynn attends Ms Acheson's classes at Kids Discover at the Choral Society complex.

Now Ms Elsworth wants to share with the whole world Ms Acheson's ability and the benefits of Kinderemusik.

As an instrumental teacher herself, Ms Elsworth always knew the importance of music but never realised how much could be absorbed at such an early age.

"When we joined we thought it was a bit of music and a bit of fun and then you just sort of find out more about it and realise what the kids are getting and you go 'I wish I found it earlier'," Ms Elsworth said.

"I have a five-year-old as well and he hasn't had any Kindermusik and I go home and talk about it and he keeps hassling me, going 'when can I come?'," Ms Elsworth said.

She has noticed improvements in Flynn socially but particularly physiologically.

"He's trying to jump and do different things that I never saw with my older boy," she said.

"They pick up on so much and he dances around at home. I can't stop him twirling around in circles."

Kindermusik director Diana Acheson . Thursday July 28 , 2016.
Kindermusik director Diana Acheson . Thursday July 28 , 2016. Nev Madsen

Ms Acheson has been a Kindermusik teacher for 19 years.

She hosts several different classes for prewalkers (1-12 months), walkers (1-2 years) and toddlers (2-3 years).

The children do a range of things from sing, dance, twirl, to learn appropriate social behaviour in a supportive and loving setting.

Ms Acheson has just returned from Hawaii where she conducted professional development for early childhood professionals and teachers.

She is the only person in Australia to be presented with a Maestro in Outreach award and there are only 10 given worldwide. She also trains Kindermusik instructors in the North Carolina headquarters.

Now Ms Acheson wants to extend her knowledge to the wider community of Toowoomba.

"I host seminars for professionals but parents want them too so I'm starting them in Toowoomba for people here too," Ms Acheson said.

"They are more about child development and teaching parents how their children learn and why it is so important and what they can do at home too to assist that learning."

To find out about upcoming seminars, click kidsdiscover.net or search Kids Discover on Facebook.


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