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Small World Announcements
Small World announces Mandarin Immersion
& Music Programs for young children
Programs are the first in the Lamorinda area and address a strong desire
from local parents
Small World of Lafayette offers Mandarin Immersion and Music
programs to 1-5 year olds in Lamorinda and surrounding areas. Lynley Sides,
mother of an adopted Chinese girl, has founded the program in conjunction
with experienced advisors and teachers Phoebe Chen and her sister Amy
Kao.
"We have searched for a way to keep our daughter exposed to Mandarin and
the Chinese culture but the options we have found have either required
a long drive, mandated 5 day-per-week attendance or lacked a warm, energetic
feel" said the mother of an adopted Chinese child. "Small World's location
and mission to offer Mandarin in a flexible, friendly format are very
exciting to us."
Classes include 45-minute "Parent & Me" Mandarin Music and Story Time
classes for 1-2 year olds, 1-hour Mandarin Immersion classes for 3-5 year
olds, and 3-hour Mandarin Immersion classes 2 mornings each week for 3-5
year olds. Through typical preschool activities such as stories, singing,
musical instruments, arts and crafts, circle time discussions, and play,
conducted 90%+ in Mandarin, children learn first to comprehend and second
to speak the language. Through participation in traditional Chinese activities
such as morning exercise, poetry, games, holidays and cooking, the children
will grow up with some of the Chinese culture woven into their day-to-day
lives.
"We are strongly supportive of more Mandarin language programs in this
area" said a parent. "Small World is giving our son the opportunity to
learn the fastest growing language in the world which is enriching now
and will be valuable to him for a lifetime."
Small World donates 1% of revenues to benefit special needs orphans in
China and each class engages in a project to benefit these children. As
a part of these activities, Small World classes will discuss what it means
to have compassion for these children, to appreciate of their many gifts,
and to respect differences.
"Our first pool of children represents a rich combination of personalities,
learning styles, backgrounds and ethnicities. Small World welcomes and
celebrates them all." said founder, Lynley Sides. Participating families
live in Lafayette, Orinda, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Danville, Concord,
Emeryville and Hayward. Open to parent observation and assistance, Small
World offers regular overviews of what the children are learning so parents
can learn and practice with their children at home.
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(925) 451-1249 • info@smallworldlamorinda.com
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