Last class for Kira at Bébéssimo :(


I've been meaning to write for quite some time about Kira's Bouge d'Art class at Bébéssimo. A few weeks ago was her final class, and I must say it was a sad one for me because it was our last class ever, at Bébéssimo.

You see, this wonderful space called Bébéssimo was the brainchild of Patricia Briand, who opened up the infant and toddler development ("discovery and enrichment studio" as it's referred to in the website) centre in a cozy little spot in NDG. She opened it for all the right reasons. First and foremost, she's a mom so she knows the importance of nurturing and developing our kids' imagination, creativity, and motor skills first-hand. She made connections with moms who agreed that there was a need for a space like Bébéssimo. Unfortunately, for whatever reasons that may be, Bébéssimo will be officially closing its doors at the end of June. Sniff, sniff! Kira has taken Baby Sign Language, Itsy Bitsy Yoga, Run Wiggle Paint & Giggle, and Bouge d'Art here, and we will sorely miss it. In fact, the day before our last class, I caught Kira on video telling me she was looking forward to going to Bébéssimo. I swear, I didn't coach her to say this. We arrived back home after a day of activity and before I could take her out of the car, she clearly told me where she wanted to go next. If you can make it out, she's saying "I want to go to Bébéssimo!"



Here's a great article from the National Post that talks a bit about the kind of unique programming offered at Bébéssimo: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=3ec136c5-cab7-46ab-9ba3-6474c5f89d7c&k=16103&p=1

Our last 2 sessions at Bébéssimo were for a class called Bouge d'Art. Melanie Fefergrad came up with this great program that includes song, dance, movement, stories, and arts & crafts. Melanie, if you're reading this, you've made such a fantastic impact on Kira! When it's time to clean up, she sings "It's time to tidy up, it's time to tidy up, please put the toys away, it's time to tidy up." She pulls out lines from songs like Miss Mary Mack and the Bubblegum song from nowhere, and asks "Where's Melanie?" And finally, when it's time to say goodbye she puts up her "tick-tock" fingers! What an impact a weekly 45-minute class has had on my child! Here are the kids mobbing Melanie for a sticker after class.

Here's an article about Melanie and her Bouge d'Art program: http://sweetspot.ca/content/view/5011/44/
You can now find her permanently at GymMini, in St. Laurent.

And, here's Kira with her prized bear that she made at Bouge d'Art:



I'm on the hunt for new places with quality programming for my little Calvin. Let me know if you're in the know! We'll miss our weekly jaunt out to NDG but will certainly find reasons to go by there now and again.

Comments