The Parenting Biz: Don’t Know What To Do With Oneself?

THE PARENTING BIZ Is Your Child Singing The Winter Blues?

Then Change Their Tune With Fun After School Activities

FEATURE STORY By Jim Murphy

It’s a new year! It’s time for a fresh start and some new activities for your little ones.

Whereas going to school and working on school projects is important (being a regular, day to day part of life), it’s also important for kids to spend time after school and on the weekends doing something fun, meaningful and productive.

Whether they’re musically inclined, athletic or artistic, we fill you in on lots of extracurricular winter activities and the area businesses willing to help keep your child educated and entertained!

Sing, Sing A Song

Located at 3244 Walker Road, Unit 1 in Windsor, Verellen Music Academy offers unique musical training such as professional song writing lessons, recording sessions and lessons on how to pitch original music to radio station executives!

“We have expert early childhood music teachers and have group classes for young children, based on developmental stages of growth,” says Jacqueline (Jacqui) Verellen, Co-Owner of Verellen Music Academy along with Joey Tyler. “Along with that, we teach vocals, piano, guitar, drums, bass, flute, ukulele, musical theatre classes, rock band classes and more.”

The Rock Band youth program is one of the more exciting classes as kids seven to 15 years of age (Tuesday nights at 7 p.m.) can learn guitar, drums, bass or piano and how to play rock music with others! (Note Rock Band adult classes for those 15 and up are also on Tuesday nights at 8 p.m.)

Verellen and Tyler have more than

If your child dreams of being a rock star as a lead singer (six year old Violet Verellen, left) or a member of the band playing instruments such as guitar (eight year old Kailee Labute), drums and bass, then Verellen Music Academy’s Rock Band program is the perfect choice! Photo courtesy of Joey Tyler. two decades of teaching and performing experience between them. Tyler works with Universal Records and both hold honours degrees in music.

“Having music on Canadian radio, both Joey and I started teaching students outside of our performing and touring,” Verellen explains. “We discovered we absolutely loved working with children. After studying childhood psychology and music, I realized children seem to learn best through fun; that is proven neuro-scientifically.” (For more information see: The Power Of Play, in the American Academy of Pediatrics journal, Vol.142, Issue 3, September 2018). That’s why Verellen Music Academy and their staff of 12 follow the motto — “learning music should be fun!” “We specialize in helping students learn the music of both Bach and Billie Eilish in one fun and dynamic lesson!” Verellen informs Biz X. “We can guide students from early childhood music, through to a full musical career.” Since opening in March 2021, Verellen Music Academy has also offered a wide variety of fun programming. They have weekend camps with music, arts and crafts and various themes. They also have private lessons for beginners and advanced musicians. All ages are welcome, even babies! During the pandemic, Verellen Music Academy is taking every precaution to ensure families feel safe in their studios. They have all families pre-screened, sanitized, wearing masks and social distanced. And they have a large spacious theatre that allows students to be a part of a community and meet new friends in a safe way. For more information, visit the website: VerellenMusicAcademy.com.

Verellen Music Academy Co-owner Jacqui Verellen teaches a Music Munchkins class for children aged three to seven. In this photo, the students are learning musical rhythm by clapping along and learning about quarter notes and half-notes. Photo courtesy of Joey Tyler.

Let’s Dance

Edmunds Towers School of Dance

offers dance lessons in ballroom, ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, pointe and hip hop for

From left: Brynn Barry, Avery Ellwood and Aria Jula, students of Edmunds Towers School of Dance, prepare for a dress rehearsal. Photo courtesy of Toan Lam from Lam Photography.

ages two and a half years old and up. As well, each month, they incorporate some of their core values, such as kindness, into their lessons.

“I have danced my whole life and have been teaching dance for 44 years,” says Donna Towers Bolohan, Co-Owner of Edmunds Towers School of Dance, along with her sister Dianne Edmunds. “It’s easy to be passionate about something you love to do. Since we opened 41 years ago, we have been passing on our love of dance to hundreds of children each week.”

Obviously, COVID-19 has forced them to change some of their protocols.

“All classrooms have large TVs for those that are home or can’t make it in — so we connect each class to those at home,” indicates Towers Bolohan. “All classrooms and waiting rooms are spaced out six feet apart. All areas have hand sanitizer stations, we fog our studio and COVID-19 screening is done daily for everyone entering the business.”

All classes are open for registration, come January. Their Twinkle Tots and Twinkle Tykes programs are always a big hit for children two and a half years old to five years old. Kids love their themed months, props, backdrops and everything the amazing staff of 30 plans out for them.

The school can be found at 2555 Jefferson Blvd. in Windsor. For further details on classes and programs, check: EdmundsTowers.com.

Get Your Kicks

Since 2016, Little Kickers WindsorEssex County has specialized in introducing the game of soccer to children at an early age.

According to Roberto Mazza, Owner of the local franchise of Little Kickers, they are the preschool of soccer in the area.

“Little Kickers offers an age specific curriculum to our young players,” states Mazza, who brings 18 years of coaching experience. “It is very important to get an early start in the game. Soccer has given me many opportunities in life and has moulded me into who I am today. I am very passionate about giving back to the community and helping young kids fall in love with soccer like I did.”

Mazza and his 12 employees offer classes all over the Windsor and Essex County region. The Little Kicks program is for 18 months to two and a half years old. The Junior program is for kids two and a half to three and a half years old. The Mighty program is for children three and a half to five years old. The Mega program is for five years to seven years old.

Along with soccer skills, Little Kickers teaches kids teamwork, to have fun, and helps introduce them to a sport in a pressure-free environment where they stimulate their imagination and develop skills early.

Like most businesses, COVID-19 has affected their programs.

“We must now keep a certain social distance between everyone, which means we had to switch up the game slightly,” Mazza comments. “The precautions we have taken include making sure we can sanitize, wear masks and clean equipment before and after each class to ensure our safety and the safety of our students.”

To learn more about their four types of classes, log on to: LittleKickers.ca.

Roberto Mazza, Owner of the Little Kickers WindsorEssex County franchise offers toddler soccer training and development for children 18 months to seven years. Photo courtesy of Roberto Mazza.

Opened in 1973, Mr. Kersey’s Karate School Ltd. is about more than kicking and punching. Lamon Kersey — Co-Owner of Mr. Kersey’s Karate School Ltd. along with his wife Anne Marie Kersey – specialize in teaching kids not just karate, but also life skills and character development.

“I started as a shy kid that wanted to learn martial arts,” says Kersey. “It greatly helped me with my self-esteem and confidence.”

Watch out Karate Kid! Lamon Kersey, Owner of Mr. Kersey’s Karate School, instructs the next generation of karate masters. Photo courtesy of Lamon Kersey.

Today, Kersey is passionate about helping kids. He believes that by teaching them how to focus through activities, such as martial arts, it will lead to an increase in their self-confidence and confidence in their own abilities.

This increase will then boost their selfesteem and encourage those that are shy to come out of their shell.

Kersey tells Biz X that when kids have more confidence, they are not afraid to raise their hands in class or speak up loud enough so everyone can hear them.

Located at 3079 Forest Glade Drive in Windsor, Mr. Kersey’s Karate School Ltd. offers classes for Little Dragons (aged three to five years old), Juniors (aged six to 12), and Teens (aged 13 to 16). For more information check out the website: MrKerseyKarate.com.

Reach Your Full Potential With Martial Arts

For more than 40 years, Copeland’s Martial Arts and Fitness Centre has offered karate training for ages six and up.

Conrad Copeland, Owner of Copeland’s Martial Arts and Fitness Centre, is pictured inside his facility located at 2577 Dougall Avenue, Unit 5 in Windsor. Photo courtesy of Conrad Copeland.

“I specialize in helping my students realize their full potential,” states Conroy Copeland, Owner of Copeland’s Martial Arts and Fitness Centre located at 2577 Dougall Avenue, Unit 5 in Windsor. “I love seeing the changes, mental and physical, that my students go through over the years of consistent training.”

COVID-19 has forced Copeland and his team of instructors to adapt to the continuing changes.

“The pandemic was a game changer for us,” Copeland mentions. “We went online, did outside training — weather permitting; now we are back in class with all COVID-19 precautions in place to ensure a safe environment for kids to learn.”

If your little ones are interested in martial arts, read further details on: CopelandsMartialArts.com (please note an appointment and interview are required).

Lights, Camera, Action

Film Camp for Kids & Youth is a notfor-profit organization established for the purpose of growing local talent in film making and digital media. In doing so, they hope children and teens will consider this as a career option, as well as attend one of their local post-secondary film programs — which ultimately helps grow the local industry.

The camp began in summer 2013 with 20 kids. Now, more than 375 children and teens have attended more than 2,500 classes.

“My daughter has thoroughly enjoyed the classes at the Film Camp for Kids & Youth,” comments Gemma Smyth. “Her writing and creative skills have improved, and she is now writing her own original work. The camps provide space and expertise to take kids’ creativity to the next level.”

The diverse staff at the camp work seasonally as needed and more than 60 young adult instructors have been employed over the years.

Since the pandemic, the camp has been closed. However, they did offer a small inperson summer camp in 2021 and will be reopening in a new space in summer 2022.

“Our in-person summer camps were full this past summer, and we are hoping for the same for our March Break program,” says Amanda Gellman, founder of Film Camp for Kids & Youth. “We are very excited that our in-person camp has been growing rapidly prior to the pandemic. In spring 2020 we switched to online programming thanks to the generosity of the Canadian Red Cross. Moving forward, we will be offering a hybrid model since many families from Essex

County have found the virtual program easier to manage.”

For now, Gellman is offering online classes in January, for children aged nine to 15. Classes include photo retouching, introduction to photography, photo composition, introduction to screenwriting, directing, production design/set design, storyboarding fundamentals, character design and editing on Final Cut Pro.

If you are interested in online classes in January or the March Break program for your child(ren), refer to: FilmCampForKids.com.

Go Figure . . . Skate

CanSkate is Skate Canada’s only learnto-skate program. It provides individuals with the best foundation for figure skating, hockey, ringette and speed skating.

“Coaching CanSkate has been a goal of mine since I was a young skater,” expresses Nicole Antaya, a CanSkate Coach with more than 20 years of skating experience. “I want to create an environment where all skaters feel valued, included and respected, regardless of age, ability or blade.”

Pre-CanSkate is designed for participants who have never been on the ice before, generally ages three to five.

CanSkate is for beginners of all ages. Some clubs offer an AdultSkate program that delivers the CanSkate programs for teens and adults.

CanSkate programs in Windsor Essex were not running during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, as most recreational facilities were deemed non-essential.

“Now that these facilities are up and running, programs can resume,” Antaya says. “This pause in operations created a huge demand for CanSkate programs, meaning there are individuals who should have graduated that are still in the program; plus coaching courses were also paused during this time, so there are less newer coaches available to help meet this demand.”

COVID-19 continues to have a huge impact on operations, including vaccine requirements for participants and parents, masks and physical distancing, less participants in a session and modifying lesson delivery to maintain safety standards.

Registration for the winter season (January to March 2022) is well underway.

Find the website for your local skating club (Skate Windsor, South Windsor Figure Skating Club, Riverside Skating Club, Skate LaSalle, Skate Amherstburg and Skate Lakeshore) to register. If registration is full, you can be put on a waiting list or you can try again in February/March for spring sessions (starting in April, where applicable).

If you have any questions regarding registration, get in touch with your local skating club. For more information about private lessons with Antaya, visit her website: NicoleAntaya.com.

They’ll Never Know Unless They Try

All these activities profiled (and more) help children learn about themselves and their world by getting them outside their comfort zones in a safe and fun way.

Part of growing up is discovering what activities they like or don’t like, what they are good at and what needs improvement. However, it is most important they get out there, meet new friends and give it the old college try!