ARTreach pilots a unique creative dance and music program for new mothers and infants at the Pregnancy Help Center
ARTreach has just completed a 4 week pilot at the Pregnancy Help Center. The organization was piloting a dance program called “Nurturing Pathways for Babies” taught by certified instructor Erin Stanley. This is a creative dance program for new mothers and their infants developed to enrich a baby’s cognitive and physical development by using baby exercises, musical instruments and sensory rich creative play products.
The ARTreach Pilot is giving new mothers an opportunity to experience the joy of dancing while strengthening their bond with their baby at no cost to the Pregnancy Help Center. Erin Stanley generously donated her teaching time and materials to support the pilot. ARTreach is measuring the impact of the program and collecting testimony and responses from the mothers selected to participate in the pilot to support future funding.
New mothers registered for the program initially as an opportunity to get back in shape, bond with their infant and make new friends. There were additional benefits in that the program teaches a range of new parenting skills, how to make healthy choices, and how to find time to take care of yourself and your baby. The program also teaches a new mother how creative movement, play and touch will activate an infant’s central nervous system. These networks interconnect rapidly from birth to four years of age. The brain doubles in size during the first twelve months of life and achieves 95% of its adult brain weight by the age of four. During these years, the foundation is laid for eyesight, language, gross and fine motor skills and emotional and intellectual capabilities. Movement, play and touch contribute significantly to the healthy development of a baby.
The outcomes in this ARTreach pilot were positive. The class was well received and each client has requested that the program continue. This is motivating both ARTreach and the Pregnancy Help Center to seek sponsors to support ongoing classes at the center. They are hoping that by combining their resources they can fund the program and continue to offer it free to Pregnancy Help Center clients. General community interest is high enough that the classes will be open to anyone who wishes to register and pay just $12 per week. The organizations are seeking $725 in matching funds to sustain the program in 2010.
To conclude this pilot series, ARTreach teaching artist Stacy Baer came to the Pregnancy Help Center on December 12th to teach the moms that they can use their hands, feet and creativity to make a treasured keepsake that can be enjoyed for years to come. She showed them how to make ceramic plates using their baby’s hand and foot prints as the basic design. Stacy was teaching “Art with a Purpose”. This is an ARTreach Vocational Workshop that can spark the entrepreneurial spirit by demonstrating how easy it is to use your own hands and creativity to create an income for yourself.
“Nurturing Pathways for Babies” and “Art with a Purpose” are programs that the Pregnancy Help Center would like to offer weekly to PHC clients. The organizations have been working together for two years to develop programs that will creatively address difficult issues facing young mothers and mothers coping with crisis pregnancy.
ARTreach and PHC are participating in the Alliance of Charities fundraiser being held at Fish City Grill in LaCenterra in Cinco Ranch on Tuesday, January 19th. Please mark your calendar and come for lunch or dinner on that day. Fish City Grill is donating 15% of the proceeds to support the cause. Donations can be also made to Pregnancy Help Center or ARTreach at any time and can be designated to support these programs.
