Take A Look at Your Materials

It has been a wonderful summer for children's dance and theatre! It has been a couple of months since we posted to our blog---so sorry for the delay. We have been very busy with our program here and have experienced quite a bit of growth in many of our markets this summer.

If you teach a young children's dance program now is a great time to take a look at your materials. Are they updated? Are they good quality? Are they too wordy? Parents these days want information in sound bites. There are so many great resources for good marketing materials---there is really not a good excuse to not keep your program marketing materials up-to-date and eye catching. Now is the time to get that together so you are ready for the upcoming fall registration season; which begins in just 3 short weeks!

Parents are searching for good, quality, time-proven programs for their children---and they are willing to pay for it.

We Must All Work...

"Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe--a moment that never was before or never will be again. And what do we teach our children in school? We teach them that 2 and 2 are four and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are?

We should say to each of them: 'Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the world there is no other child exactly like you. In the millions of years that have passed, there has never been a child like you. And look at your body---what a wonder it is! Your legs, your arms, your cunning fingers, the way you move!

You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel? You must cherish one another.'

We must all work---to make this world worthy of its children."

- Pablo Casals

Special Story Featured in Lehigh Valley, PA

During a special class a reporter from the Lehigh Valley Times did a story on Little People's Creative Workshop. Check it out.

Dance workshop

Added by Bill Adams on April 22, 2009 at 11:51 AM

Teacher Liz Story shows children how to stretch their legs and shake their feet Tuesday at the Little Peoples’ Dance Workshop at the Family YMCA Early Childhood Development Center in Forks Township. Express-Times Photo | BILL ADAMS

Tags: dance workshop | Family YMCA Early Childhood Development Center | Little Peoples' Dance Workshop | Liz Story

This photo is part of the Day in Photos April 22, 2009 gallery

Little People's Creative Workshop Franchises Allow Children to Express Themselves

Press Release

Greenville, NC – Kids need to have creative expression; it provides a feeling of accomplishment that helps them in other areas of their lives.[1] The arts can serve as a tremendous asset towards helping children develop critical thinking and decision-making skills.[2] Listed among the many benefits of dance are confidence strengthening and character building.[3] What’s more, the cultivation of creativity is a major component of programs and strategies designed to produce positive outcomes for youth.[4]

The Little People’s Creative Workshop concept fits hand in glove with today’s parents’ desire to provide every possible advantage to their children. [5] Not surprisingly, franchises that focus on children’s enrichment, in areas such as art and drama, are experiencing dramatic growth.[6]

American families are spending approximately $115.6 billion yearly on their children, presenting a powerful market opportunity.[7] And there’s no shortage of customers in sight – more than 73 million children under the age of 18 live in America, and their ranks are growing yearly.[8]

Early exposure to dance and theatre can have lasting benefits, including acquiring social and physical skills that will help children throughout their lives. Yet, dance professional Daune Pitman noticed two disturbing trends in dance classes for young children: either the little ones were being taught strict ballet, which was beyond their physical capabilities, or the classes were treated as playtime.

Seeking to establish a meaningful program, Daune developed Little People’s Creative Workshop (LPCW). LPCW classes are age-appropriate and taught by trained professionals. They are largely held in daycare centers and preschools, which puts them within reach of children who may not otherwise be able to take them.

Established in 1991, Little People’s Creative Workshop is now the largest organization teaching dance to children in the U.S. They are augmenting their steady growth with expansion, via franchising.

Little People’s Creative Workshop provides full franchise support services, such as complete training, a comprehensive operations manual, ongoing program oversight, and marketing expertise. Interested parties should contact them at www.LPCWfranchise.com or call toll-free 1-866-977-LPCW.

---

[1] Stuart, Elizabeth. “Children find creative outlet at Provo celebration.” Deseret News. 8 Jun 2008. Accessed 18 Aug 2008

[2] Kristal, Nicole. “Those Who Can Do, Teach (Acting).” The Actor’s Resource Backstage. 16 Jun 2006. Accessed 19 Aug 2008

[3] Miller, Corina. “Woman’s life spent inspiring…” The Dallas Morning News. 16 Sept 2006. Accessed 19 Aug 2008

[4] Brockman, Michael S. and Russell, Stephen T. “Creativity.” Accessed 18 Aug 2008

[5] Wilson, Sara. “Coming of Age.” Entrepreneur. Aug 2007. Accessed 20 Aug 2008

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] “How to Start a Kid-Focused Business.” Accessed 19 Aug 2008

Are You Ready to Ride the Wave?

There have been many articles lately by top business authorities acknowledging how wise it is to start a business now while all the economic turmoil spins about.  Looking through history these are the times that the most prosperous and successful businesses begin.  So many people wait until "things appear optimum" and "good times" arrive----this is quite often a mistake.  The businesses that begin in not so optimum economic times are the ones that are fully prepared and ready for the WINDFALL of business that always follows a recession/economic decline.

Children's services are doing very well, despite the economic climate.  Parents will choose to cut out many other things from the budget before cutting out a special enrichment activity for their children.  When the economy begins to rebound---these types of classes experience a complete FLOOD of new students and business.

Don't hesitate to follow your dream based on all the negative media that we are constantly bombarded with daily.  We encourage you to move forward and take action---so you can be ready in the near future when demand will be amazing for children's activities.

Just as we saw in the 30's---people always turn to art/entertainment to soothe themselves in hard times----they want to do the same for their children.  

If more of our leaders had been trained and had experience in the arts---they would be much more creative thinkers out there making better decisions!  :)

School Teachers See the Benefits of Dance in Students

A few comments from school teachers about the benefits of dance for children:

“Dance for children is much needed -- along with physical education, because it explores their potential in movement ... on any size, shape, or color of body.” “I get a lot of feedback from classroom teachers who say, ‘I can tell these children have been with you and had dance because they are more assertive — not aggressive, but more assertive in their thinking and being able to share their thoughts.’” “Dance is a good experience for children who have a hard time sitting down. Once they come to dance and burn off some of that energy, they can focus on more sequential, factual information.” “Boys do like to dance. I start them off using the word ‘movement.’ Some boys are beautiful at movement. They get to explore that. Girls widen their perspective. They see that it is not just one style — dance is about what you think, what you feel, what you see.”

Owning Your Own Business?????? Has It Been In the Back of Your Mind?

Whether you have always dreamed of being a business owner---or have never thought of it before; now is a great time.  Corporate American has burned out so many people and professionals are seeing the benefit of having control of their career and income.  There is no better investment that owning your own business---it is a great way to express your creativity and strengths, enjoy what you do, and not worry whether you will have a job tomorrow or not.  If you are someone that loves young children and desires to invest in their lives---it is a wonderful time to explore the opportunity of doing what you love as a career.  

If you work with young children---we would love to hear from you!  Share your great stories with us and what you have learned by working with little ones in dance.  Quite often they teach us more than we teach them! :)