Storytelling Tradition Comes Alive at JCC East Preschool

A long tailed bear, Piccanello Fluff and the Little Old Lady who Swallowed a Snowflake came to visit the children at College Avenue's Early Childhood Program in January. These characters, plus a host of stuffed animals and puppets, accompanied Beverly Comer as she told captivating stories to the children. Comer, a well-known local storyteller, visited the school through the support of the Mim Chenfeld Children's Art Fund. She is a multi-disciplinary artist with the Artists In the Schools Program of the Greater Columbus Arts Council.

Program Director Barbara Topolosky said she was thrilled to find such a talent in her own back yard. "Having attended the Artist's Preview Night this past fall, I was looking for someone special to visit the school. It is difficult to find someone who is developmentally appropriate, yet entertaining for the children. Most of the artists are geared toward older children. Storytelling in the oral tradition is an important part of the early childhood experience," she said, adding she hopes to have Comer return to present a finger-play program for the toddler classes.

Comer said storytelling helps children build vocabulary and sharpen listening and pre-reading skills, in addition to increasing phonetic awareness, speaking, and thinking skills. She entertained the children with participatory stories, finger stories, and action songs, which help to:

• Increase manual dexterity and muscular control
• Teach concepts of math (1-10)
• Help to develop the rhythms of speech
• Encourage the understanding of the concepts of size, shape, place and direction
• Allow for self- expression
• Assist a child in learning to follow directions
• Provide a legitimate opportunity to move and wiggle
• Help to teach order and sequence

"Mostly, everyone agreed that it was all FUN," said Topolosky.

If you care to help support the arts with worthwhile visitors to the JCC preschools, please consider a donation to the Mim Chenfeld Children's' Art Fund and help programs like Beverly's return by clicking here.

JCC to Offer 'Zumba for Kids and Caregivers'

If your little one likes to dance along to music with you, you might consider enrolling the two of you into a new "Zumba for Kids and Caregivers" class being offered at the JCC, beginning Feb. 5. The high-energy dance class, taught by Zumba instructor Natalia Mustapich-Gelpi, is just the ticket to chase away the wintertime blahs and work the wiggles out.

"Zumba is a fitness program inspired by Latin dance," said Nili Talis, JCC Infant/Toddler Director. "It combines high energy and motivating music with unique moves and combinations that allow Zumba participants to dance away their worries." Classes will be held Tuesdays through March 4, from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m., at the JCC's Diamond Family Fitness Center, 1125 College Ave. Fee is $10 per session for JCC members, and $12 per session for non-members. Registration deadline is Jan. 29.

Also being offered this winter at the JCC's Family Parenting Center, 1125 College Ave., is:

• Open Gymnasium, Thursdays, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., now through Feb. 28, in the JCC College Avenue Preschool multipurpose room. Free for JCC members, and $2 for non-members.
• S'more Shabbat, Fridays, 10 a.m., starting with Family Barefoot Storytime, followed by songs and Shabbat blessings and a delicious kosher lunch. Cost is $5 for JCC members and $7 for non-members. Reservations are encouraged.

For more information on any of these programs, click here.