Click to view full size flyer

17 Computer Drive East, Suite 17A, Albany NY

Registration accepted by contacting Kathleen Gates, LMT at (518) 461-4871

Class space is limited, so register today!

Kathleen Gates, LMT is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor through Loving Touch International’s Parent-Infant Massage Program. These classes, taught by certified instructors, are especially designed for parents, grandparents, and primary caregivers, and are usually customized to meet the needs of each family.

- The history, theory, and practice of Infant Massage
- Teaching the baby to relax/responding to cues
- Bonding and other important parenting issues
- How to vary massage strokes for the growing toddler/child
- Dealing with special needs such as colic, prematurity, physical challenges, intestinal difficulties (excessive gas/constipation, etc.)
- Individual assistance

Click to view full size flyer

Parents/participants receive an instruction manual, music CD, massage oil for infant, handouts, email access to instructor throughout course period for questions/concerns, and additional resource material.

Ages 1 month to 6 months Welcome!

Register Online! Click here

Growing Child
I recently came across a great article included in the Grandma Says Newsletter, from the Growing Child site. It’s all about Transformations, and the process of successfully changing your child’s behavior. I’ve posted it to my Facebook page for your review. Check it out here, and while you’re there, be sure to “Like” my page there on Facebook so that you will receive other updates and interesting news I share.

I hope you’re all enjoying your summer, it’s a hot one but hey… at least it’s not snowing!

Click to view full size

Where: St. Peter’s Hospital 315 S. Manning Blvd. Albany, NY Map

Register Online here

Category Womens Health

Location Mercy 3 & 4

Start Date 08/17/2011

End Date 09/07/2011

Event Duration 4 weeks

Start Time 06:15 pm

End Time 7:30 pm

Days of the Week Wednesday

Description These classes, taught by certified instructor, are especially designed for parents, grandparents, and primary caregivers, and are usually customized to meet the needs of each family. Typically, the multiple sessions last between 75 to 90 minutes and focus on:

• The history, theory, and practice of Infant Massage

• Teaching the baby to relax/responding to cues

• Bonding and other important parenting issues

• How to vary massage strokes for the growing toddler/child

• How to deal with special needs such as colic, prematurity, physical challenges, intestinal difficulties (excessive gas/constipation, etc.)

• Individual assistance

Parents/participants receive an instruction manual, music CD, massage oil for infant, handouts, email access to instructor throughout course period for questions/concerns, and additional resource material.

Ages 1 month to 6 months Welcome!

Maximum Attendees 8

Cost/Fee $60

Contact Information 525-1388

Register Online here

click to view full size flyer

This program is designed for parents and their infants who are one to six months of age.

Program fee for this four week program includes program materials – $60

Registration accepted at www.sphcs.org/events

Go to Infant Massage and click Register Online or call 518-525-1388

Complementary valet parking is available.

Don’t forget to watch Parentology this week. This week we are talking about “Puberty”, “Breastfeeding Vs. Formula”, “Infant Massage”. Then we have the “Question of the week” see what parents answered on camera and the “Mommy tip of the week” as well as “Kids in the Kitchen.

And Parentology’s reporter Aliz Koletas and Photographer Chris… Boelkhe have a great story for you.

I’m looking forward to being on the show, and thank Paula G. for the opportunity! If you watch the show, feel free to comment on this post on the site, or my new Facebook Page to let me know what you thought of the show.

I’m proud to announce that I’ll be working with a group of other practitioners called the Pregnancy Project.

Promoting healthy (physically, emotionally, spiritually) children is a privilege and one that I share with the other practitioners in the Project. I have experienced the benefits from services received personally by the other practitioners and know that I am in a special group of committed health care providers. I strive to offer families much needed support and encouragement as they take steps to naturally promote life-long healthy behaviors for their children. I support the natural preparation and process of childbirth, the need to protect mothers and babies that strive for safe births, and enjoy offering “the next step” after birth for parents and babies. It’s an incredible journey!

I’m very excited to promote this endeavor, providing nurturing and supportive services to women in their child-bearing years!

New Infant Massage Class open for Registration

I’m offering a mid-morning class at St. Peters, starting Februrary 23rd. Click here for more info on how to register for the next “The Art of Infant Massage” class!

The next class, “The Art of Infant Massage” will begin on January 25th. This 4 week class will take place on Tuesdays from 6pm through 7:15pm at St. Peter’s Hospital.

To register call (518) 525-1873, or visit the www.sphcs.org calendar of events.

Wishing everyone a healthy, and happy new year!

Language refers to receptive language development (how well baby actually understands) and is a better gage of progress than expressive language development (how well baby actually speaks).   Slow language development can indicate a vision or hearing problem and should be evaluated (1).   But most babies encourage us with responses even from an early age.

Parents and Caregivers can encourage development by focusing on pragmatic skills. These include:

• knowing that you have to answer when a question has been asked,
• participating in a conversation by turn taking,
• noticing and responding to non-verbal cues,
• maintaining topic/attention,
• keeping appropriate eye contact (not too much staring or looking away).

Infants develop at varying levels and that includes language.  Cooing and early sounds can be repeated back to infants to let them know you are hearing them and listening. The important area to watch is that language development proceeds steadily, not whether it is slow or fast (2).  Massage for infants provides the perfect format and time to experience these wonderful interactions.   Additionally, games, music and one-on-one, eye-to-eye contact will enhance these interactions.

(1,2) Brown, C. (1998). Speech and language development in infants and young children.  Retrieved on 12/26/10 from http://www.speech-language-therapy.com/devel1.htm

Kathleen Gates, is a NYS Licensed Massage Therapist. Since graduating from the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy in 1999, Kathleen has been serving families with massage to address stress and injuries while promoting the benefits of relaxation. In addition to working with adults, Kathleen also holds a Certification in Infant Massage Instruction CIMI) through International Loving Touch Foundation, Inc. The classes are especially designed for parents, grandparents and caregivers to address infants needs such as colic, prematurity, intestinal difficulties and to promote bonding and relaxation.

Creative Commons Photo Credit