It's basically music and movement for preschoolers. We start out with a 30-minute session where the parents interact with the kids. Katherine Wall, Mainly MusicSupporting mums and theirpreschoolers through music is Katherine Wall's way of giving back to the Rotorua community.
Katherine heads Mainly Music, where mothers with preschoolers meet twice
weekly at The Living Well Church for dance and movement classes.
Mainly Music is a structured music session where children and caregivers enjoy music, movement, interaction, rhymes, puppets and more.
But the focus is on the interaction between parent and child rather than the learning of music as an art, which makes sessions fun and interactive.
"It's basically music and movement for preschoolers. We start out with a 30-minute session where the parents interact with the kids," Katherine said.
"This kind of interaction helps children's fine motor skills, gross movement, literacy, numeracy," she said.
Four years ago, Katherine, a committed Christian, got involved with Mainly Music through The Living Well Church after the last of her three children, now 13, 12 and 9, went off to school.
"This is my part-time job without the money every Tuesday and Thursday. It's my way of serving people, it shows them my love for God."
Katherine's involvement with children goes back to her first job at Lady Jane's ice-cream parlour and even this choice of job was all about children for her.
"I worked [for Lady Jane's] until I had kids because I love mums and preschoolers ... I've always had ladies' groups in my homes with mums and littlies," Katherine said.
The music sessions can get busy, with up to 40 children attending on Thursdays - but she says there is always room for more.
"We're always pleased to see men and grandparents come along - it's all about strengthening the family and if you've got happy, secure families, then children grow up to have better, happier lives at school and in their jobs."
* Parents or caregivers are welcome at Mainly Music twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am. Sessions are held at The Living Well Church, 47 Biak St, and cost $2 for one child or $3 for more than one, which covers morning tea. To attend, contact Katherine on (07) 345 3887 or at the church on (07) 348 7932. For more information go to: www.mainlymusic.org.nz
