Engaging in fun and imaginative play with children over the years, including storytelling and creating short puppet shows has given me tremendous joy!

 

I have always loved exploring art, designing, and sewing puppets and stuffies. 

 

Learning and practicing yoga for many years has been a huge passion of mine as well. This led me to obtain a kids yoga training certificate. 

 

Continuing the magical mix of interactive puppet shows, kids yoga, arts and crafts, innovative games and activities inspired me to create a playful, educational, and insightful program for children ages 3-5 in November 2024: Goga Play Kids Yoga & Story Adventures. 

 

What an amazing experience this has been! Besides creating the puppets and other fun characters, we danced, we got curious and creative as we moved our bodies through fun kids yoga poses, played games, learned new things, and got further insights into what it means to be curious, kind, brave, thoughtful, and confident. Here is one of many reviews about the program:

 

“Goga Play program is an amazing program for children’s emotional development. My 3 year old son and I have attended a few sessions together. The sessions were engaging and educational. Each session was unique and incorporated a variety of activities. I would highly recommend attending their programs.”

- Maria

 

Goga Play participated in the Crossroads Community Preschool Teddy Bear Picnic fundraiser and we had so much fun with the children at the SCA Community Association Stampede breakfast event. Having children coming to the program from a number of preschools has been an unforgettable and fun experience!

 

And then there is music…

In my younger days, I sang in a choir, took guitar lessons, and danced in a dance group. I’ve been enjoying Jazzercise for many years. I wanted to share my love for music and dance with children, so I recently became a certified and licensed Zümbini instructor, which is a music program for children ages 0-3 and their caregivers. I look forward to sharing this upbeat and happy musical environment with children. 

 

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Since my focus and passion have been on early childhood, especially when I became a mom many years ago, I found myself inspired by the Montessori approach. To gain further knowledge about childhood development, I enrolled in a number of Early Childhood Montessori training courses, starting with ‘Introduction to Early Childhood Montessori Education’, followed by Montessori Sensorial Course for Early Childhood’ and many more on the way. 

 

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My lifelong dream of writing and illustrating children’s picture books is coming to life. The first story in the making is entitled “Wroombop Is Coming To Wiggleton Town.” Most of the main characters in every picture book are the ones I created for Goga Play kids programs. 

 

I want for every child to feel inspired, empowered, curious, thoughtful, kind, and compassionate. I want for every child to believe that they do matter and that they are worthy and smart. 

 

Every moment matters, every interaction with a child is an opportunity to create a positive experience, and I am so delighted to do my share. 

 

Let’s learn, explore, create, play, and have fun!