Thanks to... ItalianAmericans_SpeakOut@yahoogroups.com  and
ITA-SICILY-L@rootsweb.com

How lucky you parents of Pre School kids that are living in NYC.
And if you are living elsewhere, what a grand idea for a possible local version!!
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Italian for Toddlers is a foreign language program for infants, toddlers and young children.

Learning a foreign language enhances a child's overall mental development. Research has shown that young children have a virtually limitless capacity to learn languages. Children need real, interactive experiences, not virtual ones, for brain development and academic success. New studies on brain development indicate that
early exposure to more than one language builds a more powerful brain, with faster and more efficient synaptic connections.* The language skills that children gain also help them build self-esteem, thinking skills, math ability, and an appreciation of other cultures.*Newsweek 1999

Why Italian? "Languages differ immensely in their capacity for expression and what they inspire in terms of ideas and creativity.

Latin was considered the perfect tool because it introduced concept and abstraction to language. In other words, Latin legitimized the human imagination. And Latin's closest living relative, its most intimate descendant, is Italian. This expressive voice, Italian, will add to your child's creative potential and, just as important, offer them a joyful experience." -- Dr. Joanna Dezio, Professor of Foreign Language, NYU
University

Tiny children are linguistic geniuses. Research shows they have the incredible ability to learn any language or ten in the first three years of life. We learn our native language by being immersed in it and through lots of repetition. Children learn language - any language - naturally and intuitively simply by being surrounded by it.

"...the power to learn language is so great in the young child that...they can learn as many spoken languages as you can allow them to hear systematically and regularly at the same time. Children just have this capacity....There doesn't seem to be any detriment to...develop(ing) several languages at the same time." -- Dr. Susan Curtiss, Professor of Linguistics at UCLA (from Learning Languages, Winter 1996)

"Play is the work of the young child."-- Jean Piaget, renowed Swiss child
psychologist

Our Mission Statement: Italian for Toddlers seeks to enrich the minds and spirits of young children, in their most brilliant stage of development, through the discovery of the Italian language.

About Our Program: Our Program is comprised of a progressive series of 12-class sessions. Each class is conducted exclusively in Italian in a structured, stimulating, nurturing and playful environment. The classes consist of activities to introduce young children to Italian.

Repetition is established through traditional Italian stories and songs, and the use of creative manipulatives, including arts and crafts, puppets, toys and musical instruments.

Schedule and Fees
Monday - Saturday / 10:00 am — 4:00 pm
Twelve 1-Hour Classes / $495
Siblings receive a 25% discount
212-501-8524
patrizia@italianfortoddlers.com

Patrizia Saraceni Corman, Founder and Director of Italian for Toddlers, Inc., is a former marketing and communications executive for Italian fashion and sports corporations including Giorgio Armani and the Benetton Group. She has volunteered her services to many non-profit organizations that support inner-city youth programs, and is currently a docent at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, conducting tours for disabled children.
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Once upon a time, there was a mommy who loved Italy. She felt so lucky because she lived and went to school in Italy when she was a little girl. When she grew up, she came back to America, moved to Manhattan and worked for some big and fancy Italian companies. Then she had un bambino, a little boy, who she loved very, very much. She wanted him to be smart and cheery and speak Italian. She wanted him
to visit Italy and skip along canals in Venice, eat spaghetti in Rome and throw stones off the river bridges in the beautiful little towns all over Italy.
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But she was sad. Even though she lived in very grown-up Manhattan, she couldn't find any Italian programs for her bambino. She looked and looked but truly could not find anything in Italian, hardly any books or music. Lots of other wonderful languages but no Italian.
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Late one night, una piccola fata Italiana, a little Italian fairy, came and sprinkled magic dust on Patrizia (that's the mommy). She awoke the next morning and discovered a wonderful Italian language playgroup in a magical space full of giggling children. There were lots of books, cuddly animals, fun toys, games and instruments, and Patrizia was so very happy. Now she wishes to share this Italian
dream-come-true with lots of other bambini and their wonderful families.

Italian for Toddlers - Children learning foreign languages in small groups in New York. Call 212-501-8524
http://www.italianfortoddlers.com