Breastfeeding is often seen as a beautiful bonding experience, but it can also be challenging. From latching issues to low milk supply, the pressure to breastfeed can leave many new moms feeling overwhelmed. That’s why Melanie Venuti, an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and founder of MV Breastfeeding, is here to offer support.

Wellesley Pediatric Occupational Therapy (WPOT) is a trusted local practice dedicated to helping children develop motor skills, sensory processing abilities, and functional independence. The team at WPOT, including Sammy, uses engaging activities to support children’s development in areas like fine and gross motor coordination, handwriting, social skills, and self-care routines.

We are excited to have a super smart postnatal physical therapy and fitness specialist in our community, Dr. Mariam Taha. Mariam is a doctor of physical therapy specializing in pelvic health. Her clinic is located in Boston, MA and she comes to Little Beats once in a while to guide our postpartum mamas with their birth recoveries and physical fitness.

We are excited to have a super smart postnatal physical therapy and fitness specialist in our community, Dr. Mariam Taha. Mariam is a doctor of physical therapy specializing in pelvic health. Her clinic is located in Boston, MA and she comes to Little Beats once in a while to guide our postpartum mamas with their birth recoveries and physical fitness.

Teaching Body positivity may seem like a large concept for your child to grasp, but using a song like "Elephant Have Wrinkles" can help children to develop body awareness and understanding. Understanding your body in relation to others and the world is important to positive self-concept and starting this process at a young age can assist with building confidence as kids grow older.

Sometimes the idea of being a novice gets in the way of us trying something new! For new adult participants in our studio classes, it can feel daunting to dance alongside their child in front of a group of adults. Though it may feel a bit awkward and strange, dancing with your baby has so many benefits and the best way to start is somewhere where you’re comfortable – at home!

Have you ever got a song stuck in your head and you just can’t get rid of it? The ability to do this when no music is actually present is called audiation. Audiation is an acquired skill and introducing it to children at a young age is quite beneficial. Audiation increases memory development and assists children in finding pitch. It may also help children learn to read in their head when the time comes!

One of the greatest ways for a child to learn is through play. This freeze dance game is an amazing way to teach different gross motor skills, along with fostering your child's imagination. After dancing along to this song, extend the activity by pretending to be different animals. Your child can take the lead or you can offer suggestions. If you have animal toys at home, it might be fun to put them in a box, pick them out one by one and act them out together!

Holly presents an activity that helps to develop the vestibular system. The vestibular system is where all sensory and spatial information is passed through. While caregiver moves baby through a variety of motions, the vestibular system processes sensory input and allows the baby to regulate and make sense of the world around them.

When we are able to label a feeling it opens up the opportunity to regulate ourselves and move forward in our day. Fostering emotional intelligence is important starting at an early age, so that children can develop a robust vocabulary to communicate the way they are feeling. Emotional vocabulary goes beyond classifying feelings as good and bad or negative and positive.

Messy Hands is an art class for babies, tykes and tots to encourage the exploration of sensory art materials. This class is all about allowing your child to create, explore and express themselves through art! While your child is busy playing, they will be practicing important fine motor, cognitive and social skills. Not only will your child have a great time getting messy, but they will also be experiencing many developmental benefits.

Starting an adaptive dance program for children with diverse needs has always been part of the larger plan at TDA & Little Beats. We believe that dance and movement have the power to heal, inspire and help every person grow! We wanted to be intentional and knew that we needed an experienced person with a particular set of skills to get this program going the "right" way. Last year the stars aligned and we found Holly!

February is known as the month of love. Hearts and candy. Flowers and cards. It seems that everywhere you look there’s a symbol of love, but Valentine’s Day is more than romance and goodies. It is about celebrating the power of love and connection, friendship and kindness. Here is a list of activities to do with your child to celebrate love all month long!

​It takes a village to raise a child with good literacy skills, and educators certainly play a big role in enhancing these skills. However, the UNESCO's International Institute for Educational Planning points out that children’s literacy skills improve when their parents are involved in their learning process. Kids are more likely to develop language skills and other core competencies, especially when their parents guide them every step of the way.