The HISTORY OF BABYNASTIX

OUR VISIONOur Vision is to be a leader in empowering caregivers to develop babies to their full potential through understanding crucial developmental stages and treating each baby as unique and special.

OUR MISSIONOur Mission is to provide schools, teachers, children, parents and communities with an amazing programme that has the ability to change a life.

Our Mission is to be empathetic but yet still learn from our babies and to understand their circumstances in this demanding world.

Our Mission is to build our brand through creativity and innovation and to develop and deliver a unique programme at various venues over the world.

Our Mission is to supply a professional service of baby stimulation classes, through schools, venues, workshops…anywhere, to provide support and education to care givers.

Our Mission is to develop & grow Babynastix to its fullest potential so that we can have the monopoly in this industry and change baby’s and families life's not just temporarily but long term.

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Personal Story.. The Birth of Babynastics (by: Wendy Walker - Founder) Friday, July 15th, 2011

Looking back on the past two years, I am amazed by the journey that was inspired by my little boy and the path it has put me on.

As with all new mommies, I spent the first few nights wide awake staring at this perfect little lamb in my arms. Immediately I wanted the best for him; without any effort at all my whole being was devoted to his safety, his care and his development.

Suddenly the formerly “gross” things in life including pee, poo and lots of posited milk became an ordinary part of life, and none of it mattered in the face of the miracle I witnessed day-by-day… the rapid development of this child from a tiny helpless newborn who day by day seemed able to do or understand something new.

Eager to take an active part in his development, I started to read and research early child development and was amazed to discover just how crucial every day in the first year was for developing the body and brain of an infant in ways that would impact and benefit them for the rest of their lives! In an effort to maximize these moments I started attending weekly stimulation classes and loved every moment, but I wanted more. I wanted to spend time with my baby every day playing games and doing exercises that would tie our hearts together in bonding fun, while making sure not a day went by without giving him the input that he needed to learn and grow from the world around him.

Day by day I’d try to set aside time to play with my bundle of fun, and together we shared countless smiles and explored the world together, but I still felt that I could be doing more. As a working mommy my time had become limited after maternity leave and while we played together every day I wondered whether I was incorporating enough variety into our games and exercises. What’s more, I tried to share my passion with an equally devoted Daddy, but without a structure to follow, he felt a little all thumbs when it came to stimulation.

I tried books but fell asleep after the first few pages (all new moms will understand my fatigue). I continued with weekly classes but wanted something special for the days in between. I tried new toys but it became expensive. And sometimes after a busy day at work, I felt a bit too unmotivated to try anything! 

“If only…” I mused to my hubby one night… “there was a way I could click my fingers and have a stimulation class right here at home – at the exact moment when our munchkin is most read for it…”

As the words came out of my mouth, so the vision formed before my eyes. Well, almost! I may not be able to click my fingers and be surrounded by fun exercise routines, but I could certainly press play on a DVD machine!

Before we knew it, the plan unrivalled – fuelled by a passion for giving babies the best chance in life and driven by a team of moms with some guts, some dreams and some know-how. In consultation with an Occupational Therapist, exercises were selected and compiled to maximize the brain development for specific age groups within the first year. Musical nursery rhymes were sourced to delight little ears and bring some rhythm to the party. A film crew was brought in, and my angel was made a star.

Now day-to-day stimulation came at the touch of a button, along with a good dose of motivation and lots of fun… and the response was incredible. We were selected within weeks as the Toy of the Month for a leading baby magazine, received endorsements from therapists and, most importantly, raving reviews from moms who tried it. A gap had been filled and to know I had a part of it fills my heart with joy.

Now over two years later, I’m pregnant once again with another bouncing baby boy and I can’t wait to use the programme with him every single day – and watch him grow up to be just as gorgeous as his big brother! I’m so glad that my frustrations can be shelved right next to my TV, and even happier that other mommies can experience the same.

Because the best educational toy any of us can ever find… is to be found somewhere between two warm gentle hands, a proud smile and the sparkling eyes that stare for hours at our perfect little lambs.

By Wendy Walker

And so BABYNASTICS was born…

SO, WHAT IS BABYNASTICS?

Babynastics is your home based solution and an educational DVD that is not intended for your child to watch. Babynastics is a DVD based programme guided by a mom and her baby with easy to follow stimulating routines developed in consultation with an Occupational Therapist. Babynastics helps to ensure babies develop fundamental skills to their full potential that will improve and lay the ground work for future skills such as reading, writing, maths, language, gross motor, emotional intelligence and so much more.

BEST OF ALL…Babynastics is affordable, fun and convenient as you can sing and dance with your baby in your own home at the most convenient time of day for you and your family. Enjoy familiar favourite songs that will bring memorable moments of giggles and joy.

DVDs are aimed at crucial developmental stages in baby’s first year. 3 – 6 months, 6 – 9 months and 9 – 12 months

Babynastics has been established for over a year and is ready to enter new waters. We have been established since October 2009 and in that time have developed our product and introduced them to the market. Highlights of our journey have been being selected by the resident Occupational Therapist at Your baby Magazine for TOY OF THE MONTH MARCH 2010 and appearing on the TV show Greta Expectation on 30th November 2009.

Babynastics is endorsed by independent paediatric Occupational Therapists. We have endorsement letters from Carina Taylor of Clever Fish (and lecturer for South African Institute for Sensory Integration) as well as Lauri Oosthuizen of Stimustation in Centurion. We also have a recommendation letter from a Kindermusik Therapist.

Babynastics is unique. There is no other product offering moms and babies the experience of a daily exercise routine, as Babynastics does.

Parents need this product. As lifestyles are changing, many parents are able to spend less time with their babies. They need to know that when they do spend time with their babies, they are maximising every moment to bond with and develop their little one. Babynastics enables them to do just that!

Soon after Babynastics was established and booming in the market, Wendy Walker took a step back due to family circumstance and sold the idea to Jaclyn Turley, an experienced Early Childhood

Educator with a Bcom Communication at TUKS and a PGCE in Education at UNISA. She is a passionate mom and took ownership of Babynastics in 2013. She was excited and passionate and

could not wait to spread the importance of baby stimulation, nurturing and attachment in the early years. She met with Holly France, a paediatrician and Carmen Dodds an Occupational Therapist and

developed an amazing, fun, comprehensive yet simple programme with the desire to start franchising classes at venues and as well as at schools. After successfully starting her own branch at

a BABY WELLNESS CENTRE in Pretoria, Rietondale , it took off well and many moms were visiting and loving this time with their little ones.

“I think it's wonderful material - I really do. Almost makes me wish mine were that age again- I think the programme looks so much fun! I like the way that the focus is on enjoying time together with your little one but at the same time, really stimulating their development. It's practical, fun and excellent in terms of stimulating development also like the range of ages included in the appendix on developmental milestones- I think parents often forget or are unaware there's a wide range of normal and get anxious about totally normal variations- this programme doesn't focus excessively on when your child must be achieving particular milestones but recognises that development is a process and you are working at stimulating that process.” Dr Holly France MBBch, FCPaeds( SA)

As a paediatric Occupational Therapist and franchise owner/sports instructor for one of Australia’ largest multi-sport and exercise programs, I found the content of the Babynastics program invaluable for any new parent.  It provides basic developmentally appropriate activities which stimulate all the senses; and gives baby a great little workout to encourage the best start to a healthy active life. Carmen Dodds. Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (AHPRA): OCC0001766341

…in 2014, MONKEYNASTIX met BABYNASTICS…

And BABYNASTIX was born…

AND LAUNCHED IN 2014!!!

WHAT IS BABYNASTIX?

Babynastix is a programme drawn up in consultation and endorsed by an OT, paediatrician and early childhood developer educator (all are mothers too).

Babynastix looks deep into the life and brain of a baby and understands the importance of stimulation. Babynastix helps to ensure babies develop fundamental skills to their full potential that will improve and lay the

ground work for future skills such as reading, writing, maths, language, gross motor, emotional intelligence and so much more

Babynastix focuses on building parent/caregiver child relationships as bonding through nurturing touch is known and researched to play a vital role, if not, the most important role in a child’s life.

Babynastix classes are aimed at crucial developmental stages in baby’s first year. 2 – 6 months, 6 – 9 months and 9 – 12 months and we focus on small groups for maximum attention.

Babynastix comes along side parents/care givers who want to ensure that their child receives all the right stimulation at the right times that their baby will need in their first year of their life, to boost baby’s brain development. And build bonding relationships.

Through fun games, movement, dancing and loving closeness a caregiver is guided through easy to follow routines. By continuing to expose baby to these routines, mom and dad have the assurance that their little ones lifelong educational journey is being built on a firm foundation.

BREAKDOWN OF A CLASS AT A HOME VENUE

Babynastix classes are aimed at the most crucial times in baby’s first year. 2 – 6 months, 6 – 9 months and 9 – 12 months. Each

programme is specifically researched and designed to aim at the important skills for that age group.

Each class is structured to last 60 minutes at a home facility, incorporating time to socialize with the caregivers.

Classes should be offered throughout the week, Monday – Friday and even Saturdays to accommodate working parents, if you feel

this is something you would like to offer.

BREAKDOWN OF A CLASS AT A SCHOOL

Babynastix classes can be presented and facilitated at a school/crèche/day care facility.

Class in a school environment is aimed to last a maximum of 30 minutes, as we exclude social caregiver time. It is advised that a

franchisee has support from another instructor and 1 staff member from the school. Each franchisee may do the exercises with a

maximum of 2 baby’s at a time, bearing in mind that certain parts of the activities may need a personal focus from time to time.

Another option if franchisees would like parents involvement, would be to possibly run classes at the school early in the morning,

e.g.: 7:00 – 7:45 as parents drop their baby’s off before heading to work, or later in the day 16:00 – 16:45, as parents collect their

baby’s, so that the parents can be involved. This will all need to be discussed and finalized with the school.

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