When Parker “PJ” Kelley was born, Mom, Erica Kinane-Kelley, didn’t want to miss out on Helping People Succeed’s infant and toddler programs that stay-at-home Moms participate in throughout each week. She was returning to work at the printing shop, yet she wanted her son to benefit from interaction with other babies his age, plus other age-related activities.

Contacting the Baby Steps Division to find out about the parent-child Music and Movement program turned out to provide Helping People Succeed with a service that has been hard to sustain in the past – an evening class for working parents. The activities room housed on site at Kinane Printing on Denver Avenue in Stuart now has six to eight families participating, with Ms. Paula Barnes facilitating the classes.

“Helping People Succeed offers many infant/toddler programs,” said Kathy Derringer, vice president of the Baby Steps Division. “While the demand has always been there for evening and weekend classes, we have had difficulty sustaining attendance from working parents who always have a lot on their plates.”

Nine months later, mothers, fathers and babies are singing, clapping, exploring and moving to the beat in this collaboration. “We can’t thank Erica enough for the suggestion and the coordination of new parents participating in the program,” Derringer added.

“Once PJ was old enough to start participating in these programs, I found it really frustrating trying to find evening or weekend classes accommodating working parents. So I took matters into my own hands and started organizing classes and reaching out to other parents with babies similar in age to PJ,” said Kinane-Kelley.

She added: “Now that I have a core group of families, I have been organizing other classes besides Music & Movement with Ms. Paula, like Itsy Bitsy yoga for babies, swim classes, and even a discussion group about saving for college. I figure if I am going to make it happen for my son, I may as well invite other families who can benefit from the classes, as well.”

The Music and Movement program, with classes also at The Children’s Museum in Jensen Beach and Helping People Succeed’s offices on Florida Street in downtown Stuart, is also offered in St. Lucie County at the Port St. Lucie Community Center. All parent-child classes are divided into age groups where parents can have their children meet children of the same age, promoting language and social skills in these critical developmental years. “One of the best parts about hosting these classes is the relationship we have formed with other families. Our kids will grow up together, so it is nice to have the support of other parents going through the same growing phases,” Kinane-Kelley said.

Classes are partially funded through the Children’s Services Council of St. Lucie County, the United Way of Martin County and through small fees collected from the parents.

For more information about Helping People Succeed’s Music & Movement classes, please contact Ms. Paula at 772-529-5075, or the Helping People Succeed offices at 772-320-0770 and online at www.hpsfl.org