The boys and I started going to our local Hartbeeps class on recommendation of a fellow local twin mum when the boys were around 10 months old and learnt to sit on their own 🙂 We carried on class until they started at pre-school in January, it was by far our most successful class and we have made friends there for the long term including the wonderfully creative teacher Tania, so I was so pleased when she said she’d be willing to be featured on my blog :).
Every week the costumes and hand puppets and songs and light shows blew me away, it was always such a magical session. We even had her come to do the boys first birthday party to sprinkle her magic there too, which she absolutely did. You can tell she is a fellow creative soul through and through and she really created a fully inclusive and supportive environment every week, and she was brilliant with the boys too, always happy to hold one whilst I held the other so no-one missed out, I will always be grateful for these classes, they became a very important pillar of our week, I always recommend them to any new parents.
Here’s the interview:
Hi Tania, thank you for collaborating with JamJarGill.com…
Q1. Can you start by telling me a bit about yourself, what is your background/education?
My name is Tania and I run Hartbeeps classes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers in Bedford Flitwick and Marston Moretaine. I studied English and Theatre at King Alfred’s College in Winchester and also have an MA in European Cultural Planning which I did
part-time in my 20s – whilst working for the NHS. I never worked in the front line for the NHS but on the Admin side of things for a Mental Health Trust – my favourite part of that job was commissioning artists to design artwork to go into mental health wards; for children, adults and older people.
Q2. What is Hartbeeps? Can you tell us a bit about the company and its history?
Hartbeeps is a multi-sensory music based class where children’s imagination and play is centre stage. The clever part is that there is so much developmental know-how behind each and every activity that we do but it is shrouded in play – that’s the very best way that babies and older children learn. The music and lyrics in Hartbeeps are very unique and are the brainchild of Sarah Godwin who founded Hartbeeps about 15 years ago when she began to work with MENCAP at a Saturday club for children; her love of wacky props and sensory elements led to the creation of Hartbeeps!
Q3. How did you come to be a Hartbeeps provider/teacher?
I attended Hartbeeps in Leighton Buzzard with my second daughter from when she was about five months old, I was on Maternity Leave and desperate to get out with my child and meet new people! I immediately loved Hartbeeps and as I had been recently made redundant I was looking for alternative employment that I could fit in around both children! I made enquiries and by November of that year I had bought my very own Franchise.
Q4. What are the benefits which children and carers get out of going to class from your perspective?
From my perspective the benefits of attending Hartbeeps classes include; confidence building, using imaginations, helping to reach developmental milestones such as language and gross and fine motor skills. For carers and little ones alike the social interaction aspect in classes is also vitally important; I try to create an environment where everyone is welcome and supported, adults and children alike! I don’t think the Music at Hartbeeps classes can be overlooked either, we use the same opening and closing rituals each and every week and the repetition and familiarity this brings to little ones is SO very important.
Q5. What are your business hours? What does your working week look like? How do you manage it around family life? Do you feel that you manage to get some sort of balance (whatever that is)?
So I started Hartbeeps in order that I would be able to work around my children and pick hours that suited us all. I deliver classes in different venues four days a week and then use my ‘off’ day to catch up on Admin. In reality I am always available to answer customer queries so it’s a pretty full time job! I try to leave work behind in the afternoons and at the weekends in order to achieve the elusive sense of work/life balance.
Q5. What classes do you offer: Where? When? And what is the price?
I offer classes In Bedford, Flitwick and Marston Moretaine – three different age classes are available for Adults to attend with little ones. Baby Bells for babies aged under six months, BabyBeeps for babies aged over six months to toddlers and Happy House for toddlers and pre-schoolers. Classes are £6 each payable in half termly blocks, there is also a sibling discount available.
Before lockdown this was our regular class timetable:
Class Timetable – Term Time Only
MONDAY
{Bedford, Goldington Reading Rooms}
Happy House (toddlers and younger siblings) 10.30am
Babybeeps (babies aged over six months) 11.30am
TUESDAY
{Flitwick, Scout Hut Station Road}
Happy House (toddlers and younger siblings) 10.00am
Happy House (toddlers and younger siblings) 11.00am
Babybeeps (babies aged over six months) 12pm
Babybells (babies aged under six months) 1pm
FRIDAY
{Marston Moretaine, Village Hall}
Happy House (toddlers and younger siblings) 9.30am
Happy House (toddlers and younger siblings) 10.30am
Babybeeps (babies aged over six months) 11.30am
Babybells (babies aged under six months) 12.30pm
Q6. How have you adapted what you do and what you offer during lockdown?
Oh my goodness, we have adapted and overcome! Our HQ has put together a wonderful programme of online classes for the three different age ranges as well as some additional content – I deliver three classes a week, one is LIVE on FB and the other two are pre-recorded and then we share resources with the rest of the Hartbeeps Family and offer two further Family friendly sessions, Wednesday Duvet Day and Funky Friday. I would NOT be able to do this without the assistance of my wonderful husband (who videos and edits it all together for me) or daughters (who have thrown themselves into the sessions with me and are very good sports).
Q7. What do you do for downtime / to unwind?
I love to read, go on walks with the family and unsurprisingly I am quite crafty; I love the sense of achievement from making things! This might be painting and drawing, sewing or a bit of modern cross-stitch!
Q8. How would your friends describe you?
Outgoing, good listener, quirky sense of humour and terrible with sayings – I never ever can get a popular saying right without mucking it up. The same goes for jokes, I’m afraid, I always get them wrong!!!
Q9. What’s your favourite hot drink and what’s your favourite cocktail?
Lovely cup of black Earl Grey Tea and any cocktail with Gin in will win me over!!
Q10. How do people find you/find more information about the services you offer?
You can email me at tania@hartbeeps.com or got to hartbeeps.com for our website of find my business page: Hartbeeps Bedford, Flitwick and Marston Moretaine on Facebook
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I hope you find this an interesting read, I do hope to expand this section of my blog further to talk to inspiring women from all walks of life to get an insight into their worlds. Please do drop me a line at gill@jamjargill.com if you are interested in getting involved in my next 10 Questions post 🙂