Recently there was a regional art contest sponsored by the intermediate unit here. It involved all of the area school districts. My daughter wanted to participate. The theme was Our World and there were 20 categories to submit entries.

My daughter was adopted from Romania at the age of 6 and has really struggled with just about everything because she spent 6 years in an orphanage under some pretty trying conditions. She is in special education in a regular school. Fortunately, she has always loved to draw and color.

>My daughter entered the contest with a lesson of 3 penguins, focusing on Global Warming. The lesson was helpful for her because she was able to understand what global warming actually was. Believe it or not she won first place!! (Out of all the school districts, over a thousand entries)

She is just thrilled and so are we. First for her, because she has never achieved this kind of success or recognition before. But also for Young Rembrandts because this really speaks to what we do.

She is feeling so good about herself and has a new found confidence. She has become "the artist" and that is so critical to her self-esteem and development. We will all be attending a big awards ceremony. What a great day for us and Young Rembrandts.

I chose Young Rembrandts because it met my three main criteria: flexibility with regard to work and family; making a difference in the lives of others; and, financial stability.

The moment I learned about Young Rembrandts, I knew it was the right fit for me. I love the Young Rembrandts' lifestyle, achieving financial independence while spending more time with my family and doing something that brings joy to so many children and their parents. All of this while working with an organization filled with talented, supportive and dedicated individuals, from the founders to fellow franchisees. Young Rembrandts is exactly what I hoped it would be and so much more.

In my second year with Young Rembrandts, "THANK YOU!". I never would have found it, and if I had probably wouldn't have considered it. I am EXTREMELY happy. This business met every one of the criteria you helped me discover about what I wanted to do, and has had benefits way beyond expectations. I could go on and on with details. I just hope you know what a positive impact you have made.

Comment from a six year old girl in my class. During the drawing portion she raised her hand to say, "Thank you for making me the best artist in my class.

One of my teachers who does lesson prep with my other teachers referred to Dali as the artist that does melting clocks. This is the email she sent me: "One of my kids told me that over the weekend she saw a book or magazine or something with pictures "by that guy with the melting clocks!" We ARE teaching them something!!!!

My husband and I have been struggling with the decision of sending our youngest to kindergarten. I've been concerned that we might be rushing her since she doesn't turn five until November 9th. The School District has a kindergarten assessment program that is run by a really amazing woman. She has years of experience as a kindergarten teacher and started this assessment/kindergarten readiness program.

Turns out our youngest was ready for kindergarten. The interesting thing for me was what this woman had to say. Our daughter has very advanced language and fine motor skills. She drew a wonderful picture that really impressed this woman who proceeded to explain to me how important it is for children to be able to draw. She had no idea what I do with Young Rembrandts but I can tell you that I was very interested in what she had to say.

explained to me that the benefits of developing fine motor skills through drawing are obvious to most people but that, in her experience, it's also an important way for children to begin to express stories and build their vocabulary. She said that, if a child is only able to draw a circle, there's not much being said or to say about the drawing. But, if a child is able to draw the head, body, arms and legs, some curly hair and a dress, there is a lot being said and to say. She believes very strongly that this contributes to a child's language development, their ability to tell a story from start to finish, process complex information and, ultimately, their success in school.

I left that meeting feeling more convinced than ever of the importance of Young Rembrandts and how our approach is so much more effective than most others at giving children the tools to draw on their own.

So, as a mom, I'm really appreciative of what Young Rembrandts has done for my own children. As a business woman, I'm really appreciative to have the opportunity to be part of such a worthwhile organization. I feel very lucky!

A second grader told me Tuesday that she is going to be a Young Rembrandts teacher when she grows up. She was so funny about it. She was sort of kicking it around out loud, saying, "I love art." I told her we can always use good teachers!

One of my teachers emailed me and told me that while she was working at her other job - which is in a picture framing shop - someone came in to have a picture framed which was the Young Rembrandts Ice Cream Sundae drawn by one of her students! I guess parents are really liking what they see.

 

One of my teachers was very excited about a comment a parent made. The parent asked when are you going to start teaching the children how to draw and not copy and trace the pictures? Cathy explained that the children do all of the drawing and coloring on their own. The Mom said it was unbelievable that her daughter could do such wonderful work and is very pleased with the program.

 

The art teacher at one of my schools entered the Mona Lisa drawings in a Kiwanis art contest. Two of the drawings won first place and each child received $100.00. The drawings are going onto state! Yippie!

We just started at a school in Clay County, and a 9 year boy signed up. It turns out that he has been kicked out of every afterschool activity because of behavior. Our teacher was concerned about having him in the class. Young Rembrandts struck a nerve with him and he loves it. He can't wait until the next class. Even his regular teachers have commented on the change in his behavior. The power of drawing is Young Rembrandts!

 

You and Bill and the whole crew in the Home Office are such down-to-earth, honest people and I love to convey that to others.

We are so blessed with such wonderful staff. When trouble hits us, the core group "circles the wagons " and helps in any way they can. I know it is the same way out at the Home Office and you feel blessed to have staff who are friends, as well.