About Us
Caireen McMillan
Nickname - Caz
Our Background
Storyland Express classes were started to provide sensory stories and songs for babies and young children. Developed and started by Caireen McMillan (Caz), a highly qualified Primary Teacher with extensive experience in the Early Years. As part of her honours degree Caireen studied drama as an option and wrote her final thesis on drama in education. She is skilled at organising engaging learning activities that motivate young children. She has been trained in Aberdeenshire’s ‘Sing a Ring’ programme, based on the Kodaly method of music instruction for young children and studied Storytelling.
As the mother of three children Caireen has planned many developmental activities for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Classes started in 2011 and currently run in Aberdeen City and Shire.
We have now launched our own YouTube channel so that anyone, anywhere can take part in our fantastic stories. Join us online on a journey into imagination!
Storyland Express
Storyland Express was launched as we dreamed of having a class that was unique in that it was centered around stories. We wanted children to be highly engaged, entertained, encouraged and stimulated to express themselves creatively.
Rhymes & Tales
At Storyland Express we want to inspire a love of rhymes and tales. Songs and rhymes that are part of our traditions have high artistic and cultural value. Children grow in their understanding of the world through stories. We bring to life the wonderful world of fairy tales and nursery rhymes with our children so they can share them with theirs.
Drama & Role Play
Through drama and role play children develop language and communication skills. They learn new vocabulary and express themselves. They grow in confidence, creativity and imagination as they play out characters actions and emotions. Physical skills and spacial awareness are enhanced as they move and dance.
Music
We love music and follow the principles of Zoltan Kodaly, a famous Hungarian musician. With young children singing is the foundation of musical learning. The melody of a song is best heard when it is sung simply. Percussion instruments encourage children to keep the beat. Playing games, moving and dancing enable children to respond to rhythm and explore the pace of music.
The activities that are the easiest, cheapest, and most fun to do – such as singing, playing games, reading, storytelling, and just talking and listening – are also the best for child development.
Jerome Singer - Professor, Yale University
Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child’s soul.
Friedrich Froebel - Founder of the concept of nursey education.
Nursery rhymes and children’s stories gave kids an ear for language, for rhythm…They took imagination to all sorts of wild unexpected place…they give us a shared culture and a shared heritage.