New Enrichment Program for the 'Whole Child'

Jean Nastasi, newly landed in Croton from Queens, New York has already started a small business venture for area children.

The Whole Child offers holistic one-hour enrichments classes out of the Ajna Wellness Center.

Right now, the classes are held on Saturday mornings and early afternoons for $20 a pop for ages 5 to 13, but Nastasi, a mother of a kindergartner herself, aims to expand to weekday Mommy-and-me as interest grows. Now, it’s a drop-off program, and drop-ins are welcome without registration. (Though you can register, and find more info on the schedule and program, at the website here.)

The classes, as the name suggests, cater to the whole child, offering instruction in everything including painting, improv, music, cooking, gardening, nature studies, science experiements, sculpture, and, "writing, writing, writing," promises their website.

Nastasi got her MFA in creative writing, and is a former teacher. She envisioned this program as a way to combine her love of teaching, kids and writing.

Having only opened at the beginning of March, renting a room at the Wellness Center, Natasi reports that so far so good and hopes “that it keeps up.”

“It’s always something I wanted to do," Nastasi said. "I liked the idea of small groups of sort of ‘boutique-designed’ education. Though the schools here are excellent; this just supplements that.”

Know or own a unique local business in Ossining or Croton we should feature on Patch? Email me at krista.madsen@patch.com.