Mozart out, Madonna in for moms-to-be
Expectant mothers stretch their arms before a ballet class at D Qube Dance Gallery, located in Sinsa-dong , southern Seoul. [JoongAng Ilbo]
With an increasing number of moms-to-be seeking novel approaches to prenatal education, a host of new programs has surfaced.
Most recently, the National Palace Museum of Korea launched an eight-week program called “Royal Prenatal Education: Raise your baby in a royal way.”
Registration for the program - based on a first-come, first-served basis - closed within 20 seconds on the first day, as all available slots filled up quickly, said Kim Eun-kyung, an official who works on a public relations team at the museum.
Among 19 participating mothers, one mother-to-be even made a trip from Daejeon, a two-and-a-half hour train ride from Seoul.
The museum started accepting applications at 10 a.m. over the Internet.
One woman timed it perfectly.
“I sat in front of my computer and clicked the ‘register’ button as soon as my clock hit ten,” the woman said during a recent break in one of the classes.
During the eight-week program, which started April 16, mothers make baby journals and benet jeogori (the traditional first coat worn by a newborn baby) using traditional methods. The origin of benet jeogori dates back to King Jeongjo (1752-1800).
“Instead of luxurious silk, our ancestors used cotton, which has no color or pattern, to make the coat, hoping for their babies to learn modesty,” Kim Eun-young, an instructor who gave a brief presentation of the class, told attendees during one of the classes. The program costs 30,000 won ($22.60).
The museum plans to launch a second round of classes in September.
Some expectant mothers are also taking ballet classes.
Dance Gallery offers such classes across the nation. It primarily holds the classes at cultural centers, which typically are operated by department stores and discount chains.
Blabla dolls. Provided by Gmarket
On one weekday last month, a dozen mothers were stretching their arms and legs as classical music played in the background.
“I chose a ballet class because I thought ‘this is something new,’” said Kim Ju-yeon, a worker who was 21 weeks pregnant at the time.
“I’m very satisfied with my decision. I used to wake up in the middle of the night because of pregnancy cramps, but I sleep well these days since I started regularly working out and learning abdominal breathing from this class.”
At Gangnam New Core Outlet, located in the southern part of Seoul, a ballet class with six sessions costs 30,000 won, while a longer, three-month course costs 60,000 won.
“Baby EQ” Provided by Universal Music Korea
The instruments include bells, glockenspiels and celesta.
The songs include hits from artists such as Madonna, Elton John, Sting and U2.
The company claims the high-frequency sounds help calm babies, said Lim Hang-min, an official of Universal Music Korea.
The CD is available at music stores, and more artists such as Stevie Wonder and Phil Collins will be added in the near future.
Some women, instead of, say, knitting, are opting to spend their free time making Blabla dolls.
The nation’s major online marketplaces, such as Gmarket and Auction, sell do-it-yourself kits for making the doll, which are available for as little as 9,000 won.
A baby journal made during a prenatal class.
They are taller and more colorful than traditional dolls, and the arms are longer.
Many mothers who make Blabla dolls believe that needlework is good for enhancing the intelligence of their unborn babies.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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