Music is a constant in my day home environment ( as is probably with any day care center). My daycare evolved from the first day I started, but the constant transformation always included my strong love of music. From children’s nursery rhymes, lo fi, meditative music, instrumental to more. Music is a tool to expel energy, for fun, for exercise, learning, and background noise. We sing. We dance. But not everyday is the same kind of music, just like us, we are not the same people we were yesterday.
The day I have in mind started off pretty rough, with plans being canceled. Everyone was in a somber mood, children included. Having made the mistake the day before telling the children we were going to the park in the morning, our plans dashed by the pelting rain from the sky. Sad little faces looking out the windows watching the sky, feeling the grey of the day. All of us hoping the rain would stop.
I had to figure out how to turn “their frown upside down”. The offered craft was met with some joy. However, their little minds had no desire for more with the craft finished. Overall playtime was met with arguing, and fighting over toys. Story time caused fidgeting and wiggling. There was no happy place for this rainy day. Then suddenly I had an idea. A smile spread across my face as I gathered the kids together. We put on boots, zipped up jackets, and bewildered little faces looked at me for answers.
Heading into the backyard, the kids started to giggle as the rain started to soak their hair. And we danced, and we sang, “Rain, rain, go away, come again another day!”. All while stamping in the rapidly forming puddles. Knowing we couldn’t stay outside for too long, we made the best of it. From one song to another, all songs about rain, dancing with shear delight! We soaked it all in 🙂
If you’re thinking about taking your kids outside to enjoy the rain, it can be handy to keep an extra raincoat on hand. Here is our recommendation!