Singing in the rain
Have you noticed that children don’t like being hurried? They love to spend time ‘smelling the roses’, watching a snail cross the footpath or listening to the rain rushing through a downpipe. When you have a pre-schooler at home, try to slow down and enjoy their pleasure in the simple pleasures of life.
Why not try walking in the rain? Put on rubber boots, raincoats and hats and grab an umbrella and take a walk around the block. Listen to the water rushing down the gutters and dripping off the trees. Talk about where birds go to keep dry and watch out for snails and other water loving creatures. Notice how different the world looks when it is all wet. Let your child get wet and have a splash around in the puddles - they will enjoy the novelty and can soon dry off or have a hot bath when you get home.
If we want our children to value the natural environment we need to teach them about it through experiences they will remember. Try an all-weather walk and maybe even take a photo, then you can look at it when the dry heat of summer comes and remember the day it rained and you got wet!
Judyth Roberts
Seaton Central
