Last Sunday, we took our granddaughters, ages five and three, to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, to see Raffi in concert. Raffi is an Egyptian-born Canadian singer/songwriter who is celebrating his 40th year entertaining children. His music was common around our house when our daughter was young. We wanted Sylvie and Caitlin to experience the music and fun of a live performance of Raffi's artistry.
We were prepared. Snacks are a big part of the concert going experience with the girls and we had planned ahead. Rick had the tote bag filled with bottled water, juice, cookies, and even candy which they rarely see. Extra clothes were a must, too. Sixty years of teaching between us made, "Be prepared," an understatement.
The girls were excited as we strapped them into the car seats, the bane of existence for any grandparent. When we were finally underway, jokes, singing and I Spy filled the fifty minute drive. Silly Knock Knock jokes are Sylvie's latest love. Caitlin laughs at everything!
Traveling with young children makes toileting a big part of the excursion and sinks are too high for children. I have a tough time lifting Caitln and helping her to wash her hands but the girls enjoy the washroom experience so much. If Caitlin gets bored, she wants to go multiple times!
The theatre was full of children accompanied by either parents or grandparents. It was noisy and fun, as action songs filled the time and space around each child. Adults participated too, some like us, knowing the music from four decades ago. The room felt electric and voices, young and old, sang along. The girls joined in too, doing the actions and singing their hearts out.
We rounded out the day with supper at our house after which they played with the toy farm, a perennial favourite. Now it doubles as a space ship and the characters and animals have jet packs as they fly through the house. Imagination was rampant and co-operation evident. They didn't want to go home.
One of our favourite Raffi songs is Apples and Bananas which is a short song which features the vowels. You can check it out below and experience your inner child.
14 comments:
Oh, I loved experiencing my inner child and practicing my vowels! What fun you had with your girls, and this little girl, too. :-)
The You Tube "Apples and bananas" made me smile too. The children in the concert look so happy, and your granddaughters are cute!(*^_^*)
Raffi is a Canadian classic alright! Glad everyone had so much fun!
Happy day! Beautiful little girls.
All the children in the video are enjoying it so much, I'm sure your grandchildren thought it was brilliant too! Sarah x
Glad you enjoyed it, Jan.
It was such a happy time!
Raffi is incredible. Simple songs for children with such joy and energy.
It was a great day. Thank you.
They loved it, Sarah.
Neat way to teach vowel sounds. I hope you had some apples and bananas in your tote. the kids all look scrubbed, dressed to the nines and happy. What fun!
I had to laugh at the smallest grand with the headband across her forehead instead of on top. My grand girls are always doing this and I'm always saying push your headband back. When I do I hear my grandmother saying push your bangs out of your face. I don't remember wearing headbands. I wonder why. Surely they were around back then.
They were so excited that day. They are wondering what our next outing will be.
I spent the day telling her about that headband. We lost it in the end. I wasn't sad about it though and neither was she.
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