Rhythm Child

Earlier this week Baby M and I went to Rhythm Child at the Santa Monica Library's Fairview branch. The Rhythm Child network has a variety of products and programs, but at the library, founder Norm Jones led the kids in a drum workshop. Baby M loves drumming and had a blast at the workshop. Norm had a ton of energy, but perhaps even more importantly, he had a ton of instruments. Every kid could get the exact type of drum he or she wanted so there were no fights or tears. Somewhere along the way Baby M lost his bongo drum and we just grabbed another one out of one of the large bins. No problem.

Norm led the kids in playing loud and soft, fast and slow, taught them some simple rhythms and told them a story about Pirates. The kids had plenty of time to drum, dance, sing and just be themselves. I've seen a fair number of child entertainers by this point and one thing that made Norm stand out was how well he responded to some of the more unexpected actions of the kids. When one child explained that he didn't have a drum but he did have a "pee pee potty" Norm was impressed. When another child came up to the front to show Norm his pirate shirt, Norm just lifted him up and said, "Look everybody, he has pirates on his shirt." In both cases he incorporated their comments into the performance and made everyone feel comfortable and part of the group. It's easy for entertainers in these situations to play to the parents or older kids with jokes or eye rolls that leave the younger kid feel confused or embarrassed. I've been to other events where a disruptive child asked to sit down or he is indulged while a disapproving glance is directed towards the parent. In this case nothing felt disruptive or inapproriate. It didn't matter if you had a shy kid, a loud kid or a kid who just wanted to bang on a drum, everyone felt accepted and everyone had fun. It was one of the most joyful afternoons we've ever spent at the library.

Rhythm Child has events throughout Los Angeles, and many of them are free. Check out their calendar to find out where they'll be next.