Rachel Carson said in The Sense of Wonder “If a child is to keep alive his in-born sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.” She goes on to say, “The sharing includes nature in storm as well as in calm, by night as well as by day, and is based on having fun rather than on teaching.”

Science is all around for young children, whether they live deep in the country or in the heart of a bustling city. Parents and teachers need to encourage them to be curious, move at their own pace to explore their surroundings, and use one of their most important tools – their sense of hearing.

Auditory experiences are everywhere. Adults should encourage children, when outside, to pay attention to the multitude of sounds that are available everyday. Read The Listening Walk by Paul Showers. It is a wonderful book about a little girl who goes for a walk with her father and her dog and the outside sounds she hears.

Infants: Man Made Sounds: The environment surrounding infants is a primary factor in leading them toward their full potential. It is important to give them time and encouragement to observe before plunging them into the experience. When on a listening walk draw their attention to man made sounds like the sound of a car or bus, a truck horn or a bicycle bell ringing, lawn mowers, airplanes and jets.

Toddler: Animal Sounds: Toddlers are curious. Each season brings with it new opportunities to explore in a unique way. These experiences are meaningful to them, and easily help in the task of bringing about understanding. Take them on a listening walk and ask them to find different animal sounds like the sounds of crickets, frogs, ducks, dogs barking, birds chirping, bees buzzing in the flowers and cats meowing.

Preschoolers: Nature Sounds: Sensory science experiences are an excellent way for preschoolers to develop their critical thinking skills. These can be encouraged through concrete experiences with children listening to the sounds of nature when the wind is blowing, the patter of rain drops, thunder, leaves rustling in the trees, and the sound of waves crashing onto the beach.

Audrey Robertson states in All Season’s Fun & Frolic that, “Good childhood memories are treasures forever ours. Sometimes we are not even aware of having them stashed away to provide us with ongoing sustenance as we struggle to cope with our daily lives…” Taking children on regular listening walks can be one of these “good childhood memories” that can enhance family relationships forever.

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass,
It’s about learning to dance in the rain.