Wiggleworms

Every Tuesday at 11AM, Eliza and I attend our Wiggleworms class at the Old Town School of Folk Music. I think there are twelve pairs of babies and caregivers total in the class, but usually about half that show up. Our instructor, Tisa, plays the guitar and all the grown-ups sing along, rock the babies, help them clap their hands, and so on. Sometimes we stand up and walk around in circles while singing. Or we stand in a circle and swing the babies in and out. The babies do whatever they feel like doing - laugh, cry, look alarmed, wave their arms, clap their hands, poop their pants, and so on. At the end, Tisa blows bubbles (from Gymboree, which apparently has the best bubbles ever. Ever. Must buy some.), much to all the babies' delight.

Eliza generally enjoys her time at Wiggleworms. She likes clapping and seeing other babies and having bubbles land on her face. She's not so keen on the song at the beginning that has everyone's name in it - or rather, she likes the song, but not the part when we're singing about her and the whole room is looking at her. I find this odd, especially in light of her behavior today.

We were a little late because she was napping so we actually missed the first song. Everyone looked at us b/c we were late, which Miss E. did not enjoy. For the first half of the class, I'd say, she was very shy and almost fussy. Once we got to our feet and starting swinging the babies in and out for "Bingo" (B. I. N. G. Ohhhhhhh), she cheered up immensely and became her usual happy self. Then came the rhythm portion.

Wiggleworms requires shakers of some kind. We bought the baby maraca from their store, but Tisa also passes around big maracas and you are also welcome to bring any kind of shaker from home (shaker being a fancy word for rattle, of course). As Tisa was doing the passing, Eliza took it upon herself to crawl up to several of her classmates and take their shakers. Sometimes right out of their mouths. Nice. No interest at all in her own maraca, but plenty in everyone else's - even if everyone else's looked EXACTLY LIKE HERS! I corralled her back just before Tisa starting playing, but she was having none of it. She took off toward the big shakers that were in the middle of the circle and started playing with those. Then she got up on her knees and starting vigorously dancing to the music, while still holding onto a maraca that was about the size of her head. One little boy joined her in the center, but he didn't dance - merely clapped his hands at her to keep her going. She did this for about three songs and seemed mighty disappointed when the music finally ended.

Tisa laid her guitar on the floor for the babies to touch and strum and whatever. They all went for it except Eliza who just tried to dance again every time one of them successfully produced a sound from the strings. However, their rhythm was not acceptable so eventually she gave up and crawled over to bang on the guitar herself. To make amends, after lunch I put the Bee Gees on the Ipod and she immediately started grooving to "Tragedy," which is, I think, her new favorite song. She actually has a very good sense of rhythm and can almost clap in time to the music.

Up next? Contact Improvisational Dance, of course!