Family play for the longest day of Father Sun! This is an interactive game and art project we use to celebrate the solstice as a family. The children transform from a hungry caterpillar to a flourishing butterfly seeking nectar from the flowers in the meadow.

THE GAME…

CATERPILLAR PHASE: I start the game pretending I am Mother Earth and the children are hungry caterpillars. The children are cloaked in silks, or any light colorful blanket with the corners tied to their writs with loose rubber bands. First, they wriggle in the grass pretending to munch on plants.

COCOON PHASE: After they have “eaten”, they take turns resting in the cocoon. I lay down on a blanket, the “cocoon”, and roll them up so their whole body is wrapped snuggly. While they “sleep” for “days”, I give them a little body massage and compression.

BUTTERFLY PHASE: When the caterpillar is ready to “wake up”, I set them free to fly on their “wings”, the silks or blanket already tied to their wrists. . They run to gather flowers in the meadow and bring them back to Mother Earth. One by one we put the delicate flowers in a flower press or heavy book. We repeat the cycle as many times as they wish.

When the flowers are done drying after about a week in the flower press, we use them to make a waxed paper collage to hang in the window. — **THE ART PROJECT…**
DRYING: Allow the flowers to dry for about a week in a flower press or heavy book.
COLLAGE: Arrange the flowers between 2 pieces of wax paper and then press with a hot iron until the wax has sealed the 2 sheets together around the flowers.
CUT + HANG: Trim around the edges of the collage and hang in the window to enjoy all summer!

PARENTING TIP…

This game is not only a way to engage the children, it is also one of my go-to games for when the children need some help down-regulating their nervous systems. The game gives them clear ways to take action as well as a potent time to pause. While they are in the “cocoon” phase, the darkening of light from the blanket and the compression from my weight are all ways to help them calm down, get into their bodies and get control of themselves. This part supports them calming down or getting still. They love the feeling of containment and having my full attention; akin to being back in the womb. In this part of the game, I try to use as little verbal cues as possible, keeping my focus on the embodiment of rest and body-awareness.

YOU. MIGHT ALSO ENJOY...