Redondo Mom: Give Toddler a Drum

"Bang on the Drum All Day" is on my iPod. Why? Because when I hear it, I feel like jumping up in the air with fists pumping, yelling, "Yesss man. Yessss!" like Dean Moriarty. (Google it).

It's not that I don't want to work. Work gives me a sense of pride, but banging on a drum gives me a sense of being. The heart has a rhythm; the earth has a rhythm; and most of us spend our days banging our heads against the wall instead of our hands against a drum. I can't imagine the freedom a child feels when banging on a drum if I feel slightly groovy just tapping out a beat on the shoulders of a carefully selected unarmed stranger.

Studies show that playing the drums can help us humans (my dog can't drum—can yours?) by lowering blood pressure, anxiety and stress levels while raising your mood; T-cell production; and IQ. 

"IQ?" you ask. In a study of 6-year-olds, drumming increased their IQ score by an average of seven points. Voice lessons raised scores by six and drama by five points. The scores from the "placebo" group—the kids who got the shaft—only increased by four.

So I have a plan: I'm going to raise Smith's IQ by 22 points by making him sing the alphabet while drumming and acting like the house is on fire while I ignore him. 

But seriously—drums can soothe your soul, and Paul Simon's Rhythm of the Saints  is my favorite album of all time. 

I understand not wanting to have a drum set at home.  Toddlers are already loud—like, loud-loud—and any added amplification is an unnecessary peril.  We have some drums at home, but nothing in comparison to what we saw at the farmers' market last week with Kaboom and Wobble.

Kaboom and Wobble provides various and sundry drums, bells and percussion instruments for you and your toddler to shake, bang and attempt to destroy.  There was also an accordion, which was timely because one of Smith's books has an accordion picture. (I kept trying to imitate the sound; it sounded like an ostrich giving birth.) Smith had an incredible time! 

Owner Frank DeLuca was there, and he was very helpful and patient with the children who were going around banging on all of his amazing instruments.

Kaboom and Wobble does children's parties, corporate events, experiential workshops and drum-circle classes. It often comes to the Torrance farmers’ market on Tuesdays, which is where we discovered the instruments. You can contact DeLuca via email at kaboomandwobble@yahoo.com or call 310-780-2928. 

Even if you don't have a drum at home, you can find rhythm using just about anything. From an empty coffee canister to the bottom of a paint can, you can find a drum—even if it's your husband's forehead. 

Bang your drum, Redondo Beach.