You may know by now that I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, where average annual temperatures hover around the 25 degrees Celsius mark and Winter daytime temperatures rarely fall below 15. There are basically two seasons in SA – Summer and Winter. As Winter winds down, temperatures are already reaching the early 20’s and with Autumn’s mild temperatures, the changing of seasons are not entirely noticeable. 

My family and I moved to Canada in 2022 and we have enjoyed experiencing four distinct seasons. Fall, with its display of spectacular colours, is a firm favourite. I love Fall for the rich sensory experience it offers. The brilliance of colours that burst in beams of sunlight. The musky smell of leaves with their humble earthiness. The crunching sound of steps and whooshing of breezes. 

During our first Fall, I was in awe of how many colours leaves can turn.

From sunset orange to fiery red
Lime green, yellow or pink instead

I remember walking a trail in North Bay’s beautiful Boreal Forest and staring as a funnel of leaves swirled in the breeze, then swayed elegantly before landing on a bed of red and pink leaves that marked the trail before us. I could all but picture a beautiful bride making her way down the aisle, her white gown kicking up leaves as she swishes past, wisps of leaves swirling about her head.  

The scientific explanation for this picturesque season has to do with the process of photosynthesis. Leaves absorb sunlight so that chloroplasts within the cells of leaves can use it to produce food for the tree. Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll which provides leaves with their pigment, giving them their green colour. The stronger the sun, the brighter the green. As days get shorter and the sun gets further from the earth, the amount of sunlight is reduced. Leaves can no longer produce food for the tree. As the chlorophyll breaks down, more chemicals such as carotene, xanthophylls and anthocyanins appear, giving leaves orange, yellow and red pigments. 

As we appreciate this beautiful process of change, I like to be reminded that significant changes in our own lives, while they can be uncomfortable and even scary at times, can result in beautiful transformations.

When I was young my parents bought a book for my siblings and I called ‘Fun on a rainy day’. This little book had songs and indoor activities, all of which we devoured. Some of them were so simple, yet they entertained us for hours, so much so that I still remember them many years later. 

Since we celebrate World Rain Day on 29 July, I thought I would share some fun activities that can be done indoors, most of which will get your little ones to open up their imaginations and get  creative. 

But before I do that, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the important role that rain plays for all living things on earth. I admit that I have complained about the rain when I had an important outdoor event or when the rain disrupted my plans. Then I feel foolish as soon as I realize that I totally overreacted. Rain is life-giving and it keeps our world green. It’s an important part of the water cycle and that is why we celebrate it on World Rain Day.

So in that spirit, here are some ideas for fun indoor activities you can try with your little ones:

Click here to download the above list of activities in a printable PDF format.

I recently had the honor of visiting schools to read my book and share a bit about my author journey. As Two Little Raindrops is my first book, I didn’t know what to expect. I planned to read the story then talk about the importance of saving water. Some of the teachers mentioned that their class might be interested in hearing about writing and publishing. I prepared by thinking about questions the children might possibly ask and I told myself that I’d just answer honestly and hope for the best! 

I had no idea just how much I would end up enjoying connecting with the children, teachers and educators and what an important confidence boost it has been. 

The teachers and children made me feel so special. Some of the teachers or principals gave me such an honorable introduction that I felt like Julia Donaldson! 

I got to experience first-hand the children’s reaction to Two Little Raindrops. I noticed how kids loved it when I introduced the quirky characters and how they were satisfied by the ending. I could see the exact moment when some of the older kids realized that the story is about the water cycle. I loved it when children asked questions (How did you become an author? How did you get the idea for your book? How long did it take you to make it? Will you be famous one day? Oh yeah!) 

I love their comments, especially their excitement telling me how much they love reading or writing too! I had so many kids put up their hand to say ‘I love your book!’ or ‘I love you!’ – I am still beaming. 

Three things that this experience has made me realize:

Teachers are angels.
I always knew this, but I have been reminded that it takes a special breed of people to be able to do this job, with unfailing love and care and extreme patience. They make a lasting impact on children and have to be ‘on their toes’ every day, all day. The summer holidays are not long enough! 

This book doesn’t have a singular purpose.
This book was inspired by my love for nature and I want kids to connect with and understand nature. In addition to this purpose, it can help families to become closer (like the times that my own children and I bonded over books), it can help children to remember how much fun it is to play in the rain and it can inspire some children to write their own stories! 

I want to do more.
I wasn’t sure how people would react to my first book but now that I have seen how my little readers enjoy it, I can’t wait to share more books with families and connect with more readers, teachers and schools. 

A few notes for authors or aspiring authors who are thinking about school visits: 

1. Tailor the talk to the grade
Here is more or less what that meant for my book, a picture book aimed at 3- 8 year olds:

Kindergarten: My focus was on the magic of rain! After talking about all the fun ways to play in the rain, I read the story and then added a brief summary of the water cycle. I ended by talking about the important role water plays for people, animals and plants.

Grades 1-3: Quick intro about fun in the rain, I read the story, asked them questions about the water cycle, focused a bit more on ways to save water, then a few questions relating to being an author.

Grades >3+: Introduced myself, read the story and then focused on writing and publishing (ideas and inspiration, how long it takes, process…)

This was a fluid structure and I would often change the direction of the talk based on what the children were asking and the interest they showed in various topics.

2. Be as engaging as you can
The best way I did this was by trying to make sure my eyes were circling the room and by asking the class a lot of questions. Most kids are so eager to tell you about themselves and get really excited to participate in the discussion.  

3. Practice reading your book aloud / try memorizing it
This sounds silly but it’s so important as you want to focus on the childrens’ reactions while you are reading and add expressions, making it really fun for the kids. You can’t do that properly if you are concentrating so hard on making sure you don’t miss words!

Teachers and parents, please download free literacy lesson plans that compliment Two Little Raindrops from the For Teachers tab on my website. If you’re interested in having me visit your school, either in person (if I’m in the area), or remotely (30-minute Zoom), I would be delighted if you drop me a line: hello@adelelamothe.com

The sand massages my feet, each grain working its magic as I look out over the sparkling ocean. The tide is low and small waves of turquoise sway to-and-fro, a rolling ramba that meets the shore with a swoosh.

A row of shells decorate the sand in a curving pattern that reveals how far the sea has made it past the shoreline. Just then a seagull cries out and a flash of white wings swoop down in a fluid motion. Lining the edge of the beach is a row of emerald trees with bright leaves rustling in the breeze.  

As I breathe in the salty air, my eyes instinctively close. I take in the sounds, the smells and the beauty that surrounds me. My shoulders feel light and a sense of calm washes over me.

I always feel completely at peace when I immerse myself in nature. Whether I am lying on a sandy beach, taking a stroll in the woods or paddle boarding on the lake, nature helps me to forget my troubles for a while. It is also where I feel close to God, amidst sea spray and pine fragrance, rolling hills and exquisite sunsets. 

Nature has the ability to relax the body and calm the mind, and it’s not only me. Green environments and natural sounds have been linked with relaxation and well-being for many years. In fact, research shows that sounds of nature can physically alter our brain’s connection, reducing our body’s natural fight-or-flight instinct.*  

This is a great reason to get out in nature and enjoy it with our loved ones and teach our children to connect with nature as often as possible, so that they develop a deep appreciation of it. Apart from the health benefits, they will understand the need to care for our beautiful environment. 

In April we celebrate Earth month, and it’s a great time to appreciate te wonders of our beautiful planet and how much we get from it; recreation; food; water; healing. Let’s make sure we do everything we can to protect it for future generations. 

Here are a few ways we can be kinder to our earth: 

Save water: turn the tap off while brushing teeth; take a shorter shower; fix dripping taps

Save energy: switch lights off when not in use;  install eco-friendly light bulbs; open windows for air instead of using the AC

Reduce emissions: walk or cycle short distances; car pool; buy locally produced products as they have traveled less

Reduce plastic: Use cloth shopping bags ; use reusable containers & water bottles; choose paper over plastic where possible

* Research reference:  https://www.nature.com/articles/srep45273