Sing to the Owie

In times of bumps or bruises, it can help to sing to the owie while the child is breathing deeply.  Latin American cultures have a rhyme that is recited at the time of an injury.  You can recite the rhyme and gently rub your fingers over the injury in a circular motion.  As you recite and rub, ask the child to imagine that the rhyme is helping the owie to heal faster.  Concentrate on the owie getting better quickly.

(“sana, sana” means “heal, heal”)

Sana,sana                                              

Colita de rana,                                      

Si no sanas hoy                                                

Sanarás mañana.                                                          

Translation...

Heal, heal

frog tail is in sorrow.

If I rub today

You will heal tomorrow

The rhythm of the rhyme carries with it a fun energy and the child is given the opportunity to feel a wonderful connection with the adult as it is completed.

For a rhythmic representation and further explanation of this rhyme, please see the book De Colores and Other Latin-American Folk Songs for Children by Jose-Luis Orozco.

–©2007 Jennifer Jazwierska, All Rights Reserved.