The energy was high at Arise today, as some of the older kids were practically bouncing off the walls (and occasionally bouncing off the couches)! The grownups in the room laughed along and encouraged the enthusiastic participation, but it became clear quite quickly that the kids were more engaged in more game/play-based songs, so we ran through songs like The Hokey Pokey, Walk and Stop, and 5 Little Monkeys, with some spontaneous additions, and even made up our own new song for the Floor is Lava game. One of the kids seemed to be a bit disconnected and perhaps not having the best day, but the other kids and grownups were very caring towards him and kept him involved without pushing him into it, and by the time we brought out the music bag I saw a smile on his face when he started clicking the castanets. I really felt the way music can brighten someone's day in that moment.