For my daughter, getting her hair washed has been an emotional project. She usually has a tantrum at the mere suggestion that hair washing might be on the agenda.
The other day, I let her know we were going to do the deed. I could see her becoming tense and her body wriggling. “No! I won’t let you!”
I started to explain we needed to take care of her hair as it was getting so matted… and then in feigned shock, I pointed, “Oh what is that?! I think I can see a little birdie flying out of your hair nest!”
She started giggling. I continued, “Oh look! A zebra fleeing from your hair… don’t wash me! I’m getting out of here!” She laughed and laughed as more animals escaped her messy curls. She started joining in with ideas of what else was coming out of her hair.
Then, unbelievably, she lay peacefully along my legs while I wet and washed her hair, and then sat quietly while I combed it.
It was the first ever hair wash in her 3.5 years that had involved no crying—all thanks to playlistening!
–Roma Norriss, Hand in Hand Certified Instructor
