When played by the wind or children, a single chime produces a fundamental sound with a variety of additional overtones, so when  chimes start moving, many different tones and overtones are produced, making this instrument sound truly magical.

Wind chimes can indicate a change in wind direction or velocities, so children will always know when air is in motion. This, of course, can lead to imaginative stories about wind elves and fairies ringing the chimes, or to discussions about wind and why the air moves, or about clouds moving, birds in flight, kites flying, and so on.