| When it comes to parenting toddlers, one common | | | | youngest daughter was just learning to speak she |
| problem is that toddlers like to take their toys out, but | | | | would shout out at the "oh oh" part because she could |
| they are not so keen on putting them away. | | | | not sing the rest. And she did it with such enthusiasm |
| The reason is very natural. Clean-up time is just not a | | | | and excitement! Within months she would come up to |
| whole lot of fun for anyone. At least that's the way | | | | me and tug on my pant leg, saying "Daddy clean up |
| your kids (and probably you) have been conditioned. In | | | | song". Of course she couldn't pronounce the "L" yet so |
| my house we've changed this by anchoring a positive | | | | it sounded more like "keen up song". Too cute! |
| feeling to the whole cleanup process. When I say | | | | One day I'll teach them the real lyrics so they don't get |
| "anchoring a positive feeling" I mean that we have | | | | made fun of when they are older. It reminds me of this |
| established a ritual that is fun for the kids, so it makes | | | | one "Saturday Night Live" skit where they talk about |
| them feel good. Since the fun is connected to clean-up | | | | songs that are commonly sung with the wrong lyrics. |
| time it literally programs their brains to enjoy clean-up | | | | "Purple Haze" by Jimi Hendrix was on the list because |
| time. | | | | some people sing "Excuse me while I kiss this guy" |
| What do we do? We play a particular song and sing | | | | instead of "Excuse me while I kiss the sky". What a |
| along while we put away the toys. The song is | | | | laugh! |
| "Dreamer" by Supertramp. It's a fun song and we've | | | | Anyway back to the point of all this - my kids enjoy |
| come up with our spoof version of it at home. Basically | | | | the clean-up process because we (the parents) are |
| we substitute the word "Clean-up" instead of | | | | actively involved and we've turned it into a fun activity |
| "Dreamer". Really complicated (not!) | | | | with an attached feel-good song. That's why it works. |
| "Clean-up ...everybody clean-up... Can you put your | | | | There are no fights. I just put on the song and start |
| hands in the air oh oh ..." | | | | singing. You can do this with any activity and make it |
| The kids probably think that these are the real lyrics. | | | | fun. |
| We call it "The clean-up song" at home. When my | | | | |