by 5 people |
Creative Parenting or Parenting and a Song!
Some things we do as parents haven't been written in books, sometimes we just ad-lib and come up with something in the moment, something that is spontaneously creative. These are some of the creative parenting ideas that I came up with, in the moments, that have worked for me. I hope that they are helpful to you too.
If you have a creative parenting tip that you would like to share, feel free to add it in the guestbook at the bottom of the page.
Singing for Attention!
When my daughter was little and in day care, the teacher reported that she had been biting and pinching. I stood by and watched her for awhile one morning through the window, and saw that she was just wanting attention. A younger baby was getting fed by the teacher, and my daughter tried a number of things to get attention, which didn't work.
At home, I tried explaining, but that didn't work. Then I had an idea, there had to be something that she could do to get attention in a more positive way. A song! A song that she could sing.
It goes like this:
I sing for attention, please give some to me, me, me.
I used to bite and pinch, but now I can sing, sing, sing.
I sing for attention, please give some to me.
Although she didn't know all the words at first, she knew enough that she could sing, "I sing for attention," she sang. She loved it. She felt empowered that she had a way to get some attention. And it was a way that brought smiles to my face. We had a winner!
At home, I tried explaining, but that didn't work. Then I had an idea, there had to be something that she could do to get attention in a more positive way. A song! A song that she could sing.
It goes like this:
I sing for attention, please give some to me, me, me.
I used to bite and pinch, but now I can sing, sing, sing.
I sing for attention, please give some to me.
Although she didn't know all the words at first, she knew enough that she could sing, "I sing for attention," she sang. She loved it. She felt empowered that she had a way to get some attention. And it was a way that brought smiles to my face. We had a winner!
What did you sing you want done?
When my daughter was nearing the toddler stage and I gave simple instructions, she started just running off to play or do whatever. I didn't want to be yelling after her or chasing after her either, I knew she liked songs and singing, soooo, I started singing instructions. She always stopped for a song and gladly listened. For instance:
"We pick up our toys after our play,
and then we put them away," I sang as I demonstrated what I wanted her to do. And that is how we got the toys put away, a little singing and a little putting away.
"We pick up our toys after our play,
and then we put them away," I sang as I demonstrated what I wanted her to do. And that is how we got the toys put away, a little singing and a little putting away.
The toothbrush song
When her teeth started coming in, brushing teeth was quite entertaining. My daughter wanted to bite the toothbrush and chew on it. I'm sure it felt good. But I also knew it was important to brush her teeth. The toothbrush song became:
"When we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, we keep our mouth open.
When we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, we keep our mouth open."
And I also demonstrated with my mouth what open meant. : )
Again she listened, and became a lot more cooperative.
"When we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, we keep our mouth open.
When we brush our teeth, brush our teeth, we keep our mouth open."
And I also demonstrated with my mouth what open meant. : )
Again she listened, and became a lot more cooperative.
Making Thunder!
My daughter was maturing and noticing more. The thunder that had ocurred the previous summer hadn't phased her. But that Spring day of her third year, the thunder sent her running to me with arms outstretched.
I picked her up explained about thunder, that it was just a noise with the rain. That didn't help a bit. It thundered again and she held on tight.
I knew I need something for her to do so that I could finish cooking the food that was on the stove. I got an idea.
I sat her back down on the floor and told her we could make our own thunder. I started saying, "Boom, boom, boom," and then I added stomping my feet. She started giggling and saying, "Boom, boom, boom," and stomped her feet too. She was happy again and ran back into the living room making her own thunder.
I picked her up explained about thunder, that it was just a noise with the rain. That didn't help a bit. It thundered again and she held on tight.
I knew I need something for her to do so that I could finish cooking the food that was on the stove. I got an idea.
I sat her back down on the floor and told her we could make our own thunder. I started saying, "Boom, boom, boom," and then I added stomping my feet. She started giggling and saying, "Boom, boom, boom," and stomped her feet too. She was happy again and ran back into the living room making her own thunder.
Talking and Listening
As my daughter became older, the songs didn't have quite the same flair that they once did. I had to learn a whole new set of rules and ideas. The book that I found the most helpful was, How to talk so that kids will listen & listen so kids will talk.
It was helpful in having her do more thinking and me doing less telling and also less singing, although I had enjoyed it while it lasted.
It was helpful in having her do more thinking and me doing less telling and also less singing, although I had enjoyed it while it lasted.
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 11/28/2009) 
Fun color in shirts to do with the kids
When my daughter was little, we used to paint on tshirts with our hands and so forth. Once she became older and I got into art more, I thought wouldn't it be great if a design was already there that kids could paint or color in. T-shirts to color in was born. May you have fun with your child in your creative activites.
Outline Art, drawing of chipmunk color in shirt by Cherylsart
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T-shirts to color in
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Here you'll find pre-printed outline designs on tee shirts, by artist Cheryl Paton, that can be colored in. Tips and supplies to color in your shirts are here too. By beginning with a simple design, kids, teens, and adults can easily add to the d...
Your creative parenting tips:
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Share and/or vote for your favorite tips.
A little timer that chimes or rings
easily lets the child know when a time is up for s more...0 points
Fun movies for kids and to watch with your kids, on Amazon
Ratatouille
Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 11/28/2009)
Shrek the Third (Widescreen Edition)
Amazon Price: $17.49 (as of 11/28/2009)
The Jungle Book (40th Anniversary Platinum Edition)
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 11/28/2009)
Mary Poppins (40th Anniversary Edition)
Amazon Price: (as of 11/28/2009)
The Little Mermaid (Two-Disc Platinum Edition)
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 11/28/2009)
Thank you for your comments, rating this lens, and/or for your purchase.
Do you have a parenting tip to share?
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- aj2008 aj2008 Nov 24, 2009 @ 9:37 am
- The Childrens and Parenting Group that this lens belonged to has survived all the recent changes on Squidoo and is now a Lensography. This lens is now featured at Children and Parenting HQ.
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- CreativeArtist CreativeArtist Jul 17, 2009 @ 6:36 pm | in reply to onwardfilms
- Fridays sound like fun at your house! Cool idea.
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Reply
- onwardfilms onwardfilms Jul 17, 2009 @ 3:32 pm
- Make every Friday a fort night. In our house it is a custom that bring the whole family together. My children love it and each week they look forward to it. Throw in some popcorn and ice cream and a ton of blankets and pillow stacked and tucked here and there, and you have a tradition that brings the whole family together each week--now please excuse me, it's Friday and I have to go plan tonight's fort.
Thank you for sharing this lens.
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- aj2008 aj2008 May 20, 2009 @ 5:05 am
- Just revisiting lenses in the Children and Parenting Group, to say how proud I am of the lenses that are there.
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- Jo Brielyn Jo Brielyn Mar 25, 2009 @ 11:35 am
- Hi. I'm Jo Brielyn, the creator of Creative Parenting Tips. Thanks so much for the links to my blog and Twitter posts.
I love the creative parenting ideas you offer on this site. Here's to helping more parents learn to have FUN with their kids!
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About Me
Lensmaster CreativeArtist has been a member since January 11 2006, has rated 605 lenses, favorited 41, and has created 178 lenses from scratch. Cheryl Paton donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "Acrylic Painting Techniques". See all my lenses
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I am CreativeArtist on Squidoo and CherylsArt on Zazzle. I love creating custom art for you - www.zazzle.com/CherylsArt*/.
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