Creative Parenting

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk

by: Adele Faber, Elaine Mazlish

Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 07/13/2009)

Fun Activities 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.

T-shirts to color in: This is just one of the designs for t-shirts to color in. There are more available at this site, under the category - outline art.

outline art - colorful owl shirt
by

Cherylsart

Get this custom shirt
at Zazzle

Favorite Parenting Books

Share your favorite parenting books and/or vote for your favorites.

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How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber

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Incredible You! 10 Ways to let your greatness shine through by Wayne W. Dyer

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Your creative parenting tips:

Thank you.

Share and/or vote for your favorite tips.

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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: $12.99 (as of 07/13/2009)

Shrek the Third (Widescreen Edition)

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 07/13/2009)

The Jungle Book (40th Anniversary Platinum Edition)

Amazon Price: $18.49 (as of 07/13/2009)

Mary Poppins (40th Anniversary Edition)

Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 07/13/2009)

The Little Mermaid (Two-Disc Platinum Edition)

Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 07/13/2009)

Thank you for your comments, rating this lens, and/or for your purchase.

Do you have a parenting tip to share?

Lensmaster

aj2008 wrote...

Just revisiting lenses in the Children and Parenting Group, to say how proud I am of the lenses that are there.

Posted May 20, 2009

Lensmaster

Jo Brielyn wrote

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!

Posted March 25, 2009

Lensmaster

aj2008 wrote...

Sometimes as parents we forget that the most simple of things are the most fun! Welcome to the Children and Parenting Group

Posted February 21, 2009

Lensmaster

SusieMonday wrote...

HI, I'm looking around at the sites related to creative parenting. You've got some fun ideas here. Hope you'll check out our lens. Susie

Posted January 13, 2009

Lensmaster

GrowWear wrote...

Great parenting tips. Teaching through singing works really well! I do it all the time with my grandson. I forget the words now, but when his favorite team didn't make it to the Super Bowl, the song we made up was about how they didn't get there but next year they may. He learned to handle his disappointment by looking to the future for another chance.

Posted June 17, 2008