If you want your children to listen as if they had a headset on, read away.
Do you want your kids to do what they should without repeating yourself TEN times?
Or without you counting to TEN?
Or without feeling like it’ll take them TEN minutes before they actually do what you ask?
No, I do not have an unhealthy obsession with the number ten, but yes I do have a cool way to get your kids to listen and follow you.
Come closer, I’ll tell you all about it.
What is the “To The Beat” Method and how will it get children to listen?
This method is simple: play music instead of giving verbal instructions. It uses songs to do one of the following:
- to signal a task or activity that needs to be done
- to transition to that task or activity
- to challenge children to finish doing something before the song ends (ex: picking up toys, brushing teeth, etc.)
This method is based on an article by Dr. Heller, who is now a retired psychologist. The idea of which (the article) is to be more creative when communicating with children, instead of relying on verbal communication.
The reason for this is that children learn more by seeing, doing and playing as opposed to listening or hearing verbal instructions. However, do remember that like anything in parenting, figure out if this method works on your children.
If it does, good. If not, move on to other methods (which will be posted soon so watch out for them). Remember that all children are different; therefore, they respond to different things.
Whew! Now that’s done, it’s time to show you…
How to use this method so your children follow
Kids love music.
Why shouldn’t they? Its soul food, plus there are a ton of kiddie songs with catchy tunes that will help them do what needs to get done, minus all the drama and defiance.
- Choose 2-3 songs for each activity so as not to bore the children
- Use (catchy) kiddie songs or any pop songs your kids love
- Store them all in one place: burn them on a CD or if you’re using YouTube, organize the songs by adding them to a playlist
- Play the songs!
Here are examples on how to use music to “encourage” the little ones to do things.
Note: Adjust the music according to your child’s age and / or preferences. (I use the following songs below for my 5-year-old.)
Mornings:
- Use this Good Morning Mr. Rooster song as an alarm
- Use this Wake Up! song to get kids ready in the morning (wash face, brush teeth, dress-up, eat breakfast, go to school)
Taking a bath / shower:
- Play this This Is How We Take A Bath song instead of gently asking them to get cleaned
Doing homework:
- Use this Homework song to get them in the mood for homework
Cleaning up:
- Use this Clean Up to get kids to put toys and books away, and lastly…
Sleeping song:
- Use this Lullaby song to signal that it’s time to wind down and sleep (what else?!)
Here’s a great example of a morning song you can use, which is called This is the Way We Go to School.
Done watching it?
Don’t you think this method is a FUN way to get children to do mundane things?
Go on and try the “To The Beat” Method!
If you haven’t yet, now is a great time to.
If you use it occasionally, try to incorporate it more into your children’s daily routine.
About Anne Mercado
Awesome!!!! We used this all the time with our kids. I’m using “iambic pentameter” (think Shakespeare) with my son, now, to help him learn definitions for English class.
The journey to college — for students and mamas
Twitter: karen_dawkins
Wow, Karen! I have not heard iambic pentameter since highschool, but it’s pretty cool to be using it to help your son in school.
I had to dust off my high school brain, too! It worked, though. Even though he has a learning difference, he’s got all A’s going so far freshman year. Whatever works!!! Next, we’ll be rappin’!
How to make a vacation bucket list
Twitter: karen_dawkins
So going to try this! Absolutely tired of having to repeat my self over, and over, and over…….
It’s Grandparents Day! Got a Gift Yet?
Twitter: PardonMyPoppet
Hi Liz! Yes, I know how it feels to repeat something 1 million times! Have you tried it by any chance? And how did you find it?
Oh, I like the Good Morning Rooster track! This is a great post, I like reading about ways to encourage and help the kids listen and/or learn better.
Hello Fall $1,000 Cash Giveaway!
I also love that song, actually. It’s such a nice tune to wake up to!
Love this – I listened to the clean up song – it’s so funny how not everyone is in perfect pitch! Makes me feel comfortable singing
I will try this out today with my boys.
Another Reminder from The Twins…
Twitter: Twinfun1n1
Leigh, this made me laugh! Yeah, the kids singing made it seem more “real” if you know what I mean! Hope your boys enjoyed it!
I see how this would really work! Think about The Wiggles, Barney, and in my day, Sesame Street. We all learned through music!! I like the idea of using cues from music for specific tasks….
Banish the Bottle:: Raw Detox Salad Dressing
Twitter: cleansediva
Pre-schools use music a lot to get the little ones to follow, why not adapt the practice at home? It works for teachers, it should work for parents!
And yes, I love Sesame Street and did learn a lot from all those catch tunes. They even had one song titled “Letter B” which was sung to the tune of Let it Be by John Lennon.
I can be a witness that this REALLY works–when I was teaching, All I would do was flick the lights twice and start the clean up song and the kids all KNEW…I’ve sung the bath song with my own kids too.–the homework song Haven’t herd, but will try!
Family Fall Fun at the Pumpkin Farm
Twitter: ReviewsSheROTE
Ooohh, I love the light flicking trick! Will try that with the kiddo, it makes signaling chores more fun.
Great tips. This is great. Making it fun is def the way to go. I use the clean up song sometimes because that’s what they do at school. Going to try the other songs
Massachusetts Judge Approves Gender Surgery For Inmate
Twitter: imasillymami
Well, when you’re desperate like me, you try almost everything
We use this method all the time, though I didn’t know it has a name
We modify the songs that we sing in our Kindermusik classes. An example would be “here we go my little one, let’s go marching, marching, marching(or whatever action) (2x), marching to the bathroom!” Works every time! Thanks for sharing!
Twitter: learningbasket
Well, it doesn’t really have a name so I gave it one. It’s easier to tell others about it now instead of saying, “use music so kids will follow”
That’s quite a mouthful. Anyway, I like the bathroom song. To what tune do you sing that to? Or can I make one up?
Haha you’re right that it’s easier to tell others about it. I shared this post on my FB fan page btw. Anyway, here’s the link to the song snippet… http://play.kindermusik.com/en/tracks/3717-here-we-go/
We Choose Virtues: Review and Giveaway
Twitter: learningbasket
These are great ideas!!! My children are very musical, this would surely be a hit in the house!
Glad you like it!
That is really interesting, especially the pary to make a game out of it. I think that would work especially well. Thanks!
Bike Ride in DC- Active to Peaces
Twitter: chocolatepeaces
It usually works well with the kiddos, Gina! Music just gets everyone to move – most of the time.
About the only time it may not work is when the little ones are in the middle of a meltdown.
This is a great idea for toddlers. I wonder if there’s something that would work for grade schoolers and teens.
Hi Aileen! If your grade schooler has a favorite song, you can play it while he cleans up his room. Is this something you want to try with your nieces/nephews?
I love this! My daughter is a music person, so I have a strong feeling this will be really effective.
Simply Superb Replica Louis Vuitton Handbags
Twitter: PepperTan
I love it too! It works 95% of the time for me. But the real question is… does it work on your little girl?
My kid is really into rock music, he gets bored with songs for kids, I wonder why? Hope this will work on him!
Desserts at Slice (High Street)
Hi Lyra! Not all kids like the same thing. Case in point, my son didn’t like colorful toys when he was a toddler.
Glad your kiddo is into rock music; perhaps you’ll have a rocker. Would you let me know how this method works for you?
Thank you so much. This is really very helpful. I have been trying to find ways on how to develop the listening skill in my daughter as she is kinaesthetic.
Go Green for our kid’s sake!
Glad you found this helpful. For now, there are about 3 other methods in this series of posts. There is also another one that may work: It’s called the Step Back Method.
Glad we’re on the right track! This just confirmed what I learned from Super Simple Songs. Really agree to all these 3
to signal a task or activity that needs to be done
to transition to that task or activity
to challenge children to finish doing something before the song ends (ex: picking up toys, brushing teeth, etc.)
We also sing clean up song, bath time song (both from Super Simple)and brush brush brush by Colgate. =)
That colgate song is pretty catchy!
Hey, thanks for sharing this! I’m gonna try the songs you recommended with my daughter.
Dancing In A Diner
Hi, Cha. Were you able to use the songs for your daughter? How’d it go?