Tidy up songs

April 1, 2009 by Barbara.

I was reading recently in a parenting magazine that parents should sing the same tidy up song at home as the child is used to hearing at day care. I wholeheartedly support this idea but it can be hard to put into practice when the child is too young to tell you the song or unwilling to sing in their second language. Guess which situation has been prevailing in our house lately?

Finally, though, I persuaded Reid to sing her tidy up song. It goes like this:
C’est le temps de tout ranger, ramasser, nettoyer.
C’est le temps de tout ranger, à l’académie.

This song doesn’t have the same magic that her Kindermusik teacher’s tidy up song did. When Shannon first sang it to a room of kids under 2, I was dubious that they’d give up their instruments but they were all drawn to her. Even if I sang it, Reid would do as I asked. The magic song went like this:
Put the (shaker) egg in the bag, in the bag.
Put the egg in the bag, in the bag.
Put the egg in the bag.
Put the egg in the bag.
Put the egg in the bag and go sit down.
I suspect Reid was more interested in doing what I asked when she was smaller but I’m going to have to remember to try it the next time I need Reid to do something.

Short of a cattle prod, does anyone have ideas other no fail obedience tips?

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