Category: Sing to

During bathtime sing your child’s favorite songs. You can make up your own song about what’s happening in the bath too. Are they pouring water from a cup, or pretending with a toy? Encourage them to sing their own song and respond to them.

Sing “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands.” (If you don’t know the tune, make up your own.) At the end of the line, clap your hands and ask your child to clap their hands too. Next, try changing up actions: touch your nose, hop on one foot, or snap your fingers.… Continue reading If you’re happy and you know it …

You can play this rhyming game anywhere, anytime. Think of a fun word, then let your child think of another word that rhymes with it. Take turns and keep going back and forth as long as you can! Plan? Fan? Ran?

Start humming a song your child knows and have them guess what it is. If they guess wrong, start over and hum the tune again. After a few guesses, you can add in some words to the song as hints. After a few tries, let them try a tune while you guess.

Is your child making lots of sounds? Talk back to them by repeating their sounds or describing what they’re doing using a sing-song voice. Do they respond by kicking their feet, waving their arms, or making more sounds? Together, you’re telling your own story!

Make today a singing day. Instead of talking, try singing to your child about what you’re doing. Make up new words to a familiar tune or create your own! It might feel silly at first, but they love to hear the sound of your voice singing. Respond to any sounds they make.

While waiting, create singing conversations. Instead of talking back-and-forth, quietly sing what you want to say to each other. How does your child respond? Then try whispering. Keep going back and forth and make it a game.

When your child seems fussy, try singing a rhyme or a song. Do they calm down when your voice is quiet, or do they respond to big facial expressions and an enthusiastic voice? Try different rhymes and songs to find their favorites.

Help your child recognize patterns and familiar words by singing simple songs with lots of repetition or rhymes. Can’t remember one? Make up you own! Encourage them to join in by repeating the words or by adding their own ideas.

There are things we do every day. Sing the same songs at those moments to explain what you’re doing with your child. Examples could be leaving a room, finishing eating, or washing hands. What else do you do daily that you could sing about?