Never underestimate the power of a little ditty.
I've visited some preschools lately and must say that I'm wowed by the way a teacher can sing a little tune and have a bunch of kids fall in line and do what's expected of them. For instance, last week I saw a bunch of 3-year olds transition from "free play" time to story time in a matter of seconds. All in response to a quiet little tune the teacher sang.
Then I realized we do some of this in our home, too. We have some diaper-changing ditties. Soon they'll be morphed into toilet time tunes*, but for now, they're diaper ditties.
First, there's Diaperoni -- to the tune of My Sharona:
(remember The Knack?)
Dadadada dun duh dun duh dun huh
Dadadada dun duh
Diiiiia----per-o-ni!
(repeat as necessary til diapered child takes over on the last line and cooperates for the diaper)
Then we have It's Diaper Time, a la Rick James and MC Hammer:
(in your best whining guitar voice)
Gneeeer ner ner ner
[break]ner ner
[break] ner ner
It's diaper time....
Gneeeer ner ner ner
[break]ner ner
[break] ner ner
It's diaper time....
(Yeah, that one's destined to become It's Potty Time.)
Anyway, this got me thinking.
This works so well with my son. I wonder if it could work with my husband? Not that he needs coaxing to go to the restroom, but how about the chores I nag him about? Loading and emptying the dishwasher, clearing off the dining room table....
So, I might try this one out:
(courtesy of Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs)
Heigh Ho! Heigh Ho!
It's out the gar-bage goes...
(whistle..... whistle... whistle... (cheerfully, of course) )
I wonder how that will go over?!
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[* the new potty chair was officially christened this morning. There was much jubilation!!]
Oh my goodness I laughed out loud when I saw this. As a former preschool teacher, I know the power of those little songs. You're right...maybe we SHOULD try them on the "big people" in our lives. Toooo funny!!
:-) Susan
Posted by: Susan | Wednesday, February 07, 2007 at 04:47 PM
Ha! Good luck with that. I never noticed how well those transition songs worked before. Might give that a try myself.
Posted by: InterstellarLass | Wednesday, February 07, 2007 at 04:50 PM
The little ditty! Wonderful! And the potty was christened? Yippee...
Posted by: Melody | Wednesday, February 07, 2007 at 05:57 PM
Yeah for the potty training!
Posted by: Sarcasmom | Wednesday, February 07, 2007 at 07:26 PM
Yay for the little guy and potty training!
We sing an MC Hammer song, too, called "Bath Time".
Posted by: Suzanne | Wednesday, February 07, 2007 at 07:40 PM
Hahaha!! Somehow I don't think it will work so well with your hubby but good luck trying. Michele sent me.
Posted by: Scouser | Thursday, February 08, 2007 at 08:25 AM
Isn't it funny how a hubby would probably just laugh at your ditty or call it "cute," but NOT GET THE MESSAGE?
I love the ditties, Marie. Ever so cute.
Posted by: nat | Thursday, February 08, 2007 at 08:40 AM
I am forever revising lyrics of songs to fit the occasion. Trust me, a 12 year old doesn't find it as compelling as a 2 year old. In fact, mine finds it downright embarrassing. My husband might actually respond better than she does!
Posted by: Bluegrass Mama | Thursday, February 08, 2007 at 12:11 PM
Congratulations on the potty success! We also adapt songs and make fools of ourselves for The Boy in ways we never thought possible! One of my long standing favorites is Jackie Doodle... sung to the tune of Yankee Doodle of course!
Posted by: Jill | Thursday, February 08, 2007 at 01:56 PM
You've clearly missed your calling, Marie. You need to write ditties for a living!
Posted by: kristi | Thursday, February 08, 2007 at 06:40 PM