I've been helping the girls memorize their address and phone number. It is amazing how quickly they remember things when they are set to music or rhythm.
One of my favorite tunes to use is "Where is Thumbkin?"
Instead of:
Where is Thumbkin?
Where is Thumbkin?
Here I am.
Here I am.
We sing:
5 5 5
1 2 3 5
That is my
phone number.
Other tunes I like to use when memorizing information are "The Farmer in the Dell, " and "Camptown Races."
There are so many familiar tunes that work well for learning new facts. Have you used this technique with your kids? What tunes did you use?
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17 comments:
i love your blog and i have to comment on this one b/c i thought of this a long time ago when my now 9 yr old was 3 or 4 and we've always used the abc's for our song to memorize that kind of stuff. it's crazy how well it works!!
I have always done that too. Even when my Godchildren were 2 and 3 to learn to spell their names. Singing instructions or directions works great in my house too. It is much better than, "Do what I say right now!" :)
When will you write more of your family story? It is special and I wish I could bring more children into our home. Adoption would be our only option now but I'd love it so!
What a great idea!
When my sister was little she sang "very thankum welcome" instead of "very well I thank you." I still sing it that way today!
I'm organizing my thoughts and going through my journal to get the timeline correct for the seventh chapter of our story. It should be ready early next week.
We are working on our phone number too---but we are including the area code! There are so many area codes where we live--I know it's important.
thanks for the tip. we are working on address and phone number right now. putting things to music really does help them to memorize!
THanks for helping Little Guy with his number and address...he has it down now! His teacher was impressed...the rest of the kids are still struggling! The kids love to learn...especially to a chant!
Thanks so much for sharing - I was just thinking that Abby & Emma need to learn our phone number. Starting today!
What a great idea! This is one of those ideas that can be used to remember all sorts of important things!
Are you kidding me Chrissie?! NO, I've never done that w/my kids b/c I'm not nearly as creative as you!!! ;) But, you better believe I'm gonna start doing that w/my son. Do you just sit around thinking up amazingly awesome ways to be the greatest mom ever?! ;)
If you can't tell, I'm a tad jealous of your awesomeness! ;)
We love doing this at our house! Both my boys learned how to spell their first and last names by putting it to tunes they already knew (Ten Little Indians worked great for our last name)! They are learning to spell colors this way too.
I was a teacher before I had my little ones and I would ALWAYS teach things to the beat of music. It was amazing how much they grasped. I'll have to remember to use this trick when my kids are a little older. I remember when I was in junior high I would sit at the piano and plunk keys to help me remember things.
When are we going to hear part 7 of Becoming a Family. You have me on a cliff-hanger....!
-Phyllis
Teaching them their phone number is a wonderful thing..it is hard for children these days to learn...often it is a cell or work numbers too.. Aren't children wonderful that they love to learn all of it...
When you teach them the phone number don't forget the area code. It is very important.
Can't wait for the next chapter...
Barbara
This is a great idea (as all of your ideas are)! However, I am anxiously awaiting the next installment of "becoming a family" - I am hooked on your story!
I just found your site through one pretty thing. I grew up with Brite Music, they have some music called the Safety kids and one of the songs is about learning your phone number. We used it when I was little and I still remember it today...it works like a charm. Great idea!
First of all, I enjoy your blog although my children are all grown now. The girls are adorable and it wasn't until you started telling the story of the adoption that I realized they were not your biological children--with the curly hair and all. My sister and I used to put schoolwork to music to remember it. Our favorite tune was "I've been working on the railroad..." We also liked "Bicycle built for two". You are a terrific mother! I am awed by your creativity.
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