Recently I found myself revisiting these songs, or the bits that I could remember anyway, along with bits of nursery rhymes with words missing and in the wrong place. It happened when my youngest was just one week old, and my toddler was really struggling to adjust. I had dared going out with both children for the first time. We just walked to the local park, but my toddler became very tired very quickly after the emotional week. I had the new born in the pram, I was yet to be introduced to the buggy board and my 22 month old walking. I was still really sore from giving birth just days before, but was determined to have some time with my toddler who had felt totally left out for days. We had a lovely time, but our time was cut short when new baby needed feeding, so I decided to head home. My toddler kicked up such a stink and refused to walk, carrying him was absolute agony and the new baby was screaming in his pram desperate for a feed!!! So out of no where I started singing really loudly to try and force calm and tranquility down the throats of both screaming children.
When I came across 'Tunes 4 Toddler Tantrums' I was intrigued. I have found myself singing over my screaming toddler many times since that day and it does help me stay focused. It also distracts him, which often helps avoid the tantrum completely.
I am not faint hearted and I have dealt with a lot of children's tantrums and teenagers tantrums at work over the years, but Finn has a talent that I really wish he did not have! Ben's great grandma told me that Finn inherited the talent of Ben's Mum, and the stories she tells me seem so funny, yet when its your toddler and you are there, well I guess it will just be funny in time. A long, long time.
When Finn tantrums he makes himself sick. Not because he gets too worked up. Just because he can. It started at bed times when I tried controlled crying after 7 months of rocking a very very very large baby to sleep. My back was already very sore and I struggled with stairs for the first few months. I had SPD when I was having Finn, and I guess it just did not go away. I also got muscular nerve damage. So when he was 7 months old something really had to give as the pain killers were just not strong enough, swinging that weight around. He made himself sick quite early on and this did not distress him what so ever. In fact he found it really funny. He would always get an extra bath and would have an extra few hours out of the cot. It was worth it for him. Through extremely patient perseverance, and a lot of determination, I eventually established a good night time routine for my chunky non-sleeper.
However now that he is well into his terrible two's, he often calls upon his talent to get his own way. Now I have learned the warning signs before he gets to the tantrum, and when we do come head to head, I do not back down for anything.
Tunes 4 Toddler Tantrums interested me, I wanted to know if this was a distraction method or a diffusion method. Luckily it comes with a helpful guide!
Firstly, it advises that the songs are played for fun, at a calm time, so that your toddler gets used to them. All of the songs relate to everyday activities such as meal time. I have found that playing the song related to the activity makes it more fun and establishes routine. Yes it is one more thing to do each time but it also helps distract the child too, so i found that i could get things done a little bit quicker!
The songs help to avoid tantrums completely and they are really catchy. There is even one for bedtime which is a brilliant way to establish routine. I have tried to read to Finn at night many times, but he gets too excited trying to see the pictures and turn the pages and then refuses to sleep afterwards. My Dad had often sang to myself and My brother, and now to both my boys, and I think it is a wonderful gift to share with people you love. I think songs at an early age really helps form a long lasting bond. I know it has between my dad and Myself. I am really grateful that I found this CD. I hope to recreate some of the magic that I shared with My Dad, with my Son's too, just as he will share his songs with them, I can share Vicky Arlidge's with my boys, as I did not inherit any musical talent.
Thank you Vicky, for the gift that keeps on giving.
