Write a family song
New words to a tune you know
Put new words to a melody your child already knows, about your family, your pet or your day. Sing it together at the end, as loud as you like.
You’ll need
- A song your child knows ("Twinkle, Twinkle", "Happy Birthday", a favorite from a movie)
- Paper and a pencil (optional)
How to do it together
- 1
Pick a melody your child can sing without thinking.
- 2
Choose a topic: the family, the dog, what happened today, the worst chore.
- 3
Make a list of words that rhyme together: cat and hat, day and play, Dad and glad.
- 4
Write one line at a time, singing as you go. Silly beats perfect.
- 5
Perform it together, maybe for someone else in the family, with a wooden spoon as the microphone.
Make it easier
For 5-year-olds, change just one word in each line of a song they know.
Make it harder
Older kids can write a full verse and chorus, or a rap with their own beat.
Why it’s worth it
Your child hears that their ideas are worth singing. And you'll hear this song in the car for weeks.
With Weekadoo
In your weekly plan, this idea comes with a familiar melody to use and rhyming word pairs to get started, written for your child
Every Sunday, a plan with a 10-minute idea for each child on weeknights and a family one for the weekend, picked for their ages and what they love.
