Alphabet Timer

We sing the alphabet constantly at our house. I am getting a little sick of it, but it is my own fault. It is our timer for doing things.

I have the kids sing it to time how long they need to wash their hands. I have them sing it to time how long they need to wait for me to get them a drink of milk. I sing it to time how long they need to be brushing their teeth. They sing it when everyone is buckled up in the car and I need to run inside the house to grab the diaper bag I forgot. I have them sing it 2 or 3 times when I am checking my last email. Okay sometimes they need to sing it more than that. But, I have to sing it 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 times when it is "clean up the toys" time. We sing it together at "get on jammies" time.

As much as I am sick of hearing it, it is better than me getting frustrated and saying, "I need you to wash your hands" 10 times. I say something once and then whomever the timer is starts singing. Also, it is a lot easier for them, and for me, to have them busy doing something while waiting, than to be bored out of their minds. Shocking, I know, but it has even turned out to be a great way to teach them the alphabet, since we sing it no less than 100 times a day!

It has gotten to the point that when I ask my daughter to be patient for something, she asks me how many ABC's she needs to sing before I can get to helping her. Good thing she loves singing it so much! She usually even throws in an extra one to give me more time and her more singing practice.