For many dads, the bedtime routine can feel like a nightly negotiation with a tiny, sleep-averse dictator. But what if you could change the entire mood with a simple trick? In a delightful interview, musician Ziggy Marley shares his secret weapon for a smoother evening with his children.
Instead of just telling them it's time to brush their teeth or get into their pyjamas, he makes up a song about it. He explains, "I'd kind of sing a song... 'Brush your teeth, brush your teeth'. I make up something, I make a jingle." He even created a jingle around the word 'pajamin', a playful riff on his father Bob Marley's classic song 'Jammin'', which became the inspiration for his children's book.
This technique is genius for a few reasons:
* **It's Playful:** Music and silliness immediately defuse the tension that can build around bedtime.
* **It's Connecting:** Singing together is a shared activity that builds warmth and connection, rather than creating a power struggle.
* **It's Creative:** It transforms a mundane task into a moment of fun and imagination for both parent and child.
This isn't about being a professional musician; it's about being willing to be a bit silly. You don't need a perfect melody or clever lyrics. Just a simple, repetitive chant like 'Time for bed, sleepy head!' can work wonders. It's a fantastic reminder that sometimes the best parenting tools are the ones that bring a little more play and a lot less pressure into our daily routines.
Instead of just telling them it's time to brush their teeth or get into their pyjamas, he makes up a song about it. He explains, "I'd kind of sing a song... 'Brush your teeth, brush your teeth'. I make up something, I make a jingle." He even created a jingle around the word 'pajamin', a playful riff on his father Bob Marley's classic song 'Jammin'', which became the inspiration for his children's book.
This technique is genius for a few reasons:
* **It's Playful:** Music and silliness immediately defuse the tension that can build around bedtime.
* **It's Connecting:** Singing together is a shared activity that builds warmth and connection, rather than creating a power struggle.
* **It's Creative:** It transforms a mundane task into a moment of fun and imagination for both parent and child.
This isn't about being a professional musician; it's about being willing to be a bit silly. You don't need a perfect melody or clever lyrics. Just a simple, repetitive chant like 'Time for bed, sleepy head!' can work wonders. It's a fantastic reminder that sometimes the best parenting tools are the ones that bring a little more play and a lot less pressure into our daily routines.
It's just another positive energy and... when you're petting the dog, sometimes when I'm petting the dog for the dog, I'm petting the dog for us.
Dad Action Plan:
- Turn a repetitive instruction (like 'brush your teeth') into a simple, silly song or jingle.
- Use a playful tone to shift the energy from a command to a fun, shared activity.
- You don't have to be a musician – a simple rhyme or chant is all it takes to make a difference.
Source
Podcast: Raising Boys & Girls
Episode: Episode 292: Curing the Bedtime Blues with Ziggy Marley
Host: Sissy Goff, David Thomas
Timestamp: 00:13:15