My husband and I love country music. So naturally our 3 yr old does too. But I do find some of the songs are a little too "mature" for him. So I went to pick him up from daycare the other day and his teacher said he was singing "rain is a good thing" which talks about whiskey and other things. He went to time out for it. The daycare said it was inappropriate. Which I agree to a point, some songs shouldn't be sung at school. So how do I explain to him some songs shouldn't be sung and should I let him continue to let him listen to country music or find something else to listen to. I feel like all types of music can be inappropriate at one time or another (except for christian of course). I hope I'm explaining this right. btw He doesn't understand what whiskey is (we don't drink). Thanks.
That is just stupid to put a kid in timeout for singing a song......wow.....it's not like he was singing cuss words or something - when did whiskey become a four letter word??
We listen to country and other stuff too along with our children. When mine are that young, I usually don't let them listen to those types of lyrics.
What?! They put him in time out for singing that song? That's completely ridiculous. Even if it was a horrid song, they should have just talked to you instead of punishing a little boy who is innocent and has no understanding of it. He had no idea! How dumb. I would be more irritated at that part than anything else...
I used to listen to country a long time ago, so I'm not familiar with that song or if I would let my kids listen to it. With the type of music I do listen to, sometimes a song might come on that seems a bit questionable, so I do turn off so the kids don't hear. But most country songs have seemed harmless...back like 15 years ago. hehe.
i dont think its appropriate to put a 3yr old in timeout for singing a song that he doesn't evenunderstand the words. How about a quick - "we dont sing that song in school" and keep it movin! hey daycare - over react much?
At least it wasn't Amy Winehouse's "Rehab!" LOL
He is probably completely confused!! He doesn't understand what is "bad" in a song, and what isn't. He won't understand what he can sing and what he can't. In order for him to do that, you'd have to sit him down and tell him what every bad thing in songs are, and why he can't repeat it...which would go way over his head. He didn't deserve a timeout for this, sorry.
If you don't want him to repeat bad things, the only let him listen to children's music. There are country singers who specifically write children's songs. Do a google search.
I choose which songs are age appropriate for my children to hear. Most genres have music that is family friendly... listen to those songs around him.
It makes me sick when I hear and see kids singing drinking songs, songs about sex and violence, doing booty dances. Seriously people, what happened to protecting our children's innocence?
I'm a little shocked he was in time out for that too. I thik you have to decide when it is enough. I let my daughter (3.5) listen to the pop station that I like and so far I'm okay with it, but it's becoming sort of borderline. She is starting to sing some unsavory lyrics and although she doesn't comprehend them, I often wonder if it's still a problem. I think at some point I'm going to have to change the radio station. I don't want to, but I also don't want her to start asking about the meaning of some of those lyrics either!
I don't listen to country music, so I don't know the song you mentioned, but from your description, I think the daycare teacher overreacted. And I sincerely hope he got at least ONE warning before getting a time out for the heinous act of singing!
Please find another care provider. Time out for singing a song which features whiskey? Oh, that teacher would have heard much worse from me! tee hee.
NOW if your son had snuck in a flask of whiskey... whole other story.:)
I am careful about what our son listens to, within reason. There are things I'd rather him not repeat, and children don't usually have good discretion about it on their own. My own parents used to change words. Like "Tiny Bubbles, in the wine"... for years I thought it was "Tiny Bubbles, in Hawaii" (pronounced like many mainlanders do: "Huh-why").
I think your post should be titled: "How to do I tell my son's preschool teacher not to punish my child for a non-offense?"
I'm a preschool teacher, by the way, and that is just not on my list of offenses. All we have to say is "Oh, we don't sing that song at school. Let's sing Itsy Bitsy Spider". Trust me, problem would have been solved, no shaming.
We listen to everything except country! Drake to aerosmith to beastie boys, you get the pic! There my kids and its not hurting them. I would of had a few choice words for daycare myself!
I can't believe they put a three year old in time out for singing about whiskey, like he would know what it was. That's ridiculous. Most country music is pretty tame, from what I've heard. I think you should let him listen to it. And maybe change your daycare.
A time out for a three year old singing about something he doesn't even understand???
Tracy K hit the nail on the head, she should have just said "we don't sing that song at school" and redirected him to something else.
Your daycare provider sounds like she's never taken any child development classes, this is like basic early childhood education!
I'm sorry for your son, I guess just try to keep the explanation simple, and say the daycare only wants him singing daycare songs, not family songs.
Honestly I might start looking for a new daycare :(
At 3 1/2 mine was listening to John Denver's Please Daddy don't get Drunk this Christmas. We pulled into my daughters school adn he gets out of the car walks into the lobby near the office of her very Christian school and lets out "Pleaeeeease Daddy Don't get drunk this Christmas I dont wanna See my mamaaaaa Cryyyyyyyyyy"
Talk about mortifying. So I just told him that some songs don't get sung at church and schools. That it wasnt' a good school song. THen sang something else
Have you spoken to the director of the daycare? TO for singing anything at 3 is a little extreme. 3 year olds are mimics.
Better than letting him listen to uncensored rap music and have him trying to "sling dope with pimps and hoes" at preschool! :)
Seriously yes they completely overreacted! My kids don't pay attention to the lyrics much, just like the beat of most songs. But I try to avoid certain songs if they are with me, but if I only listened to the wiggles or Disney CDs all day I'd have to drink whiskey! Lol..
I think it's important for all kids to learn about all different types/genres of music. They all have their place in history. I would tell him the only songs we should sing at school are the ones we sing with our teachers or at circle time, and the others are for the car or at home.
I agree that the provider seriously overreacted. Inappropriate words require an explaination and a request not to use them, not a time out.
I let my own children listen to country music and just swich the song if I find it too mature. As for the daycare kids, we sing all the time and I have a specific playlist of kid friendly songs from ALL genes (well not much rap because it is hard to find family rap music)
That's a bit harsh.
And like the others have said I'd be looking for another day care.
His teacher should have taken him aside and said to not sing it at school.
You can try "_____________ isn't a song we should sing at school" or " lets save that song for only at home ok. "
I forgot to add my daughter was singing Honky Tonk Badonkadonk at 5.
I think the daycare reaction was way overboard. There are much worse things he could be doing than singing a darn song that he doesn't understand. He has a right to free speech too! :)
I think that daycare went WAY OVERBOARD, he is an innocent child. I've heard some christian music that I thought was bad and I listen to Billboard Top 40, and yes my kids will sing along with it (my girls will be 6 next month and they love love love music and singing it)