10 Music Tips for the Babysitter

Things I’ve learned from the experience of watching my cousin’s children:

1. The tunes should come from a device that is not a computer, as the children will associate it with play time and therefore want to touch it at every opportunity.

2. Don’t play “Let It Go” unless you are fully prepared to watch Frozen. Like now.

3. That said, “Let It Go” is their “Hakuna Matata.” Get over it.

4. Pop songs are great to rearrange for your own purposes. Fall Out Boy could totally parody my newest hit “Chew it up, up, up.”

5. You will inevitably get “The Fox” stuck in your head if you are teaching the children animal sounds. Try not to feel ashamed; it happens.

6. ^Be careful not to sing out loud everything that gets stuck in your head, because the children will pick up on it. Good luck diverting their attention. (Seriously it was one time)

7. Renaming classic songs is a great way to channel a child’s creativity and imagina – Who am I kiddin? “Hey Jude” means nothing. It’s the “The Sad Song.”

8. There’s nothing wrong with turning 21st century children into 80s/90s kids. Culture is important… and it’s adorable. “Duck Tales WOO-OO.”

9. Fantasia is the shit. We are classy people here.

10. You are responsible for singing “Ring Around the Rosie.” If you don’t fall down, shame on you. And seriously, try to quell that history major in you – it’s just a kid’s play song.