Discovering helpful music for kids: The Listening Song

Sometimes you find beneficial things in the most unlikely places!

While catching up on an episode of Parks and Recreation on my DVR (the “One in 8,000” episode from April 17, 2014), I heard a cute song for kids. It was new to me, and I had to rewind and listen to it again. I wanted to make sure I caught the words so I could look it up.

The Listening Song

Scroll down to link to a free printable of The Listening Song.

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I immediately thought that The Listening Song would have been a useful tune when my older kids had been younger.  I would have loved to use it when I was sitting them down to go through preschool concepts to make sure they were ready to start kindergarten. My next thought was that it may be a helpful tool when I’m volunteering to work with kids at our church.

Early in my journey as a parent, I learned that music is a great way to connect with kids. We have often used music – listening or singing or both – to change the mood and redirect energy.

Once, in a burst of sleep-deprived silliness, I made up my own song to convince my son to go to sleep. To my surprise, it actually seemed to work. After that, I sang it to my kids regularly when they were little and was amazed at how well it seemed to help settle them down.  I don’t have a particularly good singing voice, though, so I suspect they may have just wanted to go to sleep to end the torture of having to listen to me sing! :-)

When volunteering to help with children’s programs, songs are often a good way to transition between activities. This song seems like a simple way to remind young children when it’s time to sit still and listen.

Get the free printable version of The Listening Song

The Listening Song – to the tune of Frere Jacques
Eyes are watching,
Ears are listening,
Lips are closed,
Hands are still,
Feet are very quiet,
You should really try it.
Listening well, listening well.

It’s a fun song for kids that’s helpful for parents, teachers – anyone who works with children!

I looked online to find an author and give proper credit, but couldn’t find who came up with this little song.

Have you heard The Listening Song before? I wish I would have learned it sooner, but I’m glad I know it now!

You may also like fun, free printable lunchbox notes to encourage kids at school.

See The Listening Song and other helpful information on my Mom Sense board on Pinterest. Come pin along with me!

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  1. This is so sweet! In child care we had several books of “piggyback songs” (that’s what this kind of song is. You take a familiar tune and make the lyrics about the topic you like. That’s probably why you can’t find who wrote it… piggyback songs are sometimes hard to credit.

    Thanks so much for sharing (and for linking up to the SHINE Blog Hop).

    Wishing you a lovely day.
    xoxo

  2. The “Listening Well” song is a favorite in my Kindergarten classroom this year. When I heard this song on Parks on Rec, I wondered, “Did they write this just for the show?” because it works like a dream for this teacher!

  3. I would love to know how I could download and print the listening song. I teach KINDERGARTEN! <3 Love this!