What are Your Kids’ Favorite Things?

Since this is the 50th anniversary of one of the all time great, positive family movies, The Sound of Music, it seems appropriate to talk about some of your favorite things. More importantly, it’s an opportunity to be sure you know what your kids’ favorite things are.

The song “These are a Few of My Favorite Things” may be a very good place to start, as Julie Andrews sings about many wonderful, simple pleasures in her life.

And before you begin to worry about your voice, no, you don’t have to be able to sing like Julie Andrews. Even Christopher Plummer needed some help in the singing department, so you should begin by relaxing about that tiny detail.

One of the reasons this song is so fantastic at helping lift spirits and create happy images is because most of the favorite things are about sights and sounds she experienced, rather than things she owned. Of course as a novitiate, Maria wouldn’t have had many possessions, but she had a wealth of joy, energy, and appreciation for beauty in the world around her.

It’s great for parents and kids to talk together about their own favorite things. As a parent, you will be amazed to see how quickly some of these things change while others are constants. By knowing what brings a sense of joy to your child, you can help them remember their favorite things when the day comes that they’re feeling sad. Then they, like Maria, won’t feel so bad.

Some parents might choose to watch the movie or play the song as inspiration. Or you could have the lyrics at hand. It’s a great idea to jot down some ideas of what you think your son or daughter might like and some of your own favorite things too. These are especially helpful if your child happens to be thinking in materialistic terms and is struggling to broaden their thoughts.

Another tip is to be able to think of some things you know your kids do NOT like. This isn’t because you want to change their minds or that you want them to dwell on distasteful things, but it can serve as a way to lift their mood and redirect them.

You might ask your child if one of their favorite things is brussel sprouts, for example. I don’t know too many kids who would say yes to that and lots of little ones would probably laugh at the very notion that someone might sing about their love of brussel sprouts.

Depending on your child’s age and interest, you might try to write your own family version of the song or just create a list. Add the date and even your child’s age to the list. Now you’ve created not only a tool that your child can use to lift their spirits today, but something that will bring a smile to their face years later as they reread it, possibly with their own do-re-me singers.