My 20 month old daughter Thalia apparently needs to be entertained while in her car seat.
Some background- About 5 months ago she and her dad started going to Music Together classes, which they both LOVE. We sing the songs at home and in the car and everywhere in between. We also often play the CD of all the songs they sing in class in the car (which the teachers suggest we do). Also, there are many times when we are in the car right before nap time but to keep her from falling asleep we sing her very favorite songs, both from Music Together and other songs that we just know (itsy bitsy, wheels on the bus, etc). We didn't *always* play the CD or sing, often the grown ups were talking or listening to NPR or whatnot while she was content doing whatever it is that toddlers do when they are quiet & in the car seat. Sometimes reading a book, sometimes looking out the window, whatever.
Well now we come to the problem: recently she has decided that she hates all or almost all of the songs that we know. And gets very angry when we try to sing or play any of them. She no longer seems to be able to 'zone out' in her car seat as she used to do. She cries and begs us to switch to the next song on the CD or to sing a different song. The other day she sobbed all the way across town cos I could find nothing that she liked/wanted to sing. I gave up and just put NPR (which has news programs all day here) and she just kept crying. She didn't want any of her books or toys that are back there with me and shoved my hand away if I attempted to pat her head or hold her hand. Music has *always* been her great soother- since birth- and so to not have it work right now has us scratching our heads. In addition, in a couple of weeks we head out to Maine where every day we will probably be in the car for about 1/2 hour, heading to various hikes and grandparents house, etc. I'd hate to have her be upset that entire time.
Is this something that will just pass eventually? How does your toddler entertain her/himself while in the car seat? Should we look for more ways to keep her entertained? Or just let her be to figure out her own solution?
Some background- About 5 months ago she and her dad started going to Music Together classes, which they both LOVE. We sing the songs at home and in the car and everywhere in between. We also often play the CD of all the songs they sing in class in the car (which the teachers suggest we do). Also, there are many times when we are in the car right before nap time but to keep her from falling asleep we sing her very favorite songs, both from Music Together and other songs that we just know (itsy bitsy, wheels on the bus, etc). We didn't *always* play the CD or sing, often the grown ups were talking or listening to NPR or whatnot while she was content doing whatever it is that toddlers do when they are quiet & in the car seat. Sometimes reading a book, sometimes looking out the window, whatever.
Well now we come to the problem: recently she has decided that she hates all or almost all of the songs that we know. And gets very angry when we try to sing or play any of them. She no longer seems to be able to 'zone out' in her car seat as she used to do. She cries and begs us to switch to the next song on the CD or to sing a different song. The other day she sobbed all the way across town cos I could find nothing that she liked/wanted to sing. I gave up and just put NPR (which has news programs all day here) and she just kept crying. She didn't want any of her books or toys that are back there with me and shoved my hand away if I attempted to pat her head or hold her hand. Music has *always* been her great soother- since birth- and so to not have it work right now has us scratching our heads. In addition, in a couple of weeks we head out to Maine where every day we will probably be in the car for about 1/2 hour, heading to various hikes and grandparents house, etc. I'd hate to have her be upset that entire time.
Is this something that will just pass eventually? How does your toddler entertain her/himself while in the car seat? Should we look for more ways to keep her entertained? Or just let her be to figure out her own solution?
