How a Little Song Caused Fussing to Turn Tail

I was power walking the other day when I came upon an Under-Two taking her papa for a stroll. But she had obviously just decided her strolling was done.

She was into some hard-core fussing and was loudly prodding to be picked up. The more her daddy balked, the louder her protest.

Speeding my pace and mustering extra breaths, I came up alongside them. I borrowed the "Are You Sleeping?" tune and began to sing, “I am walking. I am walking…”

As if we'd pressed a mute button, Under-Two's fussing ceased. She stared curiously up at me. Without missing a step, she mimicked my moves to walk and swing her arms to and fro. Wow! In seconds, a major behavioral change. 

I hope we had an audience that day, if only of the furry or feathered sort. An Under-Two, a papa, and I. Three very different looks, voices, and strides. And in unison, we walked as we sang, “…Walking tall. Walking tall. Look how I am walking. Look how I am walking. I walk tall. I walk tall.”

We three parted at the next fork in the road. But I turned to watch them. One smiling dad strolling hand-in-hand with Miss Under-Two. Sweet singing filled the air: "I am walking...."

Walking Tall

I am walking.

I am walking.

Walking tall.

Walking tall. 

Look how I am walking. 

Look how I am walking. 

I walk tall. 

I walk tall. 

Copyright © 2008-2014 Babs Bell Hajdusiewicz

With or without its tune, this little song's poem can help you meet different needs. Ever want your child to walk, not run? Just find your ever-so-happily-positive voice to say or sing the poem's words while you model walking. I bet your child will walk, not run. 

Model sitting tall and change walk and walking to sit and sitting. Use this version to encourage your infant who's learning to sit. Toddlers and older kids like to sit tall as they sing along. Figuratively speaking, encourage children as young as 2 to "sit tall" or "stand tall" in pride. Verses about "sitting tall" or "standing tall" also help you invite your child to wait.

Want your child to act tall, as in show kind behavior? Even 2's love to do this one. Yes! All that's needed is to model a behavior. Say you want your child to wave hi to a neighbor or be gentle with the family's dog. Catch him doing that behavior and tag it with the word kind, along with the figurative words acting tall. Then be sure to say those words or sing the verse each time that behavior shows itself.

Go enjoy walking, sitting, standing, and acting tall with your child. Indeed, healthy posture and mindful behaviors are positive results!