How do I get my seven year old daughter to read or practice piano with out a battle?

Question

My daughter only cares about watching tv. When she's watching TV she's in her own world. If I ask her a question she does not hear me. When I tell her its time to turn off the TV and do something else she has a fit. Trying to get her to do other things is a battle. It seems like she doesn't have any drive for learning. When I do get her to read or practice the piano it is very painful. She only concentrates for a few minutes before she trys to change the subject or ask if she can stop. Every minute she comes up with an excuse to not practice.

She does pretty well in school.

Answer 1

Sounds like she doesn't like piano & you're trying to force it on her.  Stop, or she'll grow up hating it.  Give piano a try again in a couple of yrs.  Also, throughout the day, set a timer for 1hr, when it goes off, the cartoons go off.  Do this off & on throughout the day so she learns other ways to play & gets some exersize.

Answer 2

It's not good for kids to watch a ton of tv.  If she's watched her share for the day (a couple of hours is plenty) YOU turn off the set.  At that point, she can do what she wants.

Forcing her to read if she doesn't want to is a great way to make her hate reading, but if there are a variety of interesting books available to her, she will probably choose to read at times. (Does your public library have a summer reading program for kids?  That's a great way to make reading attractive.)

As for piano lessons -- if she wants to take lessons, she has to practice. Simple as that.  If she doesn't practice, she doesn't get to take lessons any more.

Answer 3

I would say you've got yourself a classic battle over tv watching. My opinion (you asked for it, right?!) is that you should eliminate tv watching entirely, at least temporarily. This will undoubtedly be very difficult for you and her but, I think you will find it worth it and if you don't I think it will only get worse. I would say you should start by eliminating tv watching completely for let's say, 2 weeks. During that time, she will most likely be really unhappy and difficult and angry at you. But chances are that will fade as the days go by and she will slowly get used to learning to occupy herself in other ways. It sounds like she just spaces out in front of the tv and that's it for any learning or communication. I would try to NOT link the elimination of tv with any other issue -- do NOT try to purposely get her to read more or play piano more just because there is no tv allowed. Otherwise she will battle you even more. Piano playing and reading need to be considered pleasurable and fun by her. If she clearly has no desire to play piano, I would personally just let her abandon it. If she has no interest in reading, I would look for fun ways to get her to read without her even realizing she is reading. Comic books, recipe books, reading to her (whatever she wants you to read to her) or whatever books she shows any interest at all in are ways of perhaps getting her more open to reading. Leave books around the house, in the bathroom, open to interesting pages, even talk about books being "too grown-up" for her as a way to perhaps get her intrigued about them, -- and then let her choose on her own to read. Don't worry about her concentration -- just let her enjoy the time. Good luck. I would introduce the tv watching back into her life really slowly In my house we have "no - tv days" and that works out really well. Like on Mondays and Thursdays and Saturdays, NO ONE is allowed to watch tv at all. It works well and the kids just know not to turn it on at all on those days.

Answer 4

While you should set limits on the TV (with discipline if she "throws a fit"), you shouldn't be forcing her to play the piano if she has no interest in it. If you like to play it, that's fine. But don't live your life through her. Try to enroll her in something else that she's interested in (violin, dancing, painting, sports, etc).

Answer 5

Simple, just remove the t.v.!  Make games up to read and play piano.  Perhaps finger puppets can be used or some decals on the piano.  She seems to be stimulated visually so you will have to associate them as such.  I enjoyed playing piano with one teacher about that age.  Then the teacher moved and I had a new one.  She wasn't very fun and I hated it and lost interest.  You could also try something else like drawing, gymnastics and see what sparks her interests.  As far as reading,  Going to a library or kids center might be more stimulating or perhaps kids program on the computer that works with learning by reading at the same time.

Answer 6

take the cord or remote from the TV and sign er up private lessons for piano. get her involved but don't make her play piano if she wants to play something else. give her options.

Answer 7

well then don't force her. show her fun things to do without sitting in front of the tv. go out for the day so that she can't be around the tv as much.