Oh the woes that we sometimes hear from our children when it comes to practice! I will share with you what I have observed over the last 25 years of teaching and what I have observed in my own children so far. First of all, when I was young, my mother never set a timer for us. She would just get her needlepoint and sit in the living room, where the piano was, and ask us to play for her. My brother and I enjoyed playing for her because we weren't "forced" to do it. On the other hand, our friends were made to practice exactly 30 minutes each day at the same time. They used to watch the clock and couldn't wait until it was over. I think these examples say volumes about how to make it enjoyable for our children. Let them "entertain" you or be your "live iPod." I think it makes them realize that what they are doing is meaningful and special to you. 

For my own children, I just let them play on their own and experiment until about the age of four or five. I would direct them now and then, but in general I let them play and pick out melodies from choir, etc. I told them about high/low, loud/soft and basic principles. I gradually started to make the lessons more formal as they got older. At first I was met with resistance because they were used to playing on their own, but that quickly faded as they saw the results. Cecily is ten now and I haven't had to ask her to practice in years. She plays for me while I cook dinner every night. I give her direction during this time in how to make the most