When there were hoots at our house in West Seattle or later in Everett, they would always jovially sing a few kids songs before we were sent upstairs to bed. Like we were going to go to sleep - we sat at the top of the stairs (out of sight around the corner) or at the top of the heater vent from the living room and listened to the songs. Our parents knew we were there, as we confirmed when we sang some of those songs ourselves later.