Today is Backwards Day over at Rocks in my Dryer. Instead of offering a tip, we get to ask for one!
Lately, we've been listening to a LOT of children's music. Specifically, a lot of Psalty's Kid's Praise from Maranatha. If I didn't already have most of it memorized from my own childhood, I certainly do now! Now, I love Psalty. And Colby. And I'm even somewhat fond of G.T. and the Halo Express. But those are all leftovers from my own childhood, and I'm sure (at least, I'm hopeful!) that there is more fantastic music that has been created since then. I'm looking for music that is first good (i.e. quality music) second character building, (specifically Christian, if possible) and third fun.
So...tell me the best kids' music you've heard (and if you want extra points, tell me where to get it!) As incentive, I'm offering a prize.
A PRIZE!!!!
I'll send a $10 itunes gift card to the person who gives me the best suggestion. Caveat: it has to be a good enough recommendation that I actually buy it. Sound fair?
Ok...go! :)
26 comments:
I would recommend anything by Judy Rogers
http://www.judyrogers.com/
The album "Teach me while my heart is tender is a good place to start"
Dan Zanes! (danzanes.com or iTunes) We love Dan Zanes at our house. My husband & I even love to listen to him. We also love Elizabeth Mitchell- you can find her on iTunes as well. Her music is so sweet & beautiful.
We love Sandra Boynton's stuff. Search for her at Amazon and you can hear previews. She's so funny. Some of her songs, like "Bad Babies," have practically become family anthems. And she gets really famous people to sing them, too. You really haven't experienced kids' music until you've heard Kate Winslet and Weird Al singing "I Need a Nap!"
I'm finding that my 2.5 year old really likes musical theater, now, too. She almost has "Popular" from Wicked memorized!
We do love Judy Rogers over here. You can't go wrong with her.
But our current favorite is found here http://mykidsmusic.net/ It is the Jesus Loves You CD. They personalize it to your child's name which just makes it extra special. I love it in the van when all of the children sing to our 3 year old, "Rebekah, your special, God wants you to know that he will be with you wherever you go..." So many great songs and her face just beams the whole time. I pray that she will treasure these words in her heart and the many voices of encouragement.
I think that you can sample a few on the site. Check it out!
I just recently got the PraiseBaby 4 CD set for my girlie. It's full of songs for worship, so munchkins can learn some of the songs to participate in church, but it's geared toward them. At the same time, it's not one of those kids' CDs that will drive you out of your mind - it's not at all shrill or annoying. It's really pretty mellow and nice, and I certainly find myself singing along most of the time.
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=CD86224&netp_id=506422&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW
I remember Psalty! We also listened to Charity Churchmouse when I was little. I actually don't like kid's music, so my kids listen to what I listen to, be it classical or punk. I do love musicals, so my son knows all the words to the songs from the Music Man, Annie, and Grease (skip Greased Lightnin'!)
My kids like to listen to Go Fish. I actually enjoy it as well.
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntk=keywords&Ntt=go+fish&action=Search&N=0&Ne=0&event=ESRCN&nav_search=1&cms=1
Or how about Uncle Charlie. He's good! www.unclecharlie.com
Music that mom and kids enjoy.
I was going to tell you about my daughters personalized CD but Monica already did :) So, I'll just agree with her and tell you that Chloe LOVES hearing her name in the songs! It's a great idea for kids and you should check it out. Her other favorite is Awesome Bible Kids...A child tells a quicks story from the Bible and then some children sing about it. She really likes that one too :) It's almost like an audio book only more musical...great for the car too!
Okay, this isn't Christian but I love it. It is Beethoven's Wig (symphonies with funny lyrcis.)
although it isn't Christian based, I really enjoy putting this on for my kids, not only is it funny and cute, but I find myself quoting it during the day!
Go figure!
Philadelphia Chickens, (2002 Sandra Boyton...& others)
It has some celebrities singing on it... VEry funny!(the Bacon Brothers)
I agree with Monica. My girls love their personalized CD's and want to listen to them all the time in the car.
Bob McGrath from Sesame Street (http://www.bobmcgrath.com/). Also Sandra Boynton is great. We have a collection of CD's that we love but I can't find the case for - we made a single cd of MP3s from the cds so I need to try to find it & I'll post again.
my friend posted this on her blog:
http://simplyradiant.blogspot.com/2007/12/homemade-christmas-project-3-lullaby-cd.html
I also LOVE Elizabeth Mitchell, but my recent favorites are all the Praise Baby CD's and DVD's. Just classic hymns and new praise tunes, but wonderful.
My favorite from childhood is "The Music Machine" I'll never forget my Mom singing, "Have patience, have patience, don't be in such a hurry..." I found it again here: http://www.agapelandmusic.com/catalog/item/686755/306434.htm
Thanks for posting this. I love the suggestions from others!
"Catch the Moon" by Elizabeth Mitchell and "Philadelphia Chickens" by Sandra Boynton are in constant rotation in my car!!
We love Cedarmont Kids! Well, my kids love it all...I love the music, but the music videos grate my nerves. But it's really for them, right?
I also love the Little Golden Hymns CD...children singing hymns...so sweet. I bought both of the above at Lifeway Christian Store.
In the secular realm, my kids LOVE Laurie Berkner (from Noggin). I found her CD at Best Buy. She's got some original tunes that I don't mind listening to, even for the tenth time. I actually catch myself singing them later.
Hope this helps!
( meg dot wilson at gmail dot com )
Nathan and I recommend Mahler's Kindertotenlieder!
Haha!
The best music we have found for kids has been Hillsong Kids. It is original and upbeat. My kids are 4 & 6; they love it.
http://www.apple.com/search/ipoditunes/?q=hillsong+kids
I really like Veggie Tales for kids Christian music.
One kids artist that I just love that isn't Christian-based is Laurie Berkner. (I really love the We Are the Laurie Berkner Band DVD. My whole family and I dance around to it and sing along.)
I recommend Joe McDermott (http://www.joemcdermottmusic.com/). He's the best I've heard, both fun and with some depth (though I don't know what the "I got stuck in an elevator" song means). He's since turned to writing music for adults, which kinda stinks, but you can still get my favorite two albums: Great Big World and Joe-Ho-Ho. Be warned: the title song of Great Big World will make you cry. :)
Oh, did I mention he's an Austin musician? That's why he's so dang cool. We actually saw him in concert once at the children's museum, and he's one of the sweetest, best performers I've seen, children's or adult's music.
We love the Praise Baby collection and my favorite CD is God of Wonders.
http://www.praisebabycollection.com/
For a great sing-along, try Silly Songs With Larry (Veggie Tales)
http://www.familychristian.com/shop
/product.asp?prodID=5561
For bedtime music, I love the soundtrack for O, Brother Where Art Thou?
http://www.amazon.com/O-Brother-Where-Art-Thou/dp/B00004XQ83/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1199979287&sr=8-1
My advice is to check some of the titles out from your local library until you find something you really love.
Enjoy!
We are a Signing Time loving family. I love the catchy songs that she sings and so does my daughter. It's good enough quality music that I don't mind listening to it as well. My daughter's favorite is Vol. 7-9, but they are all great!
http://www.signingtime.com/index.php?cPath=28
I don't know how recent she is,(meaning i think she's been around for a while, although she is still making new songs) but you might try Mary Rice Hopkins. I've heard her at some of the Awana conferences, and she was really fun. The adults actually enjoyed it!
I know others have suggested this but the Praise Baby series is the best. We love not only the CDs but the DVDs as well. My 4 year old still loves to watch the DVDs and we, as a family, listen to the worship music in the car. The praise music truly glorifies our God and passes on the love of good Christian music to children.
We love seeds family praise music! It's scripture set to music and so great, my 3 year old and I love to sing together in the car, and my 18 month old tries to sing along as well. You can listen to it on the website, seedsmusic.com
enjoy!
jennyfriend at cox dot net
I just stumbles across your blog as I was looking Psalty stuff. But the best Christian Kids music I have yet to hear to date is Hillsong Kids. They have GREAT stuff. My girls love it.
Post a Comment