Kyle (who just turned 4) and I have been road-testing a few CDs. They won’t be featured in Car and Driver magazine and there were no safety tests performed, but the car is where we listen to most our our music. Whether we’re taking a quick trip to preschool or a longer road trip, children’s music greases the wheels and allows us a smoother trip.
Is is a sacrifice to turn over the controls to the CD deck, but to me it’s preferable to listen to kids’ tunes than to mediate bickering or even constant chatter. It’s a welcome distraction, and if I am careful about the music I introduce them to, I find myself humming the tunes even when we aren’t in the car.
If you’d like to introduce some new music to your family’s playlist, read on. These have passed the Mom-test, the preschooler test, and are generally approved by the nine-year-old big sister as well:
Lemonsquare Music for Fun–
The first time or two we listened to this CD, I wasn’t overly impressed. The words and tunes seemed too simple. I didn’t think that Kyle or Amanda liked it much either, but when I tried to play another CD, Kyle requested Lemonsquare’s Music for Fun. When I tried to suggest some other alternatives, Amanda said that she would rather listen to Lemonsquare than that those.
It grew on me, and I submitted fully when I realized that I’m not the target audience. My only requirement is that it doesn’t annoy me, and this CD easily met that criterion. The upbeat songs are similar in sound to Laurie Berkner. The songs teach toddlers and preschoolers basic concepts, which is an appreciable bonus to me. “I Found It” teaches about body parts, “Very Veggie” teaches about eating healthy foods, “Bear Knows Best” (our favorite tune) encourages them to make the sounds that animals make, and hygiene is encouraged by “Bathtime” and “Brush My Teeth.” You can listen to samples at their website, lemonsquaremusic.com. You can also buy the CD there, or download a 60 minute sleep track designed to lull a child to sleep. You can purchase the CD or find out more through these links on amazon and itunes.
Baby Loves HipHop presents the Dino 5–
I was a bit skeptical about this CD. Hip hop? For kids? Then I saw that the “Baby Loves. . . ” franchise has received many awards and accolades. It did feature dinosaurs, which I knew would appeal to my son, so I gave it a try.
Once this CD went into the car stereo, it did not come out for several days. The songs were in constant rotation. The fact that I was still smiling and listening along is a strong testament to the production. I actually even kind of like it. By the second or third time through, Kyle was singing along with the lyrics.
The songs tell a story and are interspersed with an actual bedtime story that a mom is telling her young daughter about making friends. . After listening to it for the 45th time (which only took a couple weeks), I began to hear Kyle parrot the moral of the story, which is stated after the original Dino 4 decide to let T-Rex join their band: “Sometimes what seems scary, isn’t scary at all.”
I give the Dino 5 my highest recommendation. The music is spunky and cool, but completely child-friendly. I don’t have any hip hop or rap in my music collection, to rattling the SUV windows with the strong bass line of T-Rex’s “I May Be Big and Scary, but I’m Really Pretty Nice,” at a stoplight makes me seem way cooler than the normal Broadway tunes which might be wafting from my vehicle (which I have also found to be kid and mom-approved). You can buy download the CD on itunes or buy it or download it at amazon.com.
Can’t Help But Love You, Baby–
Karen Potje grew up hating country music. When she moved to Texas (where she sang with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra), she just couldn’t resist any longer. She came to love the music and even wrote some of her own. When her first child was born, she couldn’t stop writing about the relationship between moms and kids. She wanted to write songs that would appeal equally to kids and the adults that care for them.
She succeeded! Kyle calls this CD “your CD.” As in, “Can we listen to your new CD?” which he does ask regularly. Among the kid-picks, it’s definitely Amanda’s favorite. Kyle recognizes the quality of grown up music–nice vocals and background music without silliness. Wait–there is silliness, but it’s refined silliness. The song, “Better Keep Your Shoes On” warns children what might happen if your toes aren’t contained within your socks and shoes. Our favorite song, “Bunnies on my PJs” is a toddler’s lament about being stuck in cutesy PJs when he really likes his jammies tough.
Stylistically the music on Can’t Help But Love You Baby is varied–a little Spanish “ai-yai-yai” in one song, some jazzy tunes, folksy country and more. It’s all pretty laid back, and it’s pretty appealing to all ages, which is a great way to keep the energy level and arguing down, which is sometimes just what the Mommy ordered.
You can listen to samples at her website KarenPotje.com and you can purchase the CD and also hear samples of all tracks at CD Baby (U.S.) or CanadaCD.
If you’d like to win a set of all three of these CDs, leave a comment here.
The winners will be announced on June 24 with all of the other Creative Summer Days giveaways. You can still enter all the drawings on the individual posts through June 23.
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{ 238 comments… read them below or add one }
I badly need kids’ music for my baby! This would be wonderful to win!
How much I hope we win this one!!
I’ve been looking for some kids’ music. How great!!
We’re always in the market for good kids’ music at our house!
sounds so much better then raffi
I’d like to win some CD’s for the kids. I have a hard time ventruing too far from the childrens christian classics… but these sound worth a try.
God bless-
Amanda
It would be so nice to have some new music in my toddler’s “music list”! I can only listen to Veggie Tales so many times before going crazy
My daughter loves good kid tunes in the car, and it makes for an infinitely more pleasurable driving experience for mom too!
These sound great!
New music is always appreciated around here. Little would really enjoy these.
My 2 year old loves hip hop!! How fun, thanks for the chance!!
My three-year-old and four-year-old love having lots of CDs to choose from. These sound like good additions to their collection.
My daughters would love some new music!
Oh yes! Please enter me.
We are music lovers at our house! I’m going to check these out! Thanks!
ooh – great group of tunes! Thanks
I haven’t heard of any of these, but I’d love to win them all!
We are dancing fools over here!
Over the past week my daughter has really gotten into dancing (bopping up and down) and drags me over to the cd player to turn it on. We would love to try out some new music! Thanks!
Sounds like good dancin’ music! Please count me in!
Sounds great! Thanks for the contest.
We listen to most if not all of our kids music in the car as well. I can’t remember the last time I was able to sit back and enjoy some “adult” music. Regardless, we are always looking for something new to listen to. These sound like they would be worth a try.
owatz (at) telus (dot) net
We love music… please send some our way!
We would love these!
we don’t do t.v. so we’re always on the lookout for new music! Thanks.
We love music here!! Count me in!
This is so great! Thanks.
I’d love to win these CD’s! I’m always looking for new music to play while riding around with the kids, cause I get tired of the radio!
Please, oh please, let me win! I’m so tired of Baby Einstein CD’s!
I really like providing the kids with a very well-rounded selection of music so kids can decide for themselves what types of music are their favorites. Chances are, it won’t be the same as me. Plus it’s so much more fun to change things up all the time.
We would love to have these!
Thanks so much for the opportunity.
Sounds like some great music!
We are a music lovin’ household. Count me in!!
We are always on the lookout for new tunes for the car!!
My daughter would enjoy having a new CD to listen to. How nice. Enter me, please. Thank you
My daughters are both big music fans, they’d love this!
sign me up!
sounds great!
These would be great!
My post with your button is here:
http://www.livinwithme.com/2008/06/fabulous-giveaways/
These sound totally cute!
I love music for kids and for me. I need something I can dance silly with them. And my 7 year old is in the other room watching “RENT” but I’d love to give her other great music choices as well.
These would be awesome…we LOVE singing away in the car!
I love kids music – this would be neat to win!
We could use some new music. Thanks!
We recently started listening to kids music in the car; now my daughter requests it. I’d love to win some new kids’ CDs.
my girls love all types of music
We love music and need some new stuff. Please enter us!
Hello! Another fun giveaway contest drawing. My nephew is coming to stay with our family for two weeks this summer. It would be fun to have these new CDs to listen to and dance with him. Please enter me in your delightful drawing. I appreciate it!
Many thanks, Cindi
Great finger snapping tunes..okay…the wee ones won’t be snapping the fingers, but they will be bouncing their toes.
My kids and I LOVE having music to listen to in the car…we’ve been checking CDs out at our local library to change things up lately.
My kids love to move and groove! I’m a children’s dance teacher too so I LOVE finding fun, new music, especially if it’s FREE!!!!!!
I’d love to win these. We are always listening to “their” music in the car. Have you heard of Noah’s Park? It’s a continuous story with songs and diaglogue, and my kids also parrot the moral (i.e. “You don’t have to be afraid because God is always with you”). Thanks!!
I am always looking for new music for the car! Thanks for another great giveaway!
We are taking a 1,000 mile road trip this summer, and these CD’s would be wonderful for my daughter to listen to.
We’re always looking for new and fun family music!
These would be perfect for our trip to Florida.
I’d love to win! Thanks for the offering.
http://nikisventures.blogspot.com/
Niki
Hi… what a great group of CDs to add to my “collection”.
Thanks,
Maureen (jnomaxx at hotmail dot com)
I ran straight to my libraries website to see if they carried them… no luck. I’d love to win… my kids can’t get enough good music !!
Thanks for the chance !
We love music here, my kids would love. Please enter me.
Sounds great!!
Awesome giveaway…we’re always looking for new CDs to try out!
I LOVE listening to music with my kiddos! Thanks for the chance to win!
My kids would love this!
Those sound so cute. We’re always looking for new music!
My wee ones are always up for some new music!
CDs we can play in the car-I know the kids would love this
It’s always great to find new and fun music for the kids. Count us in for this one please…thanks!!!
As I’m trying to read this post, my daughter is calling me because her CD is skipping, and so are most of them! We need new music!
What cool music!
awesome
My girls and I love listening to kid songs and would love to win this CD set for us…
i love it
count me in
I would love to win this package Eric Carle is my favorite author of childrens books
My kids love to dance so this would be perfect for them!
This would be fun for hot summer days trapped inside
love to win this
My son Gabriel loves “all” music and this would be great for our upcoming baby girl as well!
wow
just send it awesome
enter me
Twitter: TheAngelForever
June 18, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Both of my boys love music, especially my little one. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway opportunities!
Yup!! lol (I’m running out of original lines)
This looks great! I know my baby girl would enjoy this. Thanks for the great giveaway!
This would be a great gift for my sister’s new baby!
enter me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My daughter would love this, I’d have to save it for her birthday next month!
music helps kids smarter. I know that lily loves music. maybe she’s a genius
I would love these CDs for the children. Sometimes I realize that the music in the car is all about the adults and none for the children. I guess it is time for me to take them into account too.
We could use some new CD’s!
My kids love to dance so this would be a great win.
gkstratos @yahoo.com
Would like to win!
Always looking for more music, here. Thanks!
I’d love some new music all I play is music for my kids I could use some excitement.
This is a great idea for traveling. We have a car trip in 2 weeks too.
Nice!
We’d love some new car music. VeggieTales is getting old!
Great prize for the little ones. Please enter my name. Thanks.
my youngest daughter would love this!
Thanks.
cool prizes
My kids love to dance to music. They would love this.
This is so much fun for our little ones. Great giveaway!
I’d love this for my sister who is due for a new baby!!
sweet
My boss’s wife just had a baby. I could use some brownie points.
my kids would love these
My son loves all music.
My girls love to dance, new music would be a great treat.
I love collecting kids’ music, and I’ve never heard of any of these. Thanks for the recommendations and the great giveaway.
MY FRIENDS KIDS WOULD LIKE THIS
Nice giveaway, I want to win !! Thanks !!!
Any of these sounds good for my little grandbaby!
Oh new music! That would be so great! Pick me, pick me…please!
Great CDs. My kids would love them. Count me in!
Enter me please.
Kiddos love music!
I can picture them dancing already!
please pick us
yes…all we have is a few Raffi’s and while I do like his silly songs something new would be great!
Great giveaway!
I really would LOVE to win this as a gift for dear friend with little ones who is traveling over the summer…thanks so much…:)
We are just starting to read bedtime stories to our daughter. Could really use these!
cool gift!
great stuffs!
perfect for my daughter. Hope to win.
Fun stuff!
My little ones love music.
We love music! All of them sound awesome!
Wow, what a cool prize.
I’m pregnant with my son so I’d love to win this for him!
I’m always looking for new appropriate cds for my kids. These sound great!
My son would love to win this prize!!!
this would be really fun. me and the kids can get down and boogie. thank you!!
I love music and my daughter loves music, so thanks for the contest!
My son is in need of some new tunes! Would love to win! Thanks!
would LOVE something for the kids to listen to
Please enter me
Little ones would enjoy this!
These would be great CDs for the little one.
Even though it is adorable to watch my granddaughter dance to Elmocize! it would be fun to let her have some new music!
Please just enter for a chance to win.
We would love to have these!
I do not ask to win for myself.. I ask for my daughter who will be traveling with granddaughter and expecting another child..This would help so much on the trip. Good luck to all/
My sons LOVE to sing and dance. These would be great additions to our collection!
tfisher83 AT myexcel DOT com
Can’t get enought music
Great for kids!
my little ones would love this
Our two-year-old daughter could learn from these, while having fun! Thanks for the thoughtful giveaway!
We are always, always up for new music!!! Thanks!
This be awesome to win..Enter me!
Nice set! Thanks for entering me.
Count me in!
cool giveaway
I would love this, thanks for the great giveaway!
My 2 year old granddaughter loves to dance. What a great way to get her moving.
My nephews would love this.
My little guy LOVES music. As an infant the only way we could get him to stop crying is if dad played his guitar. I would love to add these to his music library!
This would be cool to win
Us please!! We would be sooooooo grateful!
My Daughter loves music, we are alwats singing and dancing around the house.
I’d love to have some good kids cds to put in the rotation! Thanks for sharing!
always looking for new music for my kids
This sounds like alot of fun for the kids!
It would be great to finally win something for my daughter.
I would love to win this for my daughter!
What a wonderful prize!
enter me please
Sounds like a cute CD
My daughter would love this!
At 17 months my son now knows how to turn on the CD player in his play area!! It’s the cutest thing to watch – He LOVES music and dancing!!!
Thank you for the chance to win!!
count me in
great kid’s cd
oh yes please!
Sounds good – would love to win for my younger grandkids.
New music for the kids is always great!
Great!
Thanks
We would love these! TY 4 THE CONTEST!
My little boys loves to dance! This would be great for him.
Dancing with kids is so much fun …. and a great way to get them to move
Count me in!
Sweet niblets!
These would be lots of fun!
Fun cd’s I would love to share!
We need a change in the car…our current music is getting old! Thanks.
My son loves to sing and dance – he would be thrilled if I won these!
I just love music for kids! My baby adores listening to cds
You can only listen to the same songs over and over for so long…to win this would be awesome for both my son, and ME!:D
Would love these for nighttime soothing!
Oooh, we need a little music for our little one! Thanks for the chance!
I could use some new cds.
It sounds really cute.
Thanks for making a great site!!
Please enter me into the contest!!
Please toss my name in the hat.
What a great bunch of CDs!
this would be so enjoyed in our home ,thanks for the giveaway
these sound like fun, great contest
I love playing music for my son!
This music would be great to listen on vacation this year while we’re traveling!
Would love this!
Sound like fun-please enter me in the contest.
Great prizes!!
My children would love this!
I want to win! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
What a fabulous giveaway! My daughter is such a music buff at 20 months its amazing! Her dad listens to country and I am more top 40/hip hop. This would be a great addition to our children’s songs as they are right up her ally!
count me in please
The Dora CD needs a rest….BADLY! I’d love this collection. Thanks for the contest!
A new CD, PLEASE!
My one year old loves music and would really like this.
This would be wonderful to win!
nice one thanks
My 3 year old would love this!
We love music round here
Would love to have this music for my daughter!
Im putting together a welcome baby basket for my neighbor and these CDs would be perfect
MY daughter Loves Music..
My son stops whatever he is doing when he hears music. He loves it! I would love to win this!
Kid’s music would be a nice win!
My kids love music!
We’d really enjoy this!
thanks for the contest
How wonderful to have music that is kid friendly but doesn’t get on adult’s last nerve! Thanks for the chance to win!
My nephew would love these prizes. Thanks for the chance to win!
Kids can learn alot from music
would love to win this. thanks
I think that music makes for happy babies. Please and thank you.
we need to listen to something other than “old macdonald” !!
We loved these with Jennifer! We need them so Steve can learn all the words!
We really need to put some new tunes into the rotation and these sound like I could actually maintain my self esteem and keep the kids happy at the same time!
Thanks for another great giveaway!!
great for my sons!
Babies are stimulated even before birth for sounds, lights, music; many thanks SW
My little granddaughter would love this. Thanks for entering me in the contest!
My husband has been babysitting. This may help.
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The songs teach toddlers and preschoolers basic concepts, which is an appreciable bonus to me. “I Found It” teaches about body parts, “Very Veggie” teaches about eating healthy foods, “Bear Knows Best” (our favorite tune) encourages them to make the sounds that animals make, and hygiene is encouraged by “Bathtime” and “Brush My Teeth.”
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
please count grandpa in
Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
I would love some new kids music for our road trip.
My daughter would absolutely love this!