by Mama Hippo
I really want to get into the habit of singing lots to and with D, both traditional children songs and also more "contemporary" music (not sure that title fits totally when some of the music in mind is Beatles or Sinatra songs, but mainly just getting away from always using kid songs). I don't play any instruments, but I figure I have a half-decent voice and thus this is my way of passing a love of music on to D. With the more adult music I can put in CDs and listen to them to learn/refresh on the words, but I feel like I also have this huge arsenal of songs that I learned as a kid or half-learned while working at the Montessori school, but can never seem to remember well enough to actually sing them through. Every once in a while I'll sit down and try to Google lyrics to this or that particular song, but that only gets you so far.
Then today I came across a blog I discovered a while ago, and a new site, both of which will help a LOT with building up a better song list to use. The blog called
No Time for Flash Cards. She has a ton of great activities to do with kids, which D is a bit young for still, but she also makes videos of herself singing different childrens songs and writes out the lyrics. A lot of them are ones that I kinda sorta remembered, and then hearing them through once is enough.
The second site, which I just found today and am really psyched about, is called
BusSongs. This site looks AWESOME. It has lyrics to different lullabies, childrens songs, and nursery rhymes, and for many songs you can download an audio clip of the music if needed. You can browse by title, popular songs, song categories, or search using a keyword. I'm really excited to look through this site-- D and I have developed a routine where I sing him a lullaby before each nap and bedtime, and right now I have all of 3 that I cycle through and it'd be nice to have a few more. Not to mention how great it'll be to look up and learn fun play songs like
Little White Duck (which was one of my favorites that was often sung at the school) and
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly (which I tried to sing the other day, and failed miserably as I couldn't even get past the first line without stumbling and realizing I'd completely forgotten how this song went). Oh, and I also need to re-learn all the words to
The Rainbow Connection, an old beloved favorite of mine (which, btw, is also a fabulous waltz).
Anyway, so I think this site is great and figured some of you moms and dads out there might also find it cool and perhaps a bit useful. Heck, maybe I need to show it to Papa Hippo, too, so he can expand his repertoire a bit beyond The Eyes of Texas (which, surprisingly enough, does actually make for a pretty good lullaby). =P
Comments (7)
Kids songs are the best!!! I taught preschool in High School and we learned so many fun songs! They are really silly, like Tooty Tah! =]
Honestly, the ROCKABYE BABY CDs are pretty darn awesome. Kiddie friendly versions of popular songs at the time. Think KIDZ BOP, but less annoying.
I am a music loving person...and, therefore, my children generally are too. The only thing that would soothe my youngest when he was an infant was Jack Johnson. Still catches his ear to this day.
Also have always loved Rainbow Connection. I remember it from the end of a muppets movie.
We sing to our baby all the time. Real songs, made up songs, real songs with made up lyrics - you name it. I've always thought the "Wee Sing " series are pretty good if you're looking to buy a CD (I like the silly songs version best).
P.S. Here's another good site with some lyrics.
Right now my older son's favorite song is Dear Prudence from the soundtrack of Across the Universe. Although he also likes Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds...he has a thing for classic rock :) much to his daddy's happiness.
i'll have to check out the sites. thanks. M LOVES music, and we're a musical family. she hasn't been too into kids' songs yet though...only what we listen to.
I loved listening to Rafi when I was little. I think it instilled a love or music in me.
"Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, banana phone!"
That one's a classic.
My dad is an avid Beatles fan, and I also listened to plenty of that growing up, along with the Rolling Stones and such. And that's what gave me even the slightest taste in music...not the Rafi.