Christmas in Australia is unique – the flipside of traditional celebrations and traditions in the Northern Hemisphere. Sure, there’s the Christmas carols we know and love as well as turkey, Christmas pudding and all the trimmings but the weather and relaxed atmosphere of an Aussie family Christmas needs some music all of its own.

An Australian Christmas from ABC Kids is full of songs that celebrate the scorching Aussie weather during the festive season. The Christmas songs on this CD all have an Australian flavour to them and features songs such as “Six White Boomers”, “Aussie Jingle Bells”, “Christmas Where The Gum Trees Grow” and “Santa’s Coming On A Surfboard”.
Christmas Fun time by Linda Adamson is part of the incredibly popular Love to Sing range from this Kiwi educator and music lecturer. This pack includes 32-page, highly illustrated book, featuring all the words and actions for each song, a music CD and bonus DVD with selections from the popular New Zealand TV series. Songs included are a mix of traditional and modern with a southern hemisphere flavour (some of the titles are “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”, “Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere”, “A Chubby Little Snowman” and “Pop, Bang, Crack”). Adamson’s Love to Sing range has become a worldwide hit over 20 years with teachers, parents and kids and her songs are played daily on NZ children’s television.
Kids’ Christmas Music by Hilary Henshaw is full of simple but catchy tunes to help the whole family get into the festive holiday spirit. There’s also fun Christmas games (Christmas Box, Thank You, The Giving Game) and dances (Christmas Bush Dance, Chanukah) on the CD that are ideal for school activities or holiday concerts and performances.  Henshaw is an Australian singer, performer and speaker of international renown whose seven-CD collection for children – Growing with Music (of which Kids’ Christmas Music is one) – is one of Australia’s most widely used music resources.
For a funky festive season try Christmas with Jamo, which has plenty of upbeat tunes to get everyone movin’ and groovin’.  “Reindeer On My Roof” and “No Snow” are fun Christmas story-telling songs. Others like “Christmas Time” and “Reindeer’s A ‘rockin’” are guaranteed party starters! Jamo is Paul Jamieson – a Melbourne-based entertainer whose songs are infused with lots or rhythm, reggae, rap and calypso (a nod to his Caribbean heritage).
Peter Combe’s Christmas Album is, in Combe’s own words, “…the realisation of a dream of mine to compose and record a set of new Christmas songs for children and their families…”. The CD features six choirs and will make a wonderful addition to your collection of Christmas music to enjoy with the family. Peter Combe is a beloved children’s performer and musician and this is a must-have CD.
Christmas for Aussie Kids combines the best of traditional and Aussie-flavoured songs. This collection has all your favourites like “Away in a Manger”, “The First Noel” and “Jingle Bell Rock” as well as more modern tunes “Six White Boomers” and “North Wind”.

Merry Christmas from the team at Educational Esteem!

Food is an essential part of life and also a way to teach children about health and improve literacy.  There are the names and colours of fruit and vegetables and finding out where the food comes from, as well as providing a great topic for imaginative play. Research consistently links between child nutrition and the ability of children to realise their full potential so education about food is vital.
Food can equal fun too!

Ronno Smart Moves, Smart Foods Book and CD (Ages 3-9) is a multi-purpose resource full of songs and activities to teach kids about nutrition and encourage healthy habits and exercise. The CD is by Ronno, a Canadian-born and internationally renowned children’s performer and Liz Jones-Twomey (aka Miss J.T) and all the activities and songs are brain-based, following the belief that the body, brain and mind are deeply interconnected.  The set includes an 82-page companion teachers’ manual, which features guided-movement instructions and diagrams; creative nutrition and physical fitness activities and games; and nutrition song lyric sheets.

Food Groups Game for ages 5-plus has three association games where kids will learn where different foods come from, the major food groups and how they are important to everyday health. Additionally, games are powerful ways to improve your child’s concentration and decision-making skills.

Fruits, Vegetables and their Plants is another fun and educational game with a food focus. Preschoolers (aged 4-plus) can match fruits and vegetables to their respective plants.

Healthy Eating game is a fun-filled resource to teach preschoolers about nutrition and healthy eating by matching objects to their proper groups or creating a balanced meal. The game is part of the Fun with Science range and also requires players to burn off calories from physical activities.

Picnic Playground from the ever-popular Putumayo Kids range celebrates music, food and good times. This collection is a “feast” of international tunes about food, cooking and healthy eating including “Eat Like a Rainbow (from American artist Jay Mankita), the Caribbean-flavoured “Ice Cream” (Asheba), “Beautiful Day” (by South Africa’s Kheswa) and “Let’s Bake Cookies” (from Canadian artist Maggie G). Picnic Playground is a joyous CD that will get the family dancing (it’s a great one to play while cooking with your kids in the kitchen).

Dancing in the Kitchen by renowned children’s artist Franciscus Henri has songs about food and cooking. The ARIA-nominated album has been a favourite since its release in 1991 and kids will move to the culinary grooves of 30 tracks including “mix a pancake”, “pizza song” and “flim flam”. This CD is a sure-fire way to get kids having fun in the kitchen (hopefully while they are helping mum or dad cook!).

On Top Of Spaghetti from ABC Kids is all about food! This collection has favourite food-themes tunes like “Food Glorious Food”, “Jelly on a Plate”, “Spaghetti Bolognaise” and “Animal Crackers In My Soup”. The songs span the generations and guarantee lively sing-alongs in the kitchen or car.

Play School Munch and Crunch DVD is a fun offering from the television show beloved by parents and children alike. The Play School presenters (including Alex Papps, Jay Laga’aia, Abi Tucker, Rhys Muldoon and Georgie Parker) and favourite toys like Big Ted, Jemima and Humpty Dumpty share the fun of making delicious healthy food and exploring food-themed activities like exploring a worm farm, making corn husk dolls and playing shop.

There is something very joyous and nurturing about the music from the continent of Africa. The music and instruments that represent the over 50 countries in Africa are diverse and a wonderful opportunity to instil respect and a greater understanding of other cultures. In Africa, music is an important part of everyday life and Educational Esteem has a great selection of titles for you to enjoy the music from the continent too.
Putumayo Kids Presents African Playground is a collection that “cherishes laughter, dancing and a hopeful outlook”. With tunes from African nations including Madagascar, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Africa and Benin, African Playground will help you learn more about – and enjoy – the beauty and joy of African culture. The artists featured on the CD are popular and important artists from the continent, including Benin’s Angelique Kidjo, South Africa’s The Mahotella Queens and Tarika Sammy from Madagascar.
There’s also African Dreamland from Putumayo Kids that will soothe your children to sleep with soft ballads. The songs on this collection promise to transport listeners of all ages on “a relaxing journey into the heart and soul of Africa”. The opening track of the collection “Nomathemba” by South Africa’s Ladysmith Black Mambazo may be familiar to adult listeners who may recall it having been used in a Nescafe coffee commercial in the late 1980s. Add to this tracks from Artists from Guinea, Mali, Cameroon and Zimbabwe, African Dreamland is a beautiful addition to your family music collection.
The Rough Guide to African Music for Children has tracks for kids, chosen by kids and presents the rich sounds of instruments and vocals from some of the best known artists in Africa. World Music Network, with the help of the music charity Music For Change, spoke to more than a thousand children, who selected their favourite African music tracks for this collection. This CD is a great all-rounder to introduce the family to the beats of Africa.
Beautiful Creatures is African music for children that mums and dads will love too – and that is exactly why it was created by South Africans Alan Glass, Ed Jordan and Paul Choritz. Using the cream of the country’s musicians, actors and singers, Beautiful Creatures has parent-friendly children’s songs that give a taste of the musical stories of South Africa.
In a 2007 interview, co-creator Ed Jordan said of the inspiration for their music that he thought “…children have a need to be more aware of how fantastic it is to be young… you know little children grow up so quickly nowadays they almost sort of bypass that age of innocence we have where it’s so great to be a kid and be young and alive and free…”.
Wendy Oldfield Presents Singalong Kidz is perfect for 0-5 year olds and is a collection of original songs inspired by the sounds and sights of South Africa and sung by children. The titles include “bath time”, “If I were a rainbow” and “African Lullaby”. Wendy Oldfield, who wrote all the songs on the album, is a well-known artist in South Africa and first came to the attention of audiences in the early 1980s in her group The Sweatbands. She is also known through her work with world music group Mondetta and her solo albums of adult contemporary music.

Frustration with the choice of music resources for teachers prompted Linda Adamson to create her own – an album sung by children for children, a book with all the lyrics and actions plus beautiful illustrations so children will know what song to choose. That was 20 years ago and Love To Sing has become a worldwide hit with teachers, parents and kids. Linda is a household name in her native New Zealand where her songs are played daily on NZ children’s television.
Her philosophy is participation and enthusiasm being the keys to your child’s learning.  The Love To Sing philosophy espouses the learning aspects of music – building language and memory skills, developing fine and gross motor skills and co-ordination and musical concepts.  But to Linda, the key is the magic connection when people sing together.
In Linda’s own words: “Enthusiasm is the key- hang loose and enjoy the experience – children will respond wholeheartedly!”
There is so much in the Love To Sing range for you to try and adore – and available from Educational Esteem. A great place to start – and early – with your child is Favourite Baby Songs with 22 songs sung by children, for children. This is a DVD with a bonus CD. Parents will love to sing to baby your little one with be fascinated by the songs.
Moving along with your child as they grow, Love to Sing has titles such as Terrific Toddler Tunes, We Love to Sing and Dance, Pre-School Fun Time and Hey Baby Let’s Rock and Roll. There’s virtually a Love To Sing DVD/CD for every occasion.
Linda’s Scholastic range is one of our most popular and customers just can’t get enough of Nursery Rhymes, Times Tables, Christmas Funtime, Move & Groove with Hearty Fun, Bop-along Songs and Playtime Songs.

You can view Love To Sing videos on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/childrenlovetosing

It’s almost a given that most kids – at some stage of their childhood – are going to go through a stage of loving dinosaurs. (Some may even grow up to be palaeontologists?!)
Well, indulge your kids’ love of dinos with lots of fun songs that’ll get you romping and stomping.
A great place to start is Sing a Song about Dinosaurs, aimed at ages 2 to 6. This CD is filled with fun songs about dinosaurs – naming them and provoking thoughts about what they and their environment must have been like. There’s also Wee Sing Dinosaurs, perfect for 2 to 8 year olds. Have fun listening to a children’s choir singing factual songs about all kinds of dinosaurs, with some silly songs along the way. Upbeat and informative songs with roaring great sound effects. Little dino fans will love this!

Or, how about Animals and Dinosaurs CD and book set from popular children’s singer and songwriter Scott Browne? Songs like “Dinosaur Shake”, “I like Dinosaurs” and “Four Little Dinosaurs” are sure to make the kids roar with fun and laughter.

Dinosaur Songs from ABC Kids has 17 dino-themed tunes, including Extinct Are the Dinosaurs, If I Was a Dinosaur and Loch Ness Monster.  Play School Dinosaurs DVD will be adored by your kids. Join the Play School presenters as they take you through the exciting world of dinosaurs. This DVD of songs, activities and stories will excite children’s imaginations and encourage play with activities like making dinosaurs out of boxes.

Most Amazing Dinosaur Songs are silly, scary and classic sing-along that presents a musical journey for dinosaur lovers of all ages. Grammy-nominated producer Leib Ostrow uses the best studio musicians and an award winning children’s chorus to bring dinosaurs back to life.

It doesn’t matter where you live bedtime can take on a truly global theme with lullabies from all over the world. The soothing sounds of international voices and instruments make bedtime a calm and nurturing time for your little ones (and mum and dad too!). Lullaby music is also great for students and helps them cope with exam stress and heavy workloads.

Lullabies for a Small World is 14 songs from all over the globe including Denmark, Brazil, Cameroon and Russia. There’s also World Music for Little Ears: Lullabies from Around the World with charming and sophisticated songs from Ireland, Wales, Africa, Nova Scotia, Cuba and more, all sung in the native tongues of the countries.

World Sings Goodnight has lullabies from 32 cultures like Sioux Indian, Cajun, Indonesian, American and European.  The beauty of this CD is the unique music and authentic native tongues that highlight the diversity of our world and the unifying theme of the closeness of the human family.

With its tracks from France, Cuba, Italy, Argentina, Ireland, Spain, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Brazil, and Russia, among others, Mother Earth Lullaby creates a relaxing bedtime environment for baby and young children.

Imagine one of the world’s finest classical guitarists playing at the foot of your child’s bed. Guitar Lullaby creates that experience as Ricardo Cobo, master of classical guitar, lovingly plays melodic instrumental lullabies from America, Spain, Cuba and France on solo guitar. A truly charming way to say goodnight.

Celtic Lullabies: Dreaming for Little Souls is a tender album that weaves a comforting blanket of soft words, simple melodies and subtle instrumentation. It also serves as a collection of prayers in thanks for the miracle of life God has provided.  Sure to send your children off to sleep in the most peaceful way possible.

Teaching children about animals not only improves literacy through reading and songs but it also promotes compassion and a sense of wonderment about the world around them.
Educational Esteem has lots of resources to entertain little ones with songs and tales of creatures great and small.

Kids Just Love…Animals by Wendy Jensen and Janet Channon has 10 tracks of animal-inspired songs from a spider to an elephant, tropical fish to a monkey. There’s also Sing a Song about Animals for ages 2-5 that has songs and dances about animals – wild animals like zebras and lions, to farm animals, this CD is lots of fun for kids and adults alike to move and groove to.

Scott Browne Animals and Dinosaurs Book and CD Set is a handy resource of songs, actions, music, movement and instrument playing for preschool children.  With songs like “I’m a Frog”, “Who’d Be a Polar Bear?” and “Animal Twist”, you are bound to have plenty of fun with the kids. This is also a perfect resource for childcare workers and preschool educators.

Putumayo Kids presents Animal Playground takes children on a global journey of multilingual animal-themed songs from Africa to Australia to the United States. The CD also includes an original music video for the song “No More Monkeys,” produced by Putumayo and shot on location in Trinidad featuring Trinidad-born artist Asheba.

Wee Sings Animals, Animals, Animals is a delightful collection of lively action songs, fun sing-a-longs, silly poems, and fingerplays. On this musical journey you’ll meet a medley of animals on the farm, at the zoo, in the garden, in the forest, at the pond, and in the air. For children aged 2 to 8, the package includes a 64-page songbook plus an accompanying CD and bonus cassette version of the same songs that are on the CD at no extra cost.

Wonderful DVDs for kids to learn more about animals are the BBC produced All About Animals Volumes 1 and  2. The show gets up close to animals like lions, reindeers, iguanas and chimpanzees and kids will learn all about the lives of these and other incredible creatures.

So go wild for all things animal and visit us at Educational Esteem!

Australia is a unique country and our music for kids is no different! To add a truly Aussie flavour to your kids’ musical entertainment try some of the great selection of Australian CDs we have at Educational Esteem.
One of the trailblazers of Australian children’s music is singer, songwriter and Play School presenter (kids of the 70s and early to mid 1980s will remember him!) Don Spencer. Don, who is also Russell Crowe’s father-in-law, is famous for his songs about Aussie animals and life in the bush – his best-known song is probably “feathers, fur and fins” – and the 2-CD Don Spencer Ultimate Collection is a must. The first CD is a collection of Australian Animal Songs and the second CD is Don’s all time favourites. There are also Don Spencer DVDs available like Feathers, Fur or Fins that takes kids on a musical, fun and education journey into the world of Australian animals.
Aunty Wendy’s Mob: Growing Up Strong is an album that has a focus on Aboriginal culture but meant for kids from all cultures to enjoy. Wendy Notley is a non-Aboriginal Early Childhood teacher whose inspiration to create a collection of children’s songs with an Aboriginal perspective came from working with women and kids at the Murawina Long Day Care Centre in Redfern, Sydney. This book and CD are a great way embrace the culture of our First Australians as well as having lots of fun.
Ian Blakeney is another singer-songwriter who focuses on Australian music for kids with several titles available including Aussie Outback for Kids, Aussie Beachtime for Kids and A to Z of Australia for Kids. A to Z of Australia, in particular, is an ideal way to build language with your kids while enjoying the uniquely Australian Alphabet songs that covers all the letters, including A for Aborigine, G for Goanna, Y for Yabbie…there’s lots of fun to be had.
For the classic Australian holiday there is the perfect soundtrack – Aussie Roadtrip Singalong. The interactive songs and activities on this CD and accompanying booklet tap into all aspects of childhood development – language, problem solving, self-esteem, memory and social skills – with songs like “Coo-ee”, “Outback Jack”, “Stop at the Servo” and  “The BBQ Song”.
Coco’s Lunch is an Aussie ARIA award-winning all-girl vocal and percussion group who make music for adults and kids. Wally Wombat Shuffle is ideal for ages 4-8 and parents will love the funny and catchy tunes like “Coco’s Samba”, “Spooky” and “Dizzy Spin” too.
For an all-round great collection of music try The Great Australian Songbook Volumes 1 and 2 Set that features well-known Aussie artists Rolf Harris, Slim Dusty and John Williamson and also renditions of old-style tunes that tell of this country’s history and traditions.

You put your left foot in,
You put your left foot out;
You put your left foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

You put your right hand in,
You put your right hand out;
You put your right hand in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

You put your left hand in,
You put your left hand out;
You put your left hand in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

You put your right side in,
You put your right side out;
You put your right side in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

You put your left side in,
You put your left side out;
You put your left side in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

You put your nose in,
You put your nose out;
You put your nose in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

You put your tail in,
You put your tail out;
You put your tail in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

You put your head in,
You put your head out;
You put your head in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,

And you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

You put your whole self in,
You put your whole self out;
You put your whole self in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.

Goin’ on a lion hunt.
Goin to catch a big one.
I’m not afraid.
Look, what’s up ahead?

Mud!
Can’t go over it.
Can’t go under it.
Can’t go around it.
Gotta go through it. [Make sloshing sounds and move hands as if slogging]

Goin’ on a lion hunt.
Goin to catch a big one.
I’m not afraid.
Look, what’s up ahead?

Sticks!
Can’t go over it.
Can’t go under it.
Can’t go around it.
Gotta go through it. [Snap fingers]

Goin’ on a lion hunt.
Goin to catch a big one.
I’m not afraid.
Look, what’s up ahead?

Trees!
Can’t go over it.
Can’t go under it.
Can’t go around it.
Gotta go through it. [Make gestures climbing up and down.]

Goin’ on a lion hunt.
Goin to catch a big one.
I’m not afraid.
Look, what’s up ahead?

Gate!
Can’t go over it.
Can’t go under it.
Can’t go around it.
Gotta go through it. [Make gate-opening gestures.]

Goin’ on a lion hunt.
Goin to catch a big one.
I’m not afraid.
Look, what’s up ahead?

River!
Can’t go over it.
Can’t go under it.
Can’t go around it.
Gotta go through it. [make swimming gestures]

Goin’ on a lion hunt.
Goin to catch a big one.
I’m not afraid.
Look, what’s up ahead?

Grass!
Can’t go over it.
Can’t go under it.
Can’t go around it.
Gotta go through it. Grass [move hands together and apart]

Goin’ on a lion hunt.
Goin to catch a big one.
I’m not afraid.
Look, what’s up ahead?

Cave!
Can’t go over it.
Can’t go under it.
Can’t go around it.
Gotta go through it. [act like you are feeling your way in a dark cave]

Feel yourself along the wall.
Oh, oh What’s this?
Something funny.
With a long soft thing on it’s end!
With two sharp things!
Two big gleaming sharp things!
A LION!!!
Run for your life!

Run out of the cave!
Crawl through the grass!
Swim across the river!
Run through the gate!
Run around the trees!
Jump over the sticks!
Slosh through the mud!
Run into the house!
Close the door!
Run up the front stairs!
Crawl under mum’s bed!