Dance for preschoolers has so many benefits – cultivating a love of dance, appreciation of music, confidence and the ability to listen and follow instructions. Dance activities make children aware of their bodies and encourage healthy physical and cognitive development.
All-Time Favorite Dances is a great music CD for little ones to hop and bop to with classic dances like the hokey pokey, conga and the twist. There’s also a lyrics guide with dance instructions.
Dance Like a Rainbow is a beautiful resource suitable for ages 4-7 that fires the imagination and gets kids doing creative movement. Compositions including “Walking Shoes”, “Hip Hop Rainbow”, “Dance Like a Rainbow”, “Dance Trance Drums” and “Wild Jungle” promote free and fun dancing for youngsters. Read more
Kids’ music is a lot more adult-friendly these days, so much so that if you like a bit of country, rock or blues you can find music to suit all tastes in your home.
The Mudcakes is a group that’s a prime example of singer/songwriters who are leading the movement in Australia towards children’s musical entertainment that is intelligent, fun and stuff that parents can rock along to as well. In the United States it’s known as “Kinder Rock” and artists like They Might Be Giants and Laurie Berkner are stalwarts of the scene.
The Mudcakes is Australian singer/songwriter Sherry Rich and her Boston- born partner Rick Plant who first met in Nashville, had kids and wrote songs about the whole parenting experience. Read more
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. Read more
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. Read more
It’s never too early to start playing, singing and moving with baby. Babies and toddlers learn through interaction with their parents. We have lots of resources to help encourage interactive development time with your baby.
Baby Games for babies aged six weeks to one year has lap games, exercise games, rocking and bouncing games to share. Songs include “Muffin Man” “Bye Baby Bunting” and “Hey Diddle Diddle” and more. The CD comes with an activities guide and lyrics. Dots Music for Bouncy Babies! is another CD that encourages music education and development through simple and fun activities with baby. Made in New Zealand, the music is original and host Radha will show you how to sing, bounce and rock with baby. Your baby will also delight in hearing the sound of other babies on the album. Read more
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! Read more
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. Read more
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. Read more
The world is a wonderful place and with increased awareness of the environment and climate change, it’s important to introduce children to themes of nature as early as possible.
Games are a great way to introduce concepts, words and pictures to children. My First 3 Nature Games by Creative Educational Aids is a great way to have fun and help kids discover nature with dominoes, memory cards and an ancient board game. Made of durable recycled materials the pack has a three-drawer box holds for neat and safe storage. Read more
Lullabies are soothing, gentle and the ideal way to literally lull your baby, toddler or child into to a good night’s sleep.
And there’s more benefits to lullabies than just bedtime listening. Lullabies and classical music are increasingly being used in neonatal units to improve behavioural or physiological outcomes for premature babies and to manage pain during medical procedures.
Educational Esteem has one of the best online selections of lullaby music from all over the world. Read more
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