Before I became a Mom, I was a Kindergarten teacher for four years. If you walked into my classroom, you would almost always hear a song playing. If it was during our work time, I had classical music playing to help the kids focus. If it was circle time, I had some sort of educational song teaching a new concept. If it was the middle of the day, I had an action song playing to get the wiggles out. And if it was the end of the day, I had a silly song on to end our day on a happy note! Music was always on in my classroom. Really, if you walk into any preschool or early elementary classroom, you will probably find that music is a huge part of their learning environment as well.
Why you ask?
Think about all the silly commercial jingles that you can sing or all the lyrics to songs that you have memorized……..
“Call 267-8433, because the next best thing to new is Dalworth Clean”
Did anyone sing that?
I’ve known Dalworth Clean’s phone number since I was a little kid, yet I have never actually called their number. Songs just stick with you, so why not give children educational things to stick with them. My 2.5 year old can spell all of his color words already because he LOVES the Frog Street Press Sing And Read Colors CD
Not only do songs just stick with you, children respond to music better than just words. I could tell my classroom to clean up by just using my words, but if I started singing the clean up song, everyone would join in singing (and cleaning) and it would get done much faster.
Music teaches so much more than just a song. It helps develop gross and fine motor skill, memory skills, listening skills, cooperative skills, and helps build a child’s imagination.
And let’s be honest, singing just makes you happy! And we all know that a happy kid equals a happy mama!!
Here are a few of my favorite CD’s, artists, and songs that you would hear playing in our home and in our car……
Dr. Jean
Although her voice can sometimes get annoying after listening to her songs over and over, I have to admit she is one of my favorite children’s music artists. Her songs are catchy, silly, upbeat and most are very educational.
Her CD’s are not available on iTunes, but you can order or download them on her website or from Amazon
Song Recommendations: Days of the Week, Month Macarena, Tooty Ta, Peanut Butter, Kiss Your Brain, Color Farm, or Who Let the Letters Out?
Jack Hartman
Once of the things I love about Jack Hartmann is that each CD has a list of all the skills taught on the CD. You can purchase his CD from Amazon
CD Recommendation: Hip-Hop AlphaBop
Frog Street Music
I used Frog Street music daily in my classroom. I used it as a supplementary curriculum. Many preschools (my son’s included) use this as their primary curriculum. Their songs teach letters, numbers, shapes and colors so well!! You can purchase their CD’s from their online store or Amazon.
CD Recommendations: Alphabet CD, Color Word CD, Number CD, Shape CD, Nursery Rhyme CD
The Laurie Berkner Band
You can purchase her music from iTunes, on Amazon
Song Recommendations: We are the Dinosaurs, I’m Gonna Catch You, I Know a Chicken, Wimoweh (The Lion Sleeps Tonight)
Sounds Like Learning by Discovery Toys
This CD is different from the others that I have recommended as it is very slow and almost puts you to sleep. It’s almost like Learning Lullaby music. It’s the perfect CD to put on if your child no longer takes nap, but still needs a rest time. It’s quiet, soft music that won’t get your child all wound up while they are supposed to be resting. You can purchase this CD online HERE or HERE
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Being a former Kindergarten teacher, I thought I had a pretty good knowledge of children’s music, but my son is constantly coming home singing new songs that I have never heard. I asked my son’s preschool teachers for a few of their favorite children’s CD’s and here was their list……
**All CD’s can be found on Amazon.
- Music & Movement
- Kids In Action
- Hap Palmer’s Getting to know Myself
- The Learning Station’s Rock ‘N Roll Songs That Teach
- Tony Chestnut & Fun Time Action Songs
- The Learning Station’s #1 Best Kid’s Songs
- Melody House Wiggles Jiggles & Giggles
Happy singing!!!
What is your favorite children’s CD, artist, or song?
My kids LOVE Dr. Jean’s Lettercize song. And it gets lots of wiggles out!