It's never too early to introduce your lil one to fine art. Start out by picking up an arty book to read during storytime. If you're not familiar with these artists, it's a great opportunity to boost your own knowledge too. These books are wonderful learning tools and enjoyable reads with exciting illustrations and sweet prose. We rounded up 10 of our favorites, perfect for sharing with your tot the next time you're ready for a story snuggle.
Here's a post from our partners at BabyCenter! Every week, we bring you the best parenting and lifestyle stories from the experts at BabyCenter, including this post from Joyce Slaton about tots and popular song lyrics.
Something strange has happened to the music on the radio lately: suddenly it doesn't suck. By which I mean my 7-year-old daughter and I like the same stuff. The dance-pop made by Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Adele, and their ilk appeal equally to middle-aged people and little kids, who both appreciate the thumping rhythms and catchy beats.
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The problem? The lyrics. They're not made for kids. And it's pretty icky to hear a little girl singing about how she wants to have a toast for the douchebags (Kanye West's "Runaway") or she wants to hear you scream all night (Usher's "Scream"). There are songs with lyrics vague/positive enough for everyone (I'm looking at you, Taio Cruz's "Dynamite"), but there are plenty of others with lyrics that make a parent cringe when they hear them coming out of a child's mouth. Such as:
There's nothing worse than dealing with an unruly tot during a long drive. Sometimes turning on the tunes is the only way to make things better. But finding the balance between easy listening and annoying singing can sometimes be a challenge. These cool albums deliver songs your kids will love — and they're sung by musicians Mama wants to listen to! From old-school favorites to new bands, this collection of kid discs will have the whole family singing along.
Celebrate Summer with books that fete the sun! We've rounded up books perfect for kids of all ages that, along with being fun reads, also teach children about the season. From changes in nature to long days at the beach — or dealing with heat waves — these books are sure to quickly turn into family favorites! Did we miss your tot's top pick? Leave a comment with its title!
Sure, kid-specific and pop music have their time and place, but when we learned that music historian Robert Greenberg was praising the benefits of classical music for kids, we were ready to listen up. We spoke with the professor and author of How to Listen to Great Music: A Guide to Its History, Culture, and Heart and he shared five reasons why moms should turn down Kidz Bop and turn up the Bach.
Keep reading for more reasons to incorporate classical music into your kids' repertoires.
