VEGANGELICA

Hi Burning Down,
Yes, isn't "Puff" a lovely song?

That is a very pretty, old-fashioned sounding children's song (video) with the little girl and boy in the meadow, Liljagare. Heh heh, "Rosa Helikopter" is quite catchy, and check out those little kids' dance moves! I can see why your students would love it ... and why it could drive you nuts.

The meaning of that Norwegian children's song you posted is quite wacky and original, Toretorden!

I hadn't thought of the value of songs for teaching children foreign languages, but that's a good point you make...especially since many early songs by the Beatles, for example, have quite simple lyrics. When I took German (in high school) we listened to Nena's "99 Luft Balloons" in the original German, which I love to this day (both the song and the language)! (I know it is not folk music, but I include it here anyway YouTube - Nena 99 Luft Balloons).

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Liljagare

Its a traditional children's song. Astrid Lindgren wrote alot of childrens songs and they are still very popular today in our culture..if you don't remember her, she is the woman who wrote "Pippi Longstocking" .

Liljagare

When I was a young child, I enjoyed alot of different kinds of music. I think it was only in school that I became more introduced to what would be classified as "pedagogical music" that has a clear learning purpose even though my mother is a teacher. As a teacher, I enjoy bringing music into school and alot of the kids I work with enjoy the same songs I liked as a kid but I also like to incorparate alot of more modern music. I think it is interesting that alot of children's music today does incorporate more modern beats than the music I listened to in school but whether its "Hard Rock Hallelujah" or "Boy Named Sue", kids enjoy music of all sorts. Astrid Lindgrens music will always be popular here in Sweden (such as Idas Sommarvisa Youtube Idas Sommarvisa (With Video)) and I really like everything she ever wrote but I really like using English music in my classes for ESL purposes (when I am working with older kids but I use alot with the younger kids as well). To me, songs like "Sweet Child of Mine" by GNR or "Africa" by Toto are valuable in learning and the kids find it more fun to work with these type of tunes.

What childrens songs do I hate? I hate childrens songs that are, as you say, "oversimplistic". But then I am grown and what I like does not always click with younger kids. Also what is oversimplistic to me might just be at the right level for that child..thereby not oversimplistic to them. There is a techno version of childrens tunes sung by Peaches (they sang "Rosa Helikopter" YouTube - Rosa Helikopter - Peaches ) that we have in our school that kids really seem to like that I don't like at all. In fact I have had to beg them to please change the song at times (there are only so many times one can hear the techno version of "Imse Vimse Spindel" aka Itsy Bitsy Spider) But what can I say .

Arya Stark

I'm surprised this thread isn't more popular. I'm sure everyone enjoyed some time of music as one time or another that was child-friendly.

Granted, child-friendly has a different definition everywhere. xD

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SATCHMO

Every night when daughter was very little I would spend upwards of an hour rocking her to sleep in my arms. That is one of my most precious memories and these are a small part of that soundtrack:

Liljagare

Father Abraham (Pierre Kartner) is another good children's music singer. He has some excellent childrens music out in English and the original Dutch versions. Shel Silverstein is interesting as well..not only could he write stories like "The Giving Tree" but he wrote alot of music as well, including the lyrics to "A boy named Sue" (bit of trivia).

ebmurphy

What is everyone's favorite music cd to listen to with their very young children?

Interested, because I always like to add new cds to my website, which specializes in all things musical.

Betsy

VEGANGELICA

Hi Betsy,
Your area of interest (safe toys for children) is very interesting and important, but I want to let you know that MB prohibits any kind of self-promotion...so I recommend you edit your post right away to remove the link to your business, and then (in your profile) place the link there in your contact information.

One reason MusicBanter prohibits product promotion is that, as I understand it, MB is able to exist and have a paid administrator because MB sells advertising space. If people can advertise for free on here, then no one will want to *pay* to advertise, so no money will come in to MB to offset site expenses, and so...POOF!...there would be no MB for any of us to enjoy!
--Erica

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SATCHMO

Meh, I was gonna let it ride.

VEGANGELICA

Really? So my random acts of MB vigilantism may not be needed? I just read today that MusicBanter brings in $31 per day (!!!!) in advertising revenues, and so letting the violation of the "no free advertising" rule may reduce the net income to, oh, perhaps $30.96 (!!!). That's 4 cents additional money that could go to the Secret Administrator (shhhh)!!

Of course...maybe the lack of interest in cleaning up this thread is because (Choke! Sniff!) you think no one will (Sob) read it! Even though the inchworm song and the like are HOT STUFF in the world of children's music. HOT STUFF, I tell you!

(Oh! I just noticed an ad above this post, the first ad I've ever actually read on MB...and it was an ad for blue "Rocketdog" Boots..."Cool shoes," says the ad. Hmm. That doesn't seem very musical. But I do feel a curious, compelling urge to go check out Rocketdog Boots.)

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