You can now order CDs, that have modified lyrics specific to your child, grandchild, nephew, or niece. It’s of course a little trickier to do than a book, but with the advancement in computer music software it is quite possible. In some cases, the names and facts are dubbed over an existing song track. But, the better software will have a library of pre sung names that are actually substituted in place of the original lyrics. While the former approach may sound more professional, I don’t think that to a younger child it will make much difference. Maybe just to the parents.

I know a few kids, that would love to hear this kind of music with their own names in it. My kids had a few of those personalized books when they were younger, but I had my own way of using that same technique with regular books and songs. While reading or singing songs with the kids, I would frequently substitute their names and friends names in place of the regular characters in the stories and songs. It was a lot of fun, to do it with a song they knew very well. Because of course they’ve heard it so many times, they could tell it from memory. But, when you mix it up a little it kind of throws them off. But in a good way.

At first they may not catch it, but then they do, and something kicks in. They look at you funny, tell you your singing it wrong, and insist you do it the right way. At least initially that’s how they react. The next time you recite the same book or song, they’re waiting for it. And I think they get a little disappointed if you don’t use your literary license and start messing with it. It makes things more fun, and get’s them thinking in more creative ways. So, in a way you’ve taken a legitimate learning experience and made it that much better.

Well, let’s start off with my favorite.  At the very least the 100 Sing-A-Long Songs For Kids box set is going to give you plenty of material to work with.  It of course has all the favorites that kids love like “The Wheels On The Bus”, and “Do Your Ears Hang Low”.  It’s 3 seperate CD’s so if you get tired of one, or your super sneaky and quick, you can switch them while the kids aren’t paying attention and listen to something newer.  There were even quite a few I had never heard of.  This CD set is really meant for the toddler group under five years of age.

If your looking for a kids CD with a bit more of a grown up fare, then you’d have a hard time going wrong with “For The Kids”.  It’s got some great tunes the kids will love, that are played by some very accomplished artists that mom and dad probably know.  Artists like Tom Wait, Sarah Mclachlan, Five For Fighting and Billy Bragg.  Now, don’t be concerned that all these older artists make this more of a CD for mom and dad, because it’s really not.  As the title says, it is for the kids.

Music can be an essential part of any kids life, or for that matter, any adults life.  It’s crucial to learning, growing, and an effective tool in reducing stress.  Yes, believe it or not kids have stress in their lives as well.  A bit of music can go a long way to improving everyone’s health and disposition.  I know an old music saying that goes something like the more types of music you love, the more you love music.  I think, that’s an important gift, and one that needs to be instilled in our children starting at a very young age.  CD’s like these, make the lesson a whole lot easier to learn.