Music for an Overwhelmed Parent
I'd like to think that the first 6 months of my daughter's life were only blissful and carefree... uh, nope. It was HARD. She was a preemie with sensory issues that she (mostly) outgrew, but the sight of a ceiling fan could send her into an I-WILL-SCREAM-AND-NOTHING-WILL-CALM-ME meltdown that would simultaneously send me into my own special kind of meltdown.
It's no coincidence that I am so passionate about helping parents and educators find the right music that can help kids through life's (inevitable) challenges. Being a music therapist who worked with kids with sensory needs set me up to be the ideal parent for my own daughter. The process was FAR from perfect, but we learned a lot together.
Something I didn't expect??? Music helped ME in a miraculous kind of way.
Lullabies for Babies & Kids
I have always loved lullabies. They're my absolute favorite to sing, write and play. I recommend picking one special lullaby to sing to your child over and over again throughout their childhood (recordings are okay, too, but live singing from a parent is the very best, according to music therapy research). For my daughter, that lullaby was a version of "Stay Awake" from Mary Poppins. My daughter was so used to that song as a "cue" for sleep that to this day, she yawns right when I sing the first few notes.
10 Songs for Kindergarteners
"I'm bored..." is the anthem of many kindergarteners. They need music that's complex and challenging to keep up with their fast-moving and ever-learning brains! In my experience, kids over age 5 are generally done with "little kid music". But this is still the perfect age to try music to improve attention, increase motivation and reinforce learning. Here are my favorites for kids ages 5-7.
10 Songs for Preschoolers
Testing boundaries tends to show up at times of transition (like, ahem, trying to leave the house when we're late and we gotta GO). Music can be a miraculous tool for easing those transitions. There are no limits-- take your toughest transition and try it. We use specific music while brushing teeth, cleaning up, getting out the door and in the car on the way to school (to calm nerves).
10 Songs for Toddlers
Music can be a powerful tool for a toddler's endless need to move and groove. It can also "hold" those BIG emotions and help them transition to smaller, more manageable emotions. Imagine my own epiphany when my husband (not the music therapist in the family!) discovered that our toddler ate faster and stayed in her seat when he played certain music during meal times. GENIUS.
The possibilities are endless, and we'll cover all of that. For now, let's dive into my very favorite music for toddlers!
10 Songs for Babies
Music is not one-size-fits-all and every child is going to react differently. In this list, you'll find music that could work for sleep/rest, music for play time, music for learning, etc. We could get really complicated here, but we're not going to! Plain and simple: these are my all-time favorite songs for babies.
Hello! I’m Stephanie Leavell, the creator of Music for Kiddos, a mom to a spunky young daughter, a seasoned performer, an experienced music educator, and a board certified music therapist who is passionate about using music to help kids succeed.
I share high-quality music and music resources for music therapists, music educators, and parents on this blog and inside of the Music For Kiddos Community. So glad you’re here!
