Classical Music for Kids
Most classical music is MORE stimulating than your average song. For some kids, this can GREAT because they thrive with the extra sensory input. You might see those kids get more grounded, quiet down, or pause to listen. For others, it can be too stimulating.
Spring Songs for Kids
By using seasonal songs, you're reinforcing the current season, orienting the child to the time of year (and the concept of a calendar), introducing the life cycle, and reinforcing the fact that they adapt to seasons (ie: clothes, activities), whether or not they realize it.
10 Songwriting Tips for Music Therapists & Music Educators
One of the most valuable things I've ever done was a series of songwriting courses at Berklee College of Music. I was already a songwriter down in my soul, but this helped me learn that songwriting is not only an art, it's also a science...
Kid-Friendly Valentine's Day Songs
They say Hallmark invented Valentine's Day. I have no idea if that's true. But consumerism aside, any excuse to be warm and fuzzy (literally and figuratively) in the middle of the winter is a W-I-N. I'll take it!
Fun Christmas Music for Kids
Ahhh... holiday music. I'm a sucker for the classics. A remake rarely beats out the original recording. (Snoop Dogg Blue Christmas, anyone? Oy vey.)
How to Use Music in a Bedtime Routine
When I think back to my daughter's first few years, I am almost immediately taken back to the quiet nights when I rocked her to sleep while singing her special lullaby.
I Can Do Things: A Children's Song About Being Brave & Doing Hard Things
... This month, it’s a song I wrote while doing a songwriting game with one of my long-term students. She’s a teen and she writes incredible lyrics. I help her put music to them with her guitar, and basically, it’s the best hour of “work” in my whole week.
Music for Kiddos Holiday Gift Guide 2017
High-quality (in-tune!!) music gifts that are engaging and support development can be surprisingly hard to find. Stores are full of instruments that are adorable, but when you get them home, you find that most of them are not functional.
10 Empowering Songs for Kids
As kids grow, it's amazing to see how much they absorb from the world around them when it doesn't look like they're paying attention. More than once, my husband and I have shared a knowing glance that says, "Oh, she was listening." Music applies, too.
Should my kid listen to "KID" music?
The short answer? Sure... if they like it. The long answer? In music therapy research, there are two big themes that come up over and over again...
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!
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Our favorite lesson plans!! This bundle features our top 5 lesson plans, each featuring original music by Stephanie Leavell. Includes a 98-page PDF with chords, lyrics, and visuals, notated leadsheets AND implementation videos for each lesson plan (for even more tips and tricks).
*this lesson plan bundle does not include MP3s of the songs.
Themes: Bears, Rainforest, Robots, Space & Transportation