Children’s Rock Songs – And You Thought These Were Reserved For Adults Only!

Most of us are inspired by music and want to share that love with our child and there is nothing like enjoying good music you both love! However, many parents also feel the need to introduce their children to music via “cheesy kid’s music.”  Don’t fall into that trap. There are so many great songs from a variety of genres and decades, which can be considered wonderful children’s rock songs!

Don’t be surprised when your rock n roll favorites are also your children’s rock songs! Granted, you’ll need to cull through your favorites to make sure the lyrics are age-appropriate. These great classic tunes will get you started in the development of your own children’s rock songs and will stimulate learning in your child while having a blast jumping around the house!

Surfaris-  Wipe Out-Great rock song to move to and increase flexibility and body control.

Plain White T's - 1, 2, 3, 4-This song has a great message and a steady beat and rhythm for moving.

Queen - We Will Rock You
This song is great for learning coordination and movement.

Beatles - Here Comes the Sun, Yellow Submarine, Hello Goodbye
Aside from being one of the most awesome bands in our recent history, the songs have a lot of instrumental variety and harmonies to sing along with.

The Ramones- Spiderman Theme Song- Try making up your own words to “Spiderman” for different places, animals and things.  Such as, Rabbit Man, Rabbit Man, Does whatever a rabbit can...

They Might Be Giants - Anything from the "Here Come the ABC's" and "Here

Come the 123's" albums. These children’s rock songs are very educational, fun and helps your child learn the alphabet and numbers.

B 52's-"Rock Lobster"-This is a wonderful children’s rock song to increases your child's vocal range and develops movement.

REM-“Stand”- It will teach directions with movement.

Jackson 5-"ABC"- It will assist your child’s counting and learning the alphabet.

The Beach Boys-"Barbara Ann"- This particular song has great harmonies and repeated verses and choruses for memorization.

Bobby "Boris" Picket-"Monster Mash"- Great song for moving to, your child can practice keeping a steady beat and has good harmonies.

Jimmy Cliff-"Give a Little, Take a Little"-The rhythms and upbeat reggae appeal to kids.

The Village People-"YMCA"- This is a great activity for large motor movements and learning a sequence of actions for building muscle memory.


Do you have a favorite musical activity you'd like to share? I'd love to hear from you.

Also if you are looking for a great play date for your preschooler, I host play dates at the Eden Prairie School of Rock every Tuesday, the Burnsville School of Rock every Wednesday and the St. Paul School of Rock every Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

You are your child can join us as we sing, dance, move, learn, and be creative through music! The normal play date rate is $15 but if you mention that you read about us on this blog your first play date is free.
For more information please check out our website:
http://burnsville.schoolofrock.com/program/early-education

Perfect Math With Music Activities To Complement Burnsville Kindergarten Experience

Perfect Math With Music Activities To Complement Burnsville Kindergarten Experience   

Counting is one of the most basic math concepts that your child will learn in kindergarten. You don't need to wait until s/he goes to school to begin learning to count though. Why not complement the burnsville kindergarten experience at home with these fun and educational activities. Using recycled soda bottles you and your child can make a great instrument to learn math with music! 

Materials: 

(8) 2 liter or 20 oz. recycled bottles

Tap water

marked pieces of paper with the numbers 1 through 8 

-Fill the bottles with varying amounts of water and place along the table next to each other going from low to high and left to right.   

-Have fun experimenting with different fills to create step by step tones.  Example: a slightly filled bottle will have a lower and deeper tone than one that is more full. 

-Have your child put the numbers in front of the bottles, the number one is the lowest sound which will be the first one on the left and go up through the numbers until you reach 8, which is the highest tone in your water bottle xylophone scale. 

Math with music counting game:  

-Each musical tone is attached to a number.  You say the number as the child blows over the bottle with that number to create the tone.  Then, once your child is comfortable with the numbers and tones you may start to do some basic addition and subtraction. For example, “Blow over 2+3 bottles” then have your child count the sounds and blow over the right one…5!!   

-Have fun creating more math with music challenges and encourage your child to give you some too! 

Enjoying math with music by playing your musical water bottle instrument 

You and your child can do some very basic nursery rhymes with the melody and number. 

Hot Cross Buns 

Hot    Cross Buns,     Hot   Cross   Buns, 
  3       2         1             3       2          1       `  

one     a       pen-ny

1          1       1      1 

two      a          pen-ny,   

 2         2           2      2

Hot      cross      buns

  3           2            1  

Row, Row, Row Your Boat 

Row   Row    Row     your   boat
  1         1          1           2         3

gently       down       the        stream
 3    2           3              4            5

merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
8            5            3            1

life   is     but   a     dream
 5     4      3      2     1

I am always looking for great musical activities to teach and please let me know what you think of this math with music activity.  Also, if you are looking for a great Preschool experience check out our program at the Burnsville School of Rock!

For more information please check out my website:
http://burnsville.schoolofrock.com/program/early-education