Raise your hand if the following (or something very similar) ever happened to you:
You're in your car with the kids. You've just survived an epic tantrum and everyone is still here to tell the story, but you know who isn't? The person that's supposed to award you your medal. Or trophy. Or a bottle of wine. So Female Empowerment You goes: Eff that! I'm a mama, hear me yawn, and I can totally reward myself. So you turn on your favourite radio channel. Yes, you know full well that this is not as developmentally stimulating as classical music or the soundtrack of Yo Gabba Gabba, but dammit, the next five minutes are all yours and you're not going to apologize for it. Fast forward to five minutes later when you're attempting to yell over that lady from the song titled "Stay High" who frequents sex clubs to forget she misses him or her (ooh ooh ooh ooh. ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh).
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Parenting is all about compromise and don't you just wish you remembered that and had a playlist with ten kid friendly songs that mom can also listen to without wanting to pull her hair out at your disposal?
I've rummaged through the contents of my sleep deprived brain, polled my helpful friends (parents and non parents) and came up with a list. Some of the songs were chosen based on message, others have great videos, or are just pure fun to listen and dance to. I'm not claiming that this list is perfect or all encompassing, but I've listened to the lyrics and watched the videos of every single song here to make sure that they're appropriate. Any red flags that came up are outlined below, but I would still recommend that you listen to the songs and watch the videos with your partner before playing it to your kids to make sure they're in line with your family's specific values.
Enjoy listening!
Why?
Not only is the song catchy, but it also offers a great message about the power of words and our ability to harness it in constructive or destructive ways. The empowering message is supported by the video (which, call me a softy, never fails to put a lump in my throat). In addition, the song promotes many other positive notions like speaking up, being true to yourself and not conforming.
Topics for Discussion
Use the songs on this list as discussion prompts, whenever applicable. Once you've listened to Brave together it can be a gateway to a discussion about verbal bullying ("nothing's gonna hurt you the way that words do") or the many shapes and forms that bravery can assume. Ask your child what is bravery to them or whether there is anything that they wish they had the courage to say if they could just let "the words fall out honestly."
Red Flags
If you watch the video to the very end you'll notice the "passer by" who is wondering whether one of the spontaneous dancers in the clip "took the wrong pill." As grownups we're able to understand that this is a social commentary about cynicism as an opposing force to bravery. Your preschooler may not be ready for THAT discussion just yet.
Why?
Once again a catchy song with a great message, which is very similar to "Brave." This song is about speaking up and finding your inner crouching tiger. It's possible that the message will be more effective in this case coming from a more widely recognized singer. The topics for discussion would be very similar to the previous song.
Red Flags
If you're watching the video remember: it's Katy Perry and revealing outfits come with the territory. If that means you're out, opt for the audio only.
Why?
Because how cool is that? Listening to Major Tom is all of a sudden an educational experience! You can view the inside and outside of a real spaceship with an actual Canadian astronaut floating about it while singing AND PLAYING THE GUITAR! It will also give you an opportunity to use the word Meta properly and you know you've been dying to do that.
Topics for discussion
Are there any topics this video DOESN'T raise? You could take the expected path and talk about space and gravity. You could opt for the less literal option and discuss different perspectives and points of view represented by the images of the spaceship's inside vs. outside as well as by planet earth itself. You could get really creative and talk about song covers by different artists and that could lead to a discussion about individuality and uniqueness.
Red Flags
Are we sure that Major Tom survived his journey?
Self explanatory, isn't it? Whether you watch the video or just listen to the song it is likely to leave you feeling happy.
Topics for Discussion
What a great opportunity to find out what makes your child happy! Cynical grownup me was ready to put money on the fact that at the top on my child's list I'll find proof that children think that happiness can be bought (toys). Or consumed (sweets). Instead my 5 year-old blew my mind when he told me that thunder storms make him happy, when he's safely following them from home. Not knowing when the next thunder or lightening will hit is exciting to him. One of the self help books I once read suggested keeping a "Happy List" where you write down everything that puts a smile on your face. Listening to the song can be used as an opportunity to create a similar list with your child and then circle back to it the next time they're in need of distraction or a pick me up.
Why?
The song is catchy and fun to dance to. It features Adam Levine. 'Nuff said.
Topics for Discussion
Listening to the song can be used as a platform to discuss older technology (and I use "older technology" as a euphemism for YOUR childhood as opposed to your child's). Since the song actually uses the stereo as a metaphor for the heart you can, depending on how verbal your child is and how open they are to more abstract concepts, launch a discussion about "literal" and "figurative" things. Or you could ditch that discussion and talk about expressions. Like "eye candy"...
I'm sorry. I know I said that "Happy" was going to represent for children's movies, but I just had to sneak this one in, because it's magical. Carry on.
Why?
Because here's an opportunity to not only theorize about your childhood, but to actually expose your child to it via your childhood's icon and cutting edge late 80s technology. The added benefit? This sweet song was written as a lullaby and who knows, I mean you've already tried everything else, haven't you?
Topics for Discussion
The song features magical creatures like pink elephants, fairies and mermaids. Who inhabits your child's Land of Make Believe? Use the song as a prompt to make up a bedtime story together.
I know. First Madonna and now this. If your child, or you, have a flare for rock fear not. This song is safe. A sweet love song that can totally pass for an actual declaration of love by a parent to their child without sounding creepy.
Red Flags
Myeah, I don't know about "where do we go now."
Why?
Because when I was polling my friends, this is the one option that came up most frequently. The song discusses the important topic of how we handle our "times of trouble".
Topics for discussion
The singer in the song finds his solace in praying. You may have other ways to help you overcome difficult times. What does your child do? What do you recommend they do?
Why?
Because what better and more positive way to end a playlist for your kids?
Topics for Discussion
What a Wonderful World could generate a myriad of discussions from the environment and how to protect it to geography, history and the list goes on and on.
Red Flags
The singer, Israel, was morbidly obese and died at the age of thirty eight. The video clips to this song and to Somewhere Over the Rainbow (another wonderful cover) features family photos. Some parents will argue that someone who represents an unhealthy life style sends the wrong message to their children and I accept that (but respectfully remind you for the sake of argument that: Madonna? Guns 'N Roses? Beatles?). Others will maintain that this exposes children to the idea of tolerance toward others of any shape and size.I concur.
Happy listening! What would you add to the list?
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