Children’s media resources for vehicles and travel

Many Kindermusik semesters have themes that have a lot to do with things that GO!  See blog posting, Kindermusik Programs with themes of travel & vehicles for that list of semesters. 

I thought you might enjoy my list of favorite books, recordings, videos, and other resources that help this world of travel come alive for children.  You might keep checking back, as I plan to continue adding more.  PLEASE feel free to add your own recommendations in the comment section.  Thanks!

Online Resources

Riding around on my JCB      www.jcbsong.co.uk/jcbvideo.asp    This is a very cool little short website music video about Luke riding around with his dad on a JCB (a big constructions vehicle).  The pencil on paper animated drawings are adorable, and the song is soooo catchy.  One of my Kindermusik moms sent me this link in an emai over a year ago.  Our whole family fell in love with it, and both Grammy and my son have it in their favorites section and go back to watch it frequently.  My 12 year old son has it memorized.

These are Blog Postings on my blogs that include resources for things that Go!:

The Wheels on the Bus  You and your children will enjoy watching these two videos together.  You’ll probably end up watching them repeatedly.  Move the computer chair and get ready to dance.

Travel by boat – in a book or two  Comparing books with similar themes, like boating adventures, helps children develop analytical thinking.  Best boat books recommended.

There is a separate blog posting on TRAIN resources at: 

The following resources are wonderful ways to enjoy expanding a child’s interest in OTHER types of things that go, and some resources here include a variety of ways to travel.

Books  (many can be found at your local library)                                      

Sheep In A Jeep       Houghton Mifflin Co.   by Nancy Shaw: Ill. by Margot Apple.    Hilariously funny adventures of sheep, in a jeep, in all kinds of rhyming ways.  A FAVORITE!  There are more fun books with these funny sheep, including Sheep on a Ship.

How Many Trucks Can a Tow Truck Tow?   Random House   by Charlotte Pomerantz; Ill by R.W. Alley.    How many times must a person read this book without tripping over these wonderful tongue twisters in the guise of creative story about a bad day for tow truck drivers.

The Sailor Dog    Golden Book   by Margaret Wise Brown;  Ill. by Garth Williams  – This book is just as much as a classic as “Goodnight Moon”.  Scuppers was born at sea, but then raised on land, and has to find his way back, exploring all kind of vehicles.  Finally, he is able to set out on his boat and get into a routine, only to find life on the sea is not always calm.

The Wind in the Willows   Courage Books    by Kenneth Grahame; Retold by G.C. Barrett; Ill. by Don Daily.    This classic tale comes in many books, the whole story being a bit too wordy and vocabulary rich for the youngest listeners (but GREAT for older kids).  This version has beautiful illustrations and the story starts with the shy Mole learning to enjoy boating on the river with Rat.  And then takes us on the wild and crazy escapades of Toady and his passion of all things that go.

Glow in the Dark – Trip to the Planets.  by Lucille Hammond, Ill. by Laurie Jordan;  A Golden Glow in the Dark Book.   This is one of our family favorites.  Cora really relates to Katie, who blasts off in her rocket into outer space to visit the moon, Mars, and beyond.  But will her rocket ship make it back in one piece.  I love the sweet surprise ending.  I also love that it is a fiction book, with lots of non-fiction facts, making it easy to understand our solar system.   This book is no longer in print, but there are many copies on Amazon for amazingly cheap prices. 

 

Video Resources    rent these if possible or find at a library.    Buy Imaginaria if you can!

Winnie the Pooh – Cowboy Pooh      Disney’s Playtime Video Series.    Take a trip to the Old West in “The Good, the Bad, and the Tigger”, as Tigger hijacks Christopher Robbin’s electric train, and their imagination concocts a wonderfully western tale.  The following video ”Rabbit Marks the Spot” has the Pooh Pirates (complete with sailing ship) following maps and digging for buried treasure.”

Muppets:  Jim Henson Video Series  -

1. Muppet Treasure Island – Examine the life of the sailor and pirates aboard a ship.
2. Things that Fly – Muppet Sing Along Series:  Watch as the muppets try to find a flying vehicle that will take a baby alien back home
3. Muppets on Wheels -  Muppet Sing Along Series:  Explore different types of transportation on wheels through action and songs. 

Imagin-It and Imaginaria: Imagination Videos  Each video contains a collection of original songs with creative computer graphics that dazzle the eyes and ears.  This was an absolute favorite of ours – the graphics and the imagination, as well as the wonderful songs and music really helped us travel different ways through our imaginations!!!  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.  I have so far only been able to find Imaginaria at www.Amazon.com through the search engine.  It is no longer in print, and is only offered in VHS, but it is SOOO worth having it in your library – everyone – all ages – will like it. 

BUY these if you can.

.

Television Shows

Little Einsteins                    Disney Channel

“We’re going on a trip with our favorite rocket ship, zooming through the skies…”  Two girls, and two boys, with very different talents go on missions to solve problems, using explorations through classic fine art, and through the use of classical pieces of music.  We don’t watch much TV, but this one is worth it.

#1 Fan of Bubbles

We LOVE bubbles at our house.  And it is so easy to make a big batch of bubbles (as long as you have the glycerin).  These are some of our favorite bubble songs activities.

 

My Bubbles Float All Through the Garden  (sung to “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”

My bubbles float all through the garden,

My bubbles float all through the yard:

I like to run after my bubbles,

But trying to catch them is hard. 

Come back, come back,Oh, come back, my bubbles to me, to me.

Come back, come back, oh, come back, my bubbles to me.

I’m a Little Bubble   by Jean Warren        Sung to:  “I’m a Little Teapot” 

I’m a little bubble in the air.

I can float most anywhere.

You can blow me higher,

But when you stop,

I float right down,

And then I pop.

Activity ideas:

• Sing the above song and encourage your child to float like a bubble, and then float to the ground and “pop” (jump up). 
• Listen to bubble sounds; ie. carbonated drinks, blowing bubbles in chocolate milk.
•  Fizzy Apple Drink:  1 cup apple juice, ½ cup club soda, 4 ice cubes, 1 slice apple.
• Spread an old shower curtain on the floor.  Place a dishpan in the center then add warm water andliquid dish detergent. Make bubbles.
• Blow bubbles toward the child’s chest.  Encourage to pop the bubbles by clapping, catching, touching, kicking, swatting with fly swatter.

Best homemade bubble mixture:  ¼ cup liquid detergent, ¾ cup water, 1 Tbs. sugar, and ¼ cup glycerin (Add more glycerin if you want it stronger).  ·         For a wand, use a pipe cleaner or twist tie to make a larger circle, then dip and wave it around slowly.

Jeremiah, Blow the Bubbles 

Jeremiah, blow the bubbles   Puff, Puff, Puff.

First you blow them gently,   Then you blow them rough. 

• Make bath or sink full of bubbles, then practice blowing them off a hand or object, gentle & rough.
•  Blow bubbles gently from a wand, then blow the formed bubble more roughly moving them around in the air. 

 Bubbles, Bubbles  by “Miss Jackie” Silberg 

Bubbles,       bubbles,       Everywhere.      

           Floating,        popping,       In the air. 

Make A Toy:    Shake It Bottles    Fill a small clear plastic bottle halfway with warm water, then add a bit of liquid dishwashing detergent.  Fasten the top securely, and then wrap it with strong tape.    Give the bottle to your child and encourage them to shake it. Let them have fun creating bubbles in the water.  Add glitter ora few drops of food coloring to the water to make colorful bubbles, if you wish.

#1 Fan of Bubbles   by Debbie Mondale 

Bubbles in my Bath,   bubbles in my sink,

Bubbles in my head sometimes when I think.

I even like blowing bubbles in my drink,

I’m a number one fan of bubbles. 

Bubbles in the air, bubbles everywhere,

Little bitty bubbles, there’s plenty to share.

BIG rolly bubbles, as big as a bear,

I’m a number one fan of bubbles.

 

I might be a #1 fan of bubbles, so I am definitely a fan of a bubble master, RI Bubble Guy is the bomb.  This is one of his first videos, he gets better and more complex.  Check out this website: www.soapbubbler.com , to see more of his videos.

 

Resources for several of the activities listed: 

• Treasured Time with your Toddler: A Monthly Guide to Activities – by Jan Brennan
• A Year of Fun:  Just for Ones/Twos/Threes by Jean Warren and Theodosia Sideropoulos Spewok  (See posting just on this set of books.)
• Babybug Magazine (6m-2yrs) – Call 1-800-827-0227  Also have Ladybug (2-6), Spider, & Cricket & LOTS more!

Another wonderful website to find more extreme forms of bubble recipies, activities, tricks, and even computer play is found at www.bubbles.org .  Have a bubbly day!

Magic Gertie Balls

Everyone seems to like my Magic Gertie Balls that we use in class.  Almost every program gets to use them some time during each semester.   The Imagine That! class is now using them as part of our park play scenario.  

The Gertie Ball is just the most touchable, catchable, hugable, squooshable ball to play with!  The “Magic” ones we use in class are heat sensitive, so they are light blue when cool, but where touched by a hand, they turn purplish.

You can get them online at www.gertieball.com , where you will find an amazing variety of types of Gertie Balls.   Or you can find them at www.shopkindermusik.com .  They are currently having a special on the “magic” Gertie balls (see Specialty Items section, pg.2), as well as MANY other SALE and CLEARANCE items.   Actually, they are also selling a fabulous CD, “HAVE A BALL” that includes a great variety of songs about ball play, as well as instrumental music that just inspires a lot of creative play.  (see Sale section, pg. 4)

Since the Gertie ball is filled with air via a little durable straw, the adult can adjust the density for the specific activity, or age of child.  When filled very full, it bounces very well.  When not so full, it is very easy to catch and grab hold of, making it the perfect ball for babies. 

The texture is kind of like a plyable foam, which also helps it be easy to catch, and just fun to touch and play with.   But there are two points of advice to heed: 

1. Play with it indoors only (the foamy texture catches the dirt, and it is difficult to clean). 
2. Be careful with babies/toddlers that like to bite and pull, or with animals that chew such as dogs, etc., as the exterior will break with this kind of misuse, and any bits of plastic bitten off may be a choking hazard.

Have fun, and let’s…. PLAY BALL!!!

Accessible Music Fun at Home

Here’s a fun idea you can do without buying anything!

Try setting up a MUSICAL FUN BOX !

Children love to explore musical toys, etc. and they love the fascination of exploring new objects – or at least something they haven’t played within the last two weeks. 

Find, and possibly decorate, an appropriate container: 

• a mid-sized cardboard box will do – easy to decorate
• a clear plastic box with a lid  (being able to see inside often entices them)
• A picnic basket that you don’t use (this is one of my favorites, I filled it full of kitchen tools and small cookware that I found or got at Walmart)
• A netted holder that hangs off the back of a car sear for some fun music play in the car (I don’t recommend LOUD sounds for this set).

Fill with fun music based toys / props:

• Instruments appropriate for the child (rattles, wood blocks, shakers, etc.
• Homemade instruments, such as several childproof medicine bottles with each one filled with a different shaker material, ie.  rice, beans, paper clips, acorns, etc.
• Kitchen supplies:  small baking pans, cooking utensils – wooden & metal, small cutting board, plastic containers, etc.
• Toys that make sounds: squeakers, scrapers, etc.
• Some kind of drum – even if it’s just an empty coffee or peanut container.
• Books that make noise, or play music, or have words that you can sing
• A ball that makes a sound
• Props that would be fun to dance, or peek, with, like scarves or dishtowels
• Objects that “connect” with familiar songs, ie. bus, spider, star, moon, etc.  This way they can choose a song for you to sing, even before they can talk.
• Color pictures of the front cover of recorded music you may have, perhaps even stapled together as a book, or strung by one corner on a string.  This way they more fully see the options available, and request that you play certain music (without the ability to get to the CD or tape).  You might want to make one for home, and one for music that you keep in the car.

Guidelines for most effective use:

• Place in an obvious place, where they can easily see it and reach it.
• Keep only a few items in at a time, considering the age of the child(ren).  It is easier for children to choose an item if there are less choices, and they are more likely to fully explore an item longer.  Plus, there is less for you to pick up when they dump it out.
• Change out the objects regularly, around every two weeks.  When presented with “new” objects, children’s brains produce chemicals that help them build neural networks.  As they continue to play with them over time, it strengthens these networks, and helps make connections to other things they know. 
• This type of learning is enhanced if a significant adult or sibling partner plays with them and strives to help them expand on their own learning.  Link over to my other BLOG and find postings in the category “scaffolding”.
• Consider making a set of 3-4 containers, each with a specific set of musical items, to make it easy to trade out.  For example, a picnic basket with kitchen items, a decorated cardboard box with homemade instruments, a clear box with a variety of things to play and explore, and a basket with a variety of things that encourage them to sing.
• A fun music set in the car, or a small set in the diaper bag may help many “waiting” times become more fun learning and bonding times.

You will be amazed at how enticing this set up will be, and how much your children will learn about timbre, steady beat, correlations between ideas and objects, etc. with just a little bit of set up, and not much cost, for these easily accessible music exploration kits.

Children really relate to Animals

From moving and sounding like an animal, to pretending to BE an animal, to having an animal, children LOVE animals.  They love to read about them, and they love to sing about them, and it’s been that way for centuries.  Most Mother Goose & classic nursery rhymes focus on animals (even if they’re shown to have human traits).  Because of these, there are a great many resources available. 

I actually put together a little newsletter on Fun with Animals.  Email me your name and address, and I make sure you get one.  My email:  musiconnx@att.net .

Animal Play with Kindermusik and Do-Re-Me & You!

Since the Spring semester’s theme for the Our Time – Fiddle Dee Dee is all about animals, I thought you might enjoy some rollicking resources for animal fun.  This posting will cover Do-Re-Me & You! sets that include a wide variety of animals.  The next posting will include other songs, books, and resources about animals that my family just loves.  See further postings for resources on specific animals.

This is just a list and my thoughts, for more full descriptions and pictures of each set, see www.discoverytoys.com.  If you email broughjoy@yahoo.com , she can provide further information on the Do-Re-Me & You sets now available through Discovery Toys.

  Ten in the Bed  book and CD set, which includes each of the ten animals involved in the classic rhyme.  Little ones will enjoy singing “Roll Over” and counting down with these animals, as well hearing their snippets of conversations in the process.  The whole CD is full of number and counting oriented songs – many of them including animals – lots of fun!  Sorry, puppets are not available with this set at the moment.

  Awesome Animals ABC ($19.95) is a cool book and CD set that features unique animals that you don’t usually see in alphabet books (“O” is for Okapi).  A fun feature of the book is that it is narrated by Ferdinand the Flea, who, of course, KNOWs animals well, and is hip with humor, and interesting facts.  The songs on the CD are a fun foray into the alphabet and animals from all around the world.

Tub Tunes ($19.95) CD includes a lot of songs about animals you will find around the water, ducks, frogs, fish… oh, and the coolest version of the “Itsy Bitsy Spider” that you will ever hear!

Put Your Left Paw In!  A Jungle Hokey-Pokey  – WOW!  Get up and DANCE with the animals with this CD.  You will love the island feel of the music on this CD, it has the coolest carribean arrangements for familiar and new songs about jungle animals.  Hands down, this is one of my families’ favorites.  The book is fabulous are too!  It is not available with the puzzles at this time.

  Frog Went a-Dancing  is a wonderful set, and perfect for traveling.  The music’s steady beats have wonderfully rich arrangements that are upbeat while still have a calming effect – really nice for car rides.  The wooden lily pad castanet helps keep a cool beat.  There are wonderful songs about each animal in the book, and when you are reading at home, it can elicit a lot of fun animal movements.   The plush frog backpack is not available at this time.

Pretend Play

Pretend play is such a significant part of a child’s life because it helps them explore the world on their own terms.  It helps them build their communication skills, and vocabulary (esp. when playing with an adult), and helps them understand others better, as they get a chance to BE the firefighter, or dancer, or mommy.

There are several DRMY sets that offer children an opportunity to learn about, explore, and pretend to do new things, be different characters, and develop the creative, out-of-the box thinking needed for good problem solving skills.

  Mary Bridget’s Surprise – In the book, Mary Bridget and her little sister, who always wears butterfly wings, must clean their room, so decide in the process they are going to run away to grandma’s house.  So they have to pack all the things they will need on their adventures they come across as they get there.  Imagination bursts out of this story and illustrations, which include seek-and-find boxes on the corner of each page. 

The CD is chock full of fun songs I remember from girls camp, like “I love the Mountains…”  “This Land is Your Land”, “The Water is Wide”, and “Grandma’s Feather Bed”, as well as some Kindermusik songs, “Let’s go Riding Together”, and some original songs, like “Butterfly Wings”.  

This is a great set for having fun on a long trip, esp. if you are going to Grandma’s house, and esp. if you also purchase the cool roller suitcase with fanny pack, and ”keep cool” water bottle. 

  Tressa, The Musical Princess – The book features Tressa, a girl who is most certainly sure she was born a musical princess, and somehow mistakenly got switched at birth to be with this family, which just recently acquired a new little loud, cranky dragon (actually baby brother).  It shows how she finds ways to use her magic to tame the dragon and make a peaceful family.  The CD features a young girl singing these all original songs that focus on issues from the book.  This set also comes with a pink tulle tutu that plays music and turns on and off with the touch of a button. 

   Kindertown Fire Brigade – The book features an all-animal fire brigade, and their adventures in the fire house, as well as rescue missions, and actual fire-fighting.  The animal work together as a team, and even the smallest member plays important parts in the job of being a fire brigade.  The song features a lot of originals about fire-house life and animals, and songs about rescuing a cat, and “Our Brave Local Heroes”.   Any child that adores firefighters will love these songs and stories, and will enjoy playing out their parts in the coat and fire hat that accompany this set.

  NEW !   Rupert, the Wrong Word Pirate  – Rupert has a way of saying things that get all mixed up sometimes, which has a way of thwoing his ship and crew off course.  The CD’s hilarious, swashbuckling crew members sing about the finer parts of pirate life, Aargh!  Complete with hat, eye patch, and durable foam sword.   James saw a child’s version of “Pirates of Penzance” before he turned 3, and immediately was searching for something in my purse that he could draw on a mustache.  This fascination lasted for months and months of fun.  I wish I had these songs to sing with us back then!

Build, Bake, Sing & Scrub

The themes for both “Milk & Cookies” (Our Time) and “Our Kind of Day” (Family Time) focus on daily routines around the home.  Several of the DRMY kits fit into this category.  You can see pictures and find out more at www.drmy.com . 

Music Makes My Day  (infant and up)                                                     $32.95The Starter set includes a CD, a card book, two shakers, and a scarf.  This is a great gift for both new parents, all the way up to 1^st birthdays.  The music, collected from around the world, is wonderfully engaging, and the songs highlight many of the activities the baby will see in the book, playing with bubbles, scarves, shakers, or even balls.  It will inspire parents and children to play creatively during daily routines together.  A DVD can also be purchased, $14.95, which features live babies doing the same activities with the corresponding music playing along. 

What Do You Say?  Please and Thank You  (talkers)                              $19.95Teaching manners is so fun when you are dealing with funny animal friends, humorously portrayed in precarious situations in the book.  The songs are catchy and have children singing their way to polite phrases, even when the music is off.  

Pat-A-Cake  (infant and up)                                                                   $25.95This fun cloth activity book turns this Mother Goose rhyme into a multi-sensory experience for babies.  It is excellent quality and a fairly quiet toy – great for stimulating baby during times to be quiet.  The music on the CD includes upbeat dance renditions of familiar songs, ie. Muffin Man, and has new ORIGINAL songs like, “Zoom, Zoom, the Airplane spoon” and “The High Chair Drummer”.   

Noodles from Scratch (2 and UP)                                                           $32.95I LOVE this CD, it is pure Jazz fun, with “Laughter Makes the World Go Round”, and favorites like “Muffin Man” and “Little Sack of Sugar”.  This upbeat music is exactly what I need to keep me and the kids happy and hoppin’ around the kitchen while we prepare and/or clean up after a meal.  The rest is just icing on the cake… the book has a wonderful group of animal making noodles from scratch (the snake is used as the rolling pin), and is so much fun to read and sing.  The set also comes with a deep blue chef’s hat, and apron, with pockets to hold the child size utensils.  You can also purchase the cooking tools, ie. 3 nesting bowls, and a set of measuring spoons and cups, for $14.95.  I love the gripping rubber bottoms on the bottom of the bowls, it seems to help keep the bowl in place with such eager hands.  My nephew loves to don HIS outfit, and use his tools to help me make guacamole for our Tacos, as we dance around the kitchen to the music. 

Bake, Build, Sing, and Scrub ( 2 and up)                                               $14.95This is a simple and inexpensive set.  With only the CD and activity book, I almost overlooked this one… until I heard the CD and found some of the BEST cleaning songs I have ever heard.  The book is filled with fun, easy, and inexpensive ways to incorporate music and fun into your everyday routines… at almost any age. 

TLC – Grow With Me  (4 and up)                                                 $29.95 / $19.95All about gardening, this set is a great gift for a little green thumb in the making.  The little girl in the book receives a gift of a planted seed in a pot, and has to learn how to help the little seed grow into a beautiful plant.  The set comes with a white pot with gell shapes to decorate it with, and includes the dirt and some seeds of their own.  The CD has fun songs about the responsibilities and joys of growing your own plant. 

Night Time and Bathtime favorites will come in separate BLOGs.  Remember, I am the only consultant at this time in

Polk
County, so you need to order, or book your party through me.  And I could sure use some help…

Butterfly Shirts

It’s so much FUN to be a butterfly.  You may have seen me in my silk Batik’d Butterfly shirt through the last weeks of October.  It is so flowing and fun to wear.  Many of you have asked how to find them, so here it is:  www.earthharmony.com .  I met the lady who designed these at a music festival a few years ago, and she does fabulous work with material. 

When you get on her website, go to the search box in the top right, and type in “butterfly”, and it will take you to all of the beautiful designs she has.  Be aware, there are only two sizes, small (for children and petite women), and large (I had the large on – the sleeves were much longer which I liked for me).  When I checked, they were all sold out of the smaller size.   

Butterfly, flutter by, flutter by up in the sky !

Scarves to accent musical play with your child

I’ve had some folks ask me recently about purchasing scarves.  They are soooo much fun to explore and play with in class, and it is awesome to continue these activities at home.  Actually scarves are incredibly versatile, and can be used in so many ways, from silly peek-a-boo games with babies and toddlers, to serving the flights of imagination through the preschool years, and even dress up fashion accents for older children.  And expressive dancing to music with scarves is fun, and beneficial, for ALL ages, even adults.  It is a great way to feel the beat of the music, and develop a musical flow in the body that can be very effective in helping musicians play instruments more expressively.   

 

Simply said, scarves just have a way of bringing out the creative and expressive nature of children throughout their growing ages.

 

 

At www.shopkindermusik.com , you can find individual or sets of scarves, just like we have in class.  The smaller scarves are $3 each, and the Humongous scarves are $5.50 each.  There is a set called “Two for Peek-a-Boo” which includes one of each for $6.75.  And there are other sets available.

 

 

Actually, my favorite scarves that we got Cora for Christmas last year are 100% silk, and large enough to really be very versatile.  We purchased them from the Magic Cabin catalog. Check online at www.magiccabin.com , and use the search for scarves.  They are kind of expensive, about $11 each, but you can get a discount if you buy 6 or more.  (That’s why they were gifts.)  Cora adores them and uses them for everything from dancing, to dress up, to fort building with her brother, to baby blankets, to capes, etc.

 

 

Another option is to make the rounds of the local thrift shops and search for scarves.  You only get the ones you like at the price you like, and you don’t have to pay shipping.  You also end up with a variety of sizes, colors, designs, and even textures. 

 

I highly recommend a whole basketful.  It is also fun to add different scents to each one by misting them with perfume, or dusting them with a little cinnamon or clove spice powder.  Or place a peppermint tea bag in the basket with the whole batch.  This sensory experience is great for babies, but also a lot of fun for everyone.   Scarves are great for multi-sensory play.