If you find yourself humming, singing or whistling The Wheels on the Bus or any Justin Bieber tune, it’s time to take control over the music choices in your home or automobile. Sure, you want to listen to your music, but some of it is not suitable for your little ones. We get it. A lot of it is too, uh, descriptive shall we say, and the young ones absorb it all—the good, the bad and the vulgar.
It can sometimes be difficult to find adult music that is suitable for children and vice versa. With so many questionable words in pop songs and even love songs that are way too…well, explicit, your children may find themselves wondering about the content and meaning of the top hits playing on the radio. Save yourself from the endless questions about what some of those words mean. We’ve compiled a list of adult- AND child-appropriate songs, plus a link to listen to that playlist.
You will want to put your dancing shoes on and grab a mic. These 8 tracks are cool enough for the whole family to enjoy!
- Day-O by Harry Belafonte: Or The Banana Boat Song. This very popular theme, which was originally a Jamaican folk song, is a favorite for all ages.
- Rainbow by Jack Johnson featuring G-Love: This is a groovy sound for s’mores on the beach. It’s folk and acoustic. It makes you believe!
- Yellow Submarine by The Beatles: A classic. And what’s not to love about a colorful transportation vehicle?
- I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash: This is one of those feel-good songs for when the sun is shining.
- Send Me On My Way by Rusted Roots: This song has been featured in movies and commercials, but it never gets old, just dance to it with the grandparents and neighbors too. It’s contagious fun!
- Mr. Bobby by Manu Chao: A little off-the-beaten-path, this song is a plea for Bob Marley to sing something good to us. It’s reggae and much more.
- Life is a Highway by Rascall Flats: Not my favorite choice but there is something about it that kids and teens like. I do like the song’s message: enjoy life!
- Watermelon Man by Herbie Hancock: It’s jazz but for kids too. The beginning will even get your dog’s attention. It’s that flute!
There are many more songs that fit the toe-tapping, kid and adult-dancing bill, this is just a sampling. You can never go wrong with classical music either, just tell your children to identify some of the instruments and see how they get into it. A great start is Beethoven’s Piano Concerto #5 also known as The Emperor. Tell your kids the piano is a little boy lost in the woods and the orchestra is the woods talking to him. It’s a neat conversation I think. That’s what my mom told us. It’s still one of my favorites!
Gather the kids ‘round and click here to hear the Mamiverse playlist.
Let us know some of your family’s favorite tunes.
