Kidrockers: Indie Rock Concerts For Kids
Posted on Mar 09
So you want to expose your kid to live music but you don’t want to have to sit through cheesy kid’s music concerts with songs about balloons and happy places. You can’t take them to most rock shows because, let’s face it, the sound is way too loud, the crowd too rowdy, and the second-hand smoke just may give them a second-hand high as well. What to do? Check out Kidrockers, which puts on all-ages indie rock shows that are kid friendly as well as cool. From their site: “These all ages shows are designed to bring families together to experience some of the most engaging and vital artists in indie music and comedy.” But be warned, childless music lovers: all adults must be accompanied by a kid (and vice versa)!
Past shows have included performances by Silversun Pickups (doing an acoustic set with kids storming the stage), Neon Indian and Nada Surf. There are upcoming shows in Chicago on March 13, Los Angeles on March 14 and New York on March 21. It’s a chance to introduce your kid to some great indie music about to go mainstream. You’ll enjoy it just as much as your children.
Academy Award-Winning Best Songs: Oscar Favorites for Kids
Posted on Mar 05With the Oscars around the corner we decided to take a look back at some Academy Award-winning “Best Songs” that would be great for kids. To mix things up, we gave ourselves the challenge of not including any Disney or Pixar songs.
Let’s start with last year’s winner, “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire. I don’t know what the song means but if you’ve seen the last scene of Slumdog Millionaire you know this tune can get you up and dancing.
Take it back now to when you were a kid and have your own children listen to the 1987 winner “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” by Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley from Dirty Dancing. Remember how this song was everywhere back then? The song always worked so well because of the contrast from verse to chorus and it still holds up today.
Finally, for some real 80’s dancing put on “Flashdance…What a Feeling.” You might as well break out the leg warmers for this track and get your kids running in place. I wouldn’t let them watch the movie because of the adult subject matter but the song is an inspiring piece that will have them dancing.
Playing Dress Up With Tiny Rockers
Posted on Mar 01Parents love watching their kids play dress up, and the only thing they love more than that is actually dressing the kids themselves. Sometimes it’s a cute outfit to show the grandparents, sometimes it’s a big fluffy fleece onesie, but the ultimate is to dress your kid like a rocker.
That said, I offer you the top three most challenging musicians to play dress up with your little tykes.
3) Lady Gaga
Her album The Fame was released in 2008 but it was 2009 that was truly Gaga’s year. Her music had a new pop sound but Gaga was more than music. Her art is the visual mixed with the aural and her fashion has included everything from dressing in plastic bubbles to being drenched in blood at the 2009 Video Music Awards. Bonus points if you can dress your kid in her pointy silver Grammy 2010 outfit.
2) KISS
This one is a no brainer and there are already plenty of parents who worship KISS and dress their kids up in the make-up for Halloween. To be authentic, you can’t phone it in and must cover your kid’s full face in make-up. Even better if you have four kids and dress each one as a member of KISS: The Demon, Starchild, Spaceman and Catman.
1) Freddie Mercury
There are very few performers who could match Freddie’s stage presence. This choice might not be as obvious as KISS, but it is much easier to pull off than covering your squirming kid’s face with elaborate stage make-up. Though it may be easier to dress as Freddie, it’s also more courageous. Placing a child in tight rocker pants, or a Pierrot unitard screams 80s rock.
Journey Valentine’s Day Coloring Page
Posted on Feb 12
Will you be our Valentine? We promise: we’re forever yours, faithfully.
Enjoy this super sweet Valentine’s Day coloring page in honor of our new arrival, Lullaby Renditions of Journey, out now!
Check out this exclusive sneak peek of our lullaby rendition of Don’t Stop Believin’!
Make sure to check out our other cool coloring pages and activities, including healthy baby food recipes, Rockabye Baby cupcake toppers and more!
5 Songs To Get Your Toddler Dancing
Posted on Feb 04
If you’ve heard Ke$ha’s number one hit Tik Tok, you might want to listen to it again before allowing your toddler to dance to it in their diapers. While the song has an infectious beat and Ke$ha’s stirring repetition of “Whoa Whoa Whoa Whoa” might get your feet tapping, this current Billboard Hot 100 topper has true party lyrics which are not appropriate for little kids. Try explaining to your kids what “Brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack” means or why “Boys are trying to touch my junk”. If you’ve seen the video you know Ke$ha is a party girl whose appearance includes an attire that proves she has been living the lyrics to her hit.
Instead of playing this latest hit try these 5 other songs to get your toddler dancing:
1) The Police – De Do Do Do De Da Da Da
The song title says it all. If this song isn’t geared towards young kids I don’t know what is.
2) The Faces – Ooh La La
Same idea. The song title sounds like something your two year old might have come up with. That coupled with the fact that the song is about wishing you were wiser when you were younger is perfect.
3) The Beatles – I Saw Her Standing There
Sure, all early Beatles songs are great for young kids (and many of the later ones as well) but this one stands out because of the way they held the high notes when singing “Held her hand in Miiiiiiiiine”.
4) The Bangles – Hazy Shade of Winter
Although written by Paul Simon it is the Bangles version that gets my kids jumping. The way the song shifts from slow melodious sixties groove to a guitar rock song makes their heads pump in a way that would make any father proud.
5) Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run
Considered a rock anthem by most and a state anthem by New Jersey, kids will love the break in the middle followed by Bruce’s scream of “1,2,3,4” and moving right back into the song.
Baby Penguins
Posted on Jan 14
Want to see the cutest thing ever? Wildlife photographer David C. Schultz travelled to Snow Hill Island on the Antarctic Peninsula to take these amazing pictures of baby penguins. The original article and photo essay from the Daily Mail UK is perfect to share with the kids.
The World’s Best Baby Animal Pics!
Posted on Jan 07
Sumatran orangutan Cinta, and his mother Indah at the San Diego Zoo
Looking for fun computer activities for your little ones? UPI.com has compiled a slideshow of the world’s best baby critter photos here. We recommend watching this with your kids. With 42 photographs of infant animals from around the globe, this slideshow is educational and adorable. We keep going back for more and wanted to share it with our readers.
Wackiness Wednesdays: Bohemian Muppets
Posted on Jan 06We love a cover of Queen. We love the Muppets. We love inspired silliness. In case you haven’t heard this amazing rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody:
Can’t get enough crazy Queen covers? Try Rockabye Baby’s lullaby rendition! Listen here.
Free Rockabye Baby! Holiday Coloring Page
Posted on Dec 16
Tis’ the season for fun and joyful activities! Despite increasingly cool electronic gadgets available to kids these days, coloring seems to remain a childhood activity favorite. If you’re looking for festive activities for the kids, download our free printable Rockabye Baby! holiday coloring page.
Coloring Contest
Have a group of tiny tots? Figure out a fun prize or treat and turn it into a coloring contest! Hang up all of the pages as party decorations to spread some holiday cheer. And kids, don’t worry – no one ever landed on the naughty list for coloring outside the lines.
Don’t forget to check out our other rockin’ coloring pages featuring artwork from our favorite Rockabye Baby! albums, Lullaby Renditions of Guns N’ Roses, Queen and Aerosmith and more! Visit our print and play page to see all of our coloring pages, cupcake toppers and other fun activities.
Masher of Pumpkins – A Thanksgiving Baby Food Recipe
Posted on Nov 19
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! This healthy baby food recipe makes us wish we ate baby food. Okay, sometimes we do.
(For Babies 6 Months & Up * Makes about 40 Tablespoons)
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 Small Cooking Pumpkin (or Butternut Squash), Peeled, Seeds Removed, and Diced
- 1 Medium Banana1 Pinch Ground Cinnamon
- 1 Pinch Ground Ginger (Optional)Water from Steaming or Pure Apple Juice
DIRECTIONS:
Place diced pumpkin in a pan with a steamer basket. Add enough water so that it just comes to the bottom of the steamer basket. Steam until very tender, about 15 minutes.
Transfer to a blender or food processor. Add banana, cinnamon and ginger. Puree until smooth. Thin with water from steaming, apple juice, or formula to desired consistency. Set aside to cool. Divide into ice cube trays, cover with plastic wrap and freeze. When frozen, transfer to a freezer bag for storage.
Recipe created by Executive Chef Jeff Parker
www.FoodCrew.com
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