Music was one of my favorite curriculum areas with young children. I always had lots of fun singing songs and accompanying them on guitar. As the grandma of a 12-month old, I’ve had a great time reacquainting myself with some favorite CDs (originally cassettes) of mine and my now-adult kids from when they were little.
Working with the Cassette Player
I actually still kept our favorite cassette tapes, so my granddaughter, Zoey, is one of the few babies today who listens to a lot of music on cassette. Of course, I do have some CDs, and I’ve purchased a few for Zoey as well. These are some of our favorite CDs, with both classic and new songs.
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Note: These CDs aren’t selected as Montessori CDs. I just love happy, upbeat music for young children and don’t limit the types of music we listen to as long as the songs are family friendly.
Following are some of my favorite picks for CDs for babies and toddlers (most are great for preschoolers, too)
I have have a new favorite lullaby CD. I absolutely LOVE A Child’s Gift of Lullabyes. I discovered this when Zoey was a newborn. It’s still Zoey’s nap-time music at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Some classic lullabies have very strange lyrics. Both the melodies and lyrics are amazing on this CD. The CD was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Note: I read reviews on Amazon that suggested finding the version by Tanya Goldman. That doesn’t appear to be available any more. I have the version by various artists, and it’s lovely.
Here are some of the beautiful lyrics from one of the lullabies: “Wings.”
Wings
Little wings
Wings in the wink of an eye
Soon your little wings will be
Big enough to fly
If I could I would give you wings
To lighten your heart through the years
They’d flutter soft around you then
And dry up all your tears
Dancing with the Cassette Player to Raffi Songs
My kids love Raffi, I love Raffi, and now Zoey loves Raffi. The only bad thing about Raffi is if you don’t want kid songs going through your head all day! Raffi songs are definitely catchy. 🙂
I can’t think of a Raffi CD that I don’t like. The Singable Songs Collection is a great place to start. Of course, one of our favorite Raffi CDs is Baby Beluga. I’m also planning to buy Raffi’s latest CD, Love Bug. Lately, Zoey and I have been listening to Raffi’s Christmas Album, a sweet mix of Christian and secular Christmas songs.
New Spinning Dance Moves
Zoey watched an ice show on Saturday, so she now has new spinning movements along with her up-and-down bouncing dances. Raffi music is perfect for practicing her new dance moves!
Peter, Paul and Mommy (yes, they’re the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary of 1960s fame) and Peter, Paul and Mommy, Too will most likely make your baby or toddler’s grandparents happy.
I love hearing these classic folksongs. And “We Shall Overcome” from Peter, Paul and Mommy, Too gave me chills after they talked on the CD about singing “We Shall Overcome” while marching and singing with Dr. Martin Luther King. What a great way to indirectly introduce your baby or toddler to significant cultural events.
Zoey and I also love Kiboomu songs. The above CD is just one example. You’ll find all sorts of fun CDs and MP3s by Kiboomu.
I learned about My Friendly Songs personalized CDs when Zoey was given one for her birthday. Zoey and her mom dance together to the music a lot, and Zoey knows how to go to the CD player and turn her CD on. We were all very impressed with the way Zoey’s name is seamlessly woven into the music. The songs are positive, fun, and very catchy melodies. 
My favorite religious CDs for kids are by Carey Landry. Hi God! and the other CDs in the Hi God series (shown on the same Amazon page) have a sweet folk-song flavor and wonderful lyrics that are appropriate for most Christian children. Many of the songs are original compositions and others are favorite Sunday school songs. The songs focus on a loving God and emphasize being loving and peaceful.
Check out the amazing lyrics to the chorus of “What Color is God’s Skin?” (the answer to his son’s question: “What color is God’s skin?”)
“What color is God’s skin? What color is God’s Skin?
I said it’s black, brown, it’s yellow… it is red, it is white.
Every man’s the same in the good Lord’s sight.”
Update: Here’s a new (for me) CD for babies and toddlers. It’s already one of my favorites. Nancy Kopman has 3 lovely CDs. Wonderful You (on Amazon or iTunes) has a number of songs specifically for babies … very sweet and fun!
Do you have a favorite CD for babies and toddlers?
All My Gift Guides
You’ll find some of my favorite Montessori toys for babies and toddlers, featuring a number of toys from For Small Hands in my Best Gifts for Kids: Montessori-Friendly Baby and Toddler Toys.
You can find some of my favorite books for babies … available on Amazon here: Montessori-Friendly Books for Babies {Gift Guide}
You can find some of my favorite CDs for babies and toddlers here: Favorite CDs for Babies and Toddlers {Gift Guide}
If you’re looking for Montessori-friendly toys that will be appealing to toddlers 15-36 months old, they’re in my Best Gifts for Kids: Montessori-Friendly Toys for Toddlers.
If you have a preschooler, don’t miss this: Best Gifts for Kids: Montessori-Friendly Toys for Preschoolers.
Gift Guide: The Best Classic Children’s Books for Preschoolers has some of my favorite books.
You’ll find lots of ideas for Montessori homeschoolers here: Gift Guide for Montessori Homeschoolers
Favorite Shelves, Trays, Baskets and More for Montessori Homeschoolers {Gift Guide} has more ideas for Montessori homeschoolers.
Favorite Handmade Learning Materials for Preschoolers from Etsy {Gift Guide} has lots of absolutely gorgeous materials.
You’ll find lots of Montessori-friendly Advent calendars here: Favorite Montessori-Friendly Advent Calendars {Gift Guide}.
You’ll find lots of special gift ideas in The Best Gifts for Montessori Teachers.
PREPARING MONTESSORI SPACES IN YOUR HOME
See “How to Create a Montessori-Friendly Home” for ideas for a number of levels. Here are some of my main home environment posts here:
- How to Prepare a Montessori Baby Room at Home (roundup post)
- How to Prepare a Montessori Toddler Environment at Home (roundup post)
- Preparing a Montessori Newborn Baby Space at Home
- How to Use Montessori Mobiles to Encourage a Newborn Baby’s Development and Delight
- Preparing a Montessori Baby Space with Shelves at Home
- Preparing a Montessori Baby Space in Your Living Room
- Preparing a Montessori Baby-Toddler Space at Home
- Preparing Montessori Toddler Spaces at Home (includes my Montessori toilet learning setup)
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 2 Year Old
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 2½ Year Old
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 3 Year Old
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 3½ Year Old
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 4 Year Old
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 4½ Year Old
- How to Prepare Montessori Shelves for a 5 Year Old
- How to Prepare Themed Montessori Shelves
- How to Prepare a Montessori Home Environment for Afterschooling
- Create an Attractive Home Environment from Montessori at Home!
- How to Set Up a Montessori Homeschool Classroom
- How to Prepare Montessori Homeschool Spaces for Babies through First Graders
- How to Prepare a Montessori Space in Your Living Room for Toddlers Through Early Elementary
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
The Montessori at Home! eBook and Montessori at Home! eBook and Materials Bundle are AMAZING resources! You can learn more about them here. Buy them in the Living Montessori Now shop.
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“Wings” is my son’s favorite lullaby. He listens to it every night before bed. Nice cassette player btw.
Nice! I’m always on the lookout for good lullaby CDs! I prefer secular lullabies and nothing too creepy (as you say, some old lullaby lyrics are really creepy). I’ve got that lullaby CD on request from the library now. Its the 2002 version…
I *love* Peter Paul & Mommy! I don’t think I’ve heard the second one, so I’ve just requested that from the library as well!
Thanks for this list! We loved the book Global Babies, too!
These musical gift ideas are super. Thanks for the ideas to add to my list that I wouldn’t have thought of. Enjoy your holidays.
Laurie Hollman at Parental Intelligence
I’ve loved Raffi since I was a little girl 🙂 My daughter’s other favorite right now is the Pentatonix Christmas CD – she loves the acapella 🙂
Thank you for this! I am getting my almost-3-year-old a CD player for Christmas, and I need to find some good kid-friendly music that isn’t annoying. Definitely going to be looking into these CDs!
My favorite CDs so far for kids are the ones by Sandra Boynton (all of them are amazing, and they come with lyric books featuring her artwork) and ones by a local San Diego band, Hullabaloo. (Their website is http://www.hullabalooband.com/ if you want to check them out!)
Thanks for your comment, Holly! I definitely enjoy all of these. And thanks for letting me know about Hullabaloo. They sound great, and I love to support local businesses. 🙂
Oh yes, putting a hold on Peter, Paul and Mommy right this second 🙂
Zoey and I really love listening to Peter, Paul and Mommy. I hope you and your kids have fun with them, too, Dionna! 🙂
I love lullabies, Raffi, & Peter, Paul & Mary, so I should check out your recommendations! I get a kick out of singing with my kids every day and can always stand to expand my repertoire. 🙂
My family still has cassette tapes that I love from when my little brother was a toddler but currently no tape player. Fortunately, my mom found them for us on CD!
It’s great to listen to the older albums with babies, isn’t it, Lauren?! It’s awesome that you sing with your kids every day. I always loved to do that, too, and I’m having so much fun getting to sing (and dance) with my granddaughter! 🙂