Simple Kids » books and music

A Fresh Perspective on Mothering: Mindset for Moms (and a Giveaway, too!)

Kara — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:01:19 +0000

The following post is by editor Kara Fleck.

First of all, I have to admit to some bias in this review: not only is Jamie C. Martin a friend of mine, she is also a mother I admire and look up to. My copy of her first book, Steady Days, is a well worn and rarely makes it back to the bookshelf. I am encouraged by her writing on Steady Mom and Simple Homeschool as well.

Not only that, there have been moments in my life where it was Jamie’s kindness and wisdom, either through a sentiment written on her blog Steady Mom or a through a word of encouragement exactly when I needed to hear it, that have buoyed my spirits or helped to turn a bad day around.

So, when Jamie announced that she had a new project in the works, something that expressed her heart for moms, I knew that it was going to be good.

I was wrong.

It is fantastic! (Judging by the reviews the book has been getting, I’m not the only one who thinks so.)

Mindset for Moms: From Mundane to Marvelous Thinking in Just 30 Days

Mindset for Moms begins with Jamie sharing about her own journey as a mom and how her personal evolution took her from wondering if motherhood and life with young children was to be endured to firmly believing it is her dream job and calling.

Her circumstances didn’t change, but her attitude did.

Personally, I have had seasons of motherhood where it feels light, beautiful, and almost easy. I have also been through seasons of motherhood where it feels like I am living just to get from one challenging moment to the next. Those times are lonely, hard, and discouraging, to say the least.

I am not a super hero, I am a human. And this human mother admits that there are those very bad days when I wake up and count the hours until I can go back to sleep again. It is all too easy to feel drained and even depressed.

Life shouldn’t be about merely existing or getting through the day. This time in my life as a mother to young children is a blessing, but my attitude doesn’t always reflect the gift that this season is.

Not a Quick Fix, but Long-Term Change

Jamie’s writing offers a message of hope for those of us who find ourselves struggling, wanting motherhood to be something more than merely getting through the day with our kids.

It is not about putting on rose-colored glasses or never having a bad day or a negative thought. Mindset for Moms is about changing your thinking so that you know what to do when, as Jamie says, “negativity comes knocking.”

Not only is Jamie’s advice encouraging, it is practical. She knows first-hand how the resources of a mother are limited, especially when it comes to time. Her words are simple to read and easily applied to real life.

This isn’t about a quick fix, this is about a long-term change.

In the ebook’s short, easy to read chapters, Jamie provides a 30 day road map that has the potential to be perspective changing, even life changing.

I have been reading a little bit each day and more than once I have found myself thinking over an idea Jamie writes about as I go about my day, the words lingering within me, and yes, even altering my thinking.

Mindset for Moms, for me personally, has come at a time when I really needed it.

Perhaps some of you are in the same place in your lives?

From the book:

“How would you like to find yourself thinking and feeling differently about your family, your self, and your future in just 30 days? A better life awaits – let’s go after it together!”

The Giveaway

Jamie is generously offering FOUR Simple Kids readers a copy of her ebook Mindset for Moms! I’m excited about this because I know this book is going to have an impact and I’m thankful to get to share it with you.

The book is available in four formats: for the Kindle, the Nook, through iTunes, or as a printable PDF.

How to Enter:

Simply leave a comment on this post telling me you’d like to win a copy

(note: if you’re reading this in a blog reader or via email, you’ll need to visit the Simple Kids blog to leave a comment)

This giveaway ends at midnight EST Saturday February 11, 2012. Winners will be announced on Sunday during my Weekend Links on February 12. Good luck!

Note: there are some affiliate links in this post. Thanks for your support!

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A Fresh Perspective on Mothering: Mindset for Moms (and a Giveaway, too!) is a post from Simple Kids

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Sparkle Stories: And the Winners Are …

Kara — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:13:36 +0000

The winners of last weekend’s Sparkle Stories giveaway are:

Andrea H “We would love to win a 3 mo subscription. I keep trying to find new, interesting ways to entertain my kids.”

Angela “Sparkle Stories are wonderful! We would LOVE to win a subscription!”

Congratulations!

Congratulations Andrea and Angela! Check your email for further information on how to get started enjoying your Sparkle Stories.

Coupon Code

For everyone else, the kind folks at Sparkle Stories have created a generous coupon code for Simple Kids readers!

The lovely folks at Sparkle Stories are offering a wonderful discount to all Simple Kids readers — $1 for the first month! Choose from one of three Sparkle Stories story packages, and try four weeks of Sparkle goodness for one dollar. Go to: http://www.sparklestories.com/trysparkle/ Use the magic code 6E32 to receive your discount!.

Happy listening!

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Sparkle Stories: And the Winners Are … is a post from Simple Kids

The Beauty of a Playlist (Cool Kids Rock!)

Jennifer — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:04:55 +0000

The following is by contributor and music reviewer Jennifer Brown.

This month I wanted to give you a surefire winner, something you could count on to immediately improve your personal music library. Then of course I realized that there’s no such thing as one size fits all when it comes to music. We all have our own personal tastes and opinions, and while I do my best to find those gems that will make parent’s ears happy—our ears are not all created equal.

So…I decided I would give you my best of three albums to kick off our new year of music together at Simple Kids. Simply because just as our ears aren’t created equal, all tracks on any one particular album aren’t created equal either.

In our house, we’ve compiled the following selections performed by contemporary artists into a playlist we lovingly call Cool Kids Rock.

The Cool Kids Rock Playlist

For the Kids

I’ll start with “For the Kids,” a various artists compilation album, which now has three versions. Our personal favorites come from album one, but you may want to check the others out to see what they have to offer. Your kids are going to love “The Hoppity Song”—it’s great for getting the wiggles out.

Mahna Mahna by CAKE
La La La La Lemon by Barenaked Ladies
I’ve Got To Be Clean by Guster
The Hoppity Song by John Ondrasik
It’s All Right To Cry by Darius Rucker
Sing by Ivy
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by Raine Maida & Chantal Kreviazuk

Mary Had a Little Amp

My next group of songs comes from a terrific little gem called “Mary Had a Little Amp,” a benefit CD released in 2004 from which the proceeds go to the People For the American Way Foundation’s Start Smart America program. We’re loving these tunes from some artists you may already find in your adult music rotation. My husband, a huge Dave Matthews fan, has been known to sing along with “Sing Along.”

Pure Imagination by Maroon 5
We Walk by R.E.M.
Rainbow Connection by Dixie Chicks
Sing Along by Blue Man Group featuring Dave Matthews
The 3 R’s by Jack Johnson
Anchovie by Moby
Wild, Wild Party in the Loquat Tree by Indigo Girls
How to Be Strong by Roseanne Cash
When You Wish Upon a Star by Joe Henry
Teach Your Children by Graham Nash

Muppets: The Green Album

Finally, we just picked up a new album over the holidays: “Muppets: The Green Album.” I really planned to love every track on this album, in full disclosure I’m a huge Muppet fan. But I found, while there’s nothing really wrong with any of the tracks on the album, I ended up choosing a handful of songs that would get more playing time on the playlist . The following tracks are the ones that made me want to sing along. The rest of the album is what I’d classify as a little more mellow.

Movin’ Right Along by Alkaline Trio
Muppet Show Theme Song by OK Go
Bein’ Green by Andrew Bird
Our World by My Morning Jacket

I also have to say I enjoy The Fray’s version of “Mahna Mahna” and Weezer and Haley Williams’ “The Rainbow Connection.” They are totally interchangeable with the versions I previously mentioned.

All of these songs can be found and sampled on Amazon (“Mary Had a Little Amp” is not available on iTunes). You can also check out the creative antics of the Blue Man Group featuring Dave Matthews on You Tube.

What other songs would you include on your Cool Kids Rock playlist?

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The Beauty of a Playlist (Cool Kids Rock!) is a post from Simple Kids

Good Reads: Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett

Kara — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:01:25 +0000

The following post is by editor Kara Fleck.

It is no secret that my kids and I love to read, and I hope the same is true for you and your families. I’m a former bookseller and I’m a lifelong book lover, as is my husband. It is one of the traits I’m happiest has passed on to my children.

Reading to my children is one of my favorite ways to spend time with them, especially if the book is clever and fun.

We talk about our favorite reads here on Simple Kids from time to time, and I’m excited to bring you a monthly series on Simple Kids dedicated just to book reviews.

Be on the lookout for book review features from the other Simple Living Media sites, as well.

I look forward to highlighting some of my favorite reads and sharing our new discoveries with you.

Extra Yarn

This month I wanted to share with you a book that is a new one on our bookshelf: Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett.

I first heard about this book when it was recommended to me by another mom who knows that I love knitting and can’t resist children’s books about the craft. She knew it would be a book after my own heart, and she was right.

Extra Yarn is a story about Annabelle, who finds a box of yarn that turns out to be rather amazing.

Annabelle finds the box and knits and knits (and knits!) from the yarn.

“And even after she’d made a sweater for Nate and his dog, and for herself and for Mars, she still had extra yarn.”

She keeps knitting when people tell her she can’t, she keeps knitting when people tease her, she keeps knitting when people doubt her, and when someone tries to take the box of yarn away from her, well … I won’t give away the ending, but it doesn’t stop Annabelle.

Jon Klassen’s illustrations are the perfect accent to the story, changing from bleak and stark to the lovely, bright, yarn covered world the main character creates from the seemingly endless box of yarn.

The message of the book might have been just a bit over the head of my three year old, but she asked to read it several times and loved looking at the illustrations.

My five year and my ten year olds loved it and understood the message loud and clear – “She never stops mom, and she is smiling.”

Extra Yarn is a lovely book that left my kids and I smiling at the end. as well. I would recommend you pick up a copy for your bookshelf. You don’t have to be a knitter to love Extra Yarn!

Have you and your kids read any good books lately?

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Good Reads: Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett is a post from Simple Kids

Mini Racer: Making Books Active Play

Emily — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:01:34 +0000

The following post is by contributor Emily Carter of The Pilot’s Wife.

The season of shorter days and colder temperatures is upon us, which of course means more time playing indoors!

I don’t mind bundling up to get in some fresh air, but when things get really chilly, I’m on the lookout for something new to keep us entertained and warm at the same time.

My three year old, Miles, loves to read with us, and I really love finding ways to tie other activities in with our books. I love a good art project, but this time I was looking for something more active to get that big energy out.

Tying Active Play in With a Great Book

When I stumbled on the book Mini Racer and this fantastic masking tape race track, I knew they were a match made in three-year-old-boy heaven!

The book is written by Kristy Dempsey and is utterly charming. A silly group of animals and their crazy cars are on a racing adventure. The text is rich and fun, and the illustrations brought lots of giggles out of my little guy.

We liked trying to guess the winner and picking our favorite racers.

Mini Racer was tons of fun to read on its own, but we extended it by creating our own track and racing my son’s collection of vehicles.

Even my husband couldn’t resist getting in on the action.

This may just be my new favorite activity. The roll of masking tape cost me 75 cents and it will easily last through several track making adventures this winter, and it only took about 5-10 minutes to set it up.

Miles loved having an adult play with him, but he also spent at least 30 minutes zooming his cars around solo.

I’m guessing that most of the little girls I know would have some fun racing too!

Looking for More Great Books?

I want to let you in on a little secret.

Do you ever walk into the children’s section at a book store or library and feel overwhelmed by all the choices?

Me too! I want my son to enjoy high quality children’s literature, but sometimes it’s hard to find the good stuff. I found a resource book at my library called, The New York Times Parent’s Guide to the Best Books for Children.

I’m so happy I discovered this little gem. While I certainly let Miles do some of his own choosing when it comes to books, I try to toss in a few titles from this book.

So far, they have all been winners!

I highly recommend you check it out.

What about you? What kind of activities keep your little ones busy during the winter season?

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Mini Racer: Making Books Active Play is a post from Simple Kids

Holiday Music Memories

Jennifer — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:01:49 +0000

The following was written by music contributor Jennifer Brown.

Holidays are a time when memories are made—whether it’s as simple as a country ham, biscuits and grits breakfast every Christmas morning or as elaborate as a proposal of marriage. We’re making memories daily and annually without even trying; they’re just there. So often there’s a soundtrack that goes along with those memories.

That musical soundtrack has a way of creeping into our memory bank and can instantly take us back to a place and time when a particular song at a particular moment touched our lives in some way.

My favorite Christmas song renditions are those that remind me of listening to my parent’s albums at the holidays when I was a child.

It was their version of today’s “NOW That’s What I Call Christmas” albums that highlight current popular artists. So, despite my (still youthful) age I never tire of hearing Bing Crosby, The Beach Boys, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass and Elvis Presley singing Christmas tunes.

I also think it’s why I tend to enjoy family friendly artists of today whose sound is similar, such as Josh Groban, Harry Connick, Jr. and Diana Krall.

This particular Christmas I’m enjoying hearing my four-year-old son’s renditions of “O Christmas Tree”, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and “The Twelve Days of Christmas” as he prepares for his pre-school holiday program. This year it will be the sound of his little voice recorded in my memory bank.

We all have December holiday favorites locked somewhere in our memory bank—what takes you back to your childhood?

Do you have a current artist or album that’s touching your heart this year? I’d love to hear your suggestions to stuff my socking!

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Holiday Music Memories is a post from Simple Kids

10 Great Gifts for Kids Under $25

Kara — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:01:45 +0000

The following is by editor Kara Fleck.

Unless you’re one of the lucky few who is already done with their holiday shopping (and, yes, I do know a few folks who claim to be finished) then you are currently looking over your list and checking it twice.

Here are a few gift ideas for kids to get you started, all under $25.

Books

First on my list because I believe that books are a can’t miss gift. Books are great to give kids young and old, boys and girls alike.

A few of our current favorites:

You could combine a gift of the book Strega Nona with this adorable wooden Strega Nona and her magic pasta pot from etsy seller Crunchy Family Rising and you’d have a lovely gift for just under $25.

Check out our Books & Music category for more ideas.

2. A Hippopotamus for Christmas

Photo by Happy Bungalow
Speaking of etsy, I have recently been introduced to the Happy Bungalow shop. Don handcrafts wonderful items from wood. Does your child want a hippopotamus for Christmas? This adorable stocking stuffer is extra special because Happy Bungalow will donate 40% of all its handmade hippo sales between now and December 31st to Heifer International and Cincinnati charity The Neediest Kids of All. Be sure to check out the wooden chickens, giraffes, and the doll house furniture, too.

3. Artterro kits

My ten year old has two of these creativity inspiring kits from Artterro and loves them. This award winning company produces eco friendly art kits. I love that one of their company goals is to get kids and adults to experience art together. From dolls to bubble-wands to books, there is a lot of fun to be had creating these art projects.

Their new journal kit will be finding its way into a stocking at our house this year (and, the giveaway may be over, but I believe there is a discount code from Simple Mom right now)

4. Music

Like books, I believe that music is a gift that holds appeal to all kids. If you are looking for ideas for kid friendly music then you should check out Simple Kids contributor Jennifer Brown’s reviews. Most of the kids music we listen to came from one of Jennifer’s recommendations.

5. Dolls

Boys and girls need something to cuddle and love. I think dolls are great toys, and we have a few that have become like part of the family at our house. If you have the time and the ability, a homemade doll is a lovely gift, destined to become a family heirloom.

If you’re looking to purchase a baby doll, I have found the dolls from Manhattan Toys to be very good for their price point – we have the Sweet Pea Snuggle Pod doll and one of our kids is getting a Baby Stella doll this year.

6. Uno Moo

My family really enjoys Uno Moo, a preschool game with a clever take on traditional Uno. The farm theme is clever and engaging, it all packs up in its own barn storage case, and the game goes quickly, even when four people are playing. I love that my three year old can play, with very little help from mom and dad, yet my five year old and ten year old enjoy playing, too.

7. Art Supplies and Paper

One of my favorite gifts for children is art supplies. Paper, crayons, paint sets, markers, and glue sticks are such treats to receive. A good set of drawing pencils and a sketch pad is one of my standard gifts for kids from elementary on up.

Art supplies are a great gift idea that can fit with just about any budget. I believe children benefit from good, quality art supplies but I’m certainly not going to knock the joy that can come from a dollar box of crayons and a package of construction paper.

The Sugar Plum Fairy recently brought the Fleck children Melissa & Doug Jumbo Coloring pads, which got a thumbs up from my three and five year olds.

8. Fun Organic Clothing

A fun tee shirt or onesie is something that, while not every kid will appreciate it, their parents will. Barley & Birch is my favorite source for kid-sized tees and onesies. Yes, you might pay a little bit more but you do get what you pay for: quality, well made clothing with a conscience.

Check out the Barley & Birch sale section, where some bargains to be found and shop their limited edition gifts, too. You can get 20% off your entire purchase with the code SLM20.

9. Play silks

Play silks are one of my favorite open ended toys for children. They don’t have to be silk, they can be cotton or linen. You can make own by purchasing silk blanks or using cotton fabric squares and dying them. You can also purchase them from companies like Sarah’s Silks or browse the sellers at etsy.

To stay under the $25 budget, I’d recommend either a set of smaller playsilks (the handkerchief size) or one large multicolored silk. Both can be used in a variety of ways for play and are a kid favorite at our house.

10. Sparkle Stories

If you’re looking for a unique gift, may I suggest Sparkle Stories? The tales are engaging and fun. A subscription a great gift that doesn’t take up any room in the toy box, kids can share, and will last beyond the holiday season. Subscriptions cost between $7 to $17 a month.

What are some of your favorite inexpensive gift ideas for kids?

Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Thank you!

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10 Great Gifts for Kids Under $25 is a post from Simple Kids

Kids’ Crafternoon: Beading and Felting

Catherine — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 05:01:02 +0000

The following post is by contributor Catherine Way of Adventures With Kids.

I was a little nervous about agreeing to review Kids Crafternoon: Beading and Kids Crafternoon: Felting for Simple Kids for two reasons: both my children are boys and both are younger than the recommended age of 7 and up (one is only 3 years old).

I didn’t need to worry, all the excitement I could hope for was generated by arrival of a courier van. There were instant demands to see what the van had brought. Once unwrapped, the colourful photos in the Crafternoon books had both my boys with their nose in a book begging to make something straight away.

When I finally got to have a look at the books, I found plenty of projects to appeal to boys and projects that younger children can participate in with adult help.

The boys quickly bookmarked the ghostie garland and gamer magnet projects with fuse beads in the Kids Crafternoon Beading book and the friendly finger puppets and the eraser heads pencil toppers.

But since my sons were very excited to try a project as soon as possible we decided upon the Twinkle Ornament. I had the supplies – craft wire and a variety of beads – already on hand.

Photo by Catherine Way

I did all the fiddly wire cutting and bending bits and my sons’ happily threaded beads. My eldest and I followed the project instructions to make our own twinkle ornaments. I gave my youngest son larger beads and let him thread those beads onto a length of wire, since the thought of small beads knocked over and spread all through the house was just too much to bear.

Photo by Catherine Way

I think these twinkle ornaments would make beautiful Christmas tree decorations and I will get some suitably coloured beads so that my eldest son can make some for both his grandmas.

Kids’ Crafternoon: Beading and Kids’ Crafternoon: Felting are edited by Kathreen Ricketson of Whip Up and Kids Action Pack. There are two other books in the series – Sewing and Papercraft.

I thoroughly enjoyed poring over and trying some of the projects in the beading and felting Kids’ Crafternoon books. As the books’ subtitle suggests – project for a crafty afternoon – these books are the perfect inspiration to sit down and dedicate an afternoon to making something. The projects are well-suited to school-age children with step-by-step, illustrated instructions. Either of these books would make as a lovely Christmas present, perhaps teamed with a little kit of supplies to complete one of the projects.

This post is part of a blog tour to mark the release of the Crafternoon books. The other stops on the tour are:

Do you enjoy doing craft projects with you children? What have been you favourite projects?

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Kids’ Crafternoon: Beading and Felting is a post from Simple Kids

Gift Ideas for Parents: My Favorite Books from 2011 (and my wish list)

Kara — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:01:10 +0000

The following is by editor Kara Fleck.

It is getting to be that time of year again, when lists are made and checked twice and things are starting to look a little bit merrier and brighter.

This year, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite picks for kids in the coming weeks, but today I wanted to focus on gifts for a special group of grown ups, specifically, my favorite books from 2011 for parents.

If you’re on my Christmas list, and you know who you are, no peeking past this point, okay?

Here are three of my favorite books for parents that have been released this past year:

1. Made To Play!

One of my favorite websites is Joel Henriques’ Made by Joel, especially the paper cities, so I was pretty excited for his book Made to Play! Handmade Toys and Crafts for Growing Imaginations. With paper, wood, and fabric and the 35 projects in this book, you and your kids are all set for fun.

I love that the projects in this book are simple to create, made with materials you probably already have around the house, and encourage imagination.

I also think it is pretty great that this is the kind of book that my husband and I can use to create toys for our kids, or we can also hand it over to our ten year old who loves to create for herself and her siblings, too.

2. The Rhythm of Family

The Rhythm of Family: Discovering a Sense of Wonder Through the Seasons has a little bit of something for every parent, I think. From crafting projects to kitchen projects to the beautiful, thought provoking seasonal essays written by parents Amanda and Stephen Soule, this book is a gentle invitation to slow down, enjoy your kids, and each season of the year and of life.

You can read a review of The Rhythm of Family that I wrote earlier this year here.

3. Playful Learning

Written by Mariah Bruehl, who is a Simple Kids contributor, Playful Learning: Develop Your Child’s Sense of Joy and Wonder is the third book that I’ll be giving the parents on my gift list this year.

I’ll admit that I’m a little biased because I think quite highly of Mariah, but I truly think this is one of those books that belongs on every parent’s bookshelf. I have been reading my copy and making notes likes crazy, and making some changes here and there around the house, getting so many new ideas and inspiration from her.

On My Wish List

What books are on my wish list this year? Well, Santa, if you’re reading this, I wouldn’t mind finding copies of these books under the tree:

Make Stuff Together: 24 Simple Projects to Create as a Family by Bernadette Noll
Big Little Felt Universe: Sew It, Stuff It, Squeeze It, Fun! by Jeanette Lim
The Idle Parent: Why Laid-Back Parents Raise Happier and Healthier Kids by Todd Hodgkinson
The Big Book of Knitted Monsters by Rebecca Danger I think my son Max would love playing with every one of these as much as I would enjoy making them

What titles are on your list of favorite new books from the past year? Will you be giving any books? Asking for any for yourself?

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Gift Ideas for Parents: My Favorite Books from 2011 (and my wish list) is a post from Simple Kids

Discovering Local Music Talent and A Giveaway from The Plaza Family Band!

Jennifer — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:01:13 +0000

The following is by contributor Jennifer Brown.

Sometimes the best things in life can be found right outside of our own front doors: tonight’s special at the locally owned restaurant, the neighborhood’s annual Fall Festival, locally grown and prepared apple butter.

This month I want to share some music with you by a band I found right outside of my (virtual) front door in my hometown of Charlotte, NC.

This giveaway has ended. Thank you!

The Plaza Family Band is comprised of some talented musicians whose love for children and quality children’s music shows in their release of not one but two albums as a fundraiser project for a local area preschool program.

If you’re a parent of a preschooler there are just some kid songs you can’t escape like: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” “Five Little Monkeys” and “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” And so often those tend to be the ones we want to escape. So, when I first heard “Playground Hootenanny” (album #1) I was so excited with the quality and parent friendliness of the music that I immediately went back for more with “Wee Jamboree” (album #2). Our whole family could jam with a smile and I immediately knew this band shouldn’t be local anymore.

Insert drum roll…

So, this month I am thrilled to introduce to you The Plaza Family Band with an interview with Mike Strauss, one of the band’s founders. I wanted to take this unique opportunity to give you all a little look into the world of a local grassroots music production and perhaps inspire you to support their efforts and the efforts of others like them in your communities.

You can also find them on Amazon and their official website. Don’t forget to check out the details of our giveaway at the end of the interview.

The Interview

SK: I’m so excited to be able to promote some local talent and give our Simple Kids readers a look behind the scenes into the world of children’s music! I have to tell you that once we received copies of your CD’s they very quickly became regular requests in our car. Tell me a little bit more about the band, who you are and how you got started, do any of you have any previous band experience?

PFB: Before the band started there was just an observation: Wow, there are a bunch of musicians here at Plaza Preschool. I would hear from a parent or teacher: Did you know Forrest’s dad plays piano or Lucy’s dad is in band too? So hanging around the playground after school while the kids played we would talk.

One day I was in a parent advisory board meeting at the school and the topic of fundraising was brought up, and I wondered if some sort of kid’s CD project would be possible. Before I approached [the director] with the idea I talked it over with a few musicians to see if they thought we could pull it off. [The director] thought it was a good idea and we went to work right away. All of the musicians donated their time and talents and all proceeds from CD sales go back to the school.

Right now, there about nine people in The Plaza Family Band…All of the performers on the CDs have children that attend the preschool (or did at one time). Some have been in bands that have recorded for major record labels and some have toured the world in professional bands. Others make their living playing music others play music part time or for fun.

SK: As a mom I particularly enjoy hearing songs I recognize from my own childhood in a format that is adult ear friendly! How did you decide what type of music/which songs to include in your repertoire? What was your inspiration to “mix up” some old favorites & sing them in new ways (such as Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star & Skip to My Lou)?

PFB: I think part of the idea was to take some familiar and traditional songs and interpret them in a way that was maybe a little different that we’ve heard them before. We tried to keep in mind that, hopefully, this would be something that families listened to together and they would have a chance to let kids know that these songs have been around a while. Parents and Grandparents probably sang these songs when they were little.

Sometimes when we looked at a song, like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, I was surprised to learn that there were additional verses that I hadn’t heard before. A lot of these songs weren’t always labeled “kids” songs, just songs.

We also tried to incorporate a little of each style that the performers brought. There are backgrounds in old-time, Latin, Reggae, Pop, Rock and Americana in the band. They all informed the sound.

SK: The mix of different styles is something I really love about the albums! You’ve put together a really unique combination. We’ve also really enjoyed the original tracks, tell me a little bit more about how those came about.

PFB: In the band there are a number of folks who are songwriters. As the project got rolling, some folks were inspired to write some original songs for the CDs. They really add some depth to the CDs and I think they are some of the best things on there. “Frogtown” might be our most popular song with kids. Parents always enjoy “Day with Dad.”

SK: I understand you have done some live performances in addition to putting out your CD’s. Did performing in front of an audience come before or after the CD’s? How often are you able to perform and where might your fans look for you?

PFB: It’s funny; for the most part both CDs were recorded this way: drop the kids off at the preschool at 9am, head over to the studio and record until it was time to pick them up at 1pm. We’d do that three days a week and schedule the person whose part we would be working on. We did that for a couple of months. The full band didn’t perform together (at the same time) until it was time to rehearse for the CD release party! The real joy comes from playing music together, especially in front of families.

Since the CD came out we’ve managed to get together for quite a few shows. We’ve played a number of local festivals [in Charlotte, NC]. We’ve even played at other preschools! We have a website and Facebook page where we post upcoming shows.

SK: Do you currently have any plans for the future?

PFB: Since we’ve recorded the CDs a few of the kids have passed preschool age and I was wondering how that would affect things, but it seems that everyone involved is still very excited to be a part of the band. We are looking ahead to playing more shows and I hope we continue. It is fun. We did talk about recording a Christmas CD….

Also, you never know it might be that each spring a new batch of parents could come in and carry it on. We can pass it down.

SK: We have a wide variety of talented readers, if someone out there is currently or considering pursuing their own passion for music, do you have any words of wisdom for those folks?

PFB: Be patient. Music shouldn’t be a competition. Share your talent.

I hope you are inspired by this little local band with a big sound. Give them a listen on Amazon or ITunes and if you decide to buy the whole album (or both) I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Plus you get to support a fantastic preschool program that’s nurturing potential future musicians like these.

The Giveaway

The Plaza Family Band is also generously offering up 3 sets of their CD’s to 3 lucky Simple Kids readers!

To Enter

Just leave a comment to this post telling us what song from childhood you remember as being your favorite or if you want, give a shout out to a local band in your area we’d love to see those too!

~~This giveaway will end at midnight EST Saturday October 29. Good luck!~~ This giveaway has ended. Thank you!

As always happy listening!

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Discovering Local Music Talent and A Giveaway from The Plaza Family Band! is a post from Simple Kids