Blog - Laptime Songs

Kids Music Giveaway

May 25, 2016 by ajpassey 2 Comments

I’m excited to bring this kids music giveaway to you! For the next two weeks I will be introducing you to the kids music artists that we have grown to love over the last few years and some new artists we are quickly falling in love with. More than anything, these artists want to get kid-friendly music into the hands of families who will be able to bond, create memories and laugh together while engaging in this music. More than anything, I want to get kids music into library and classroom collections so it is available to kids and families year after year.

This giveaway will, hopefully, reach families, teachers and librarians and provide another opportunity to get kids music into the hands of those who know and love kids on a daily basis.

Kids Music Bundles

Giveaway Bundle #1

Hullabaloo: I Chew

Diana Panton: I Believe in Little Things Review: click here

Boxtop Jenkins: You’re Happier When You’re Happy!

Giveaway Bundle #2

Eric Herman: Bubble Wrap

Charity and the JAMband: EARTH

Laurie Berkner: Laurie Berkner’s Favorite Classic Kids’ Songs

Giveaway Bundle #3

The Hollow Trees: Hello Friend! Review: Click here

Miss Nina & The Jumping Jacks: Every Day’s Your Birthday

Lisa Loeb: Nursery Rhyme Parade

Giveaway Bundle #4

Doctor Noize: Phineas McBoof Crashes the Symphony (release date July 15, 2016)

The Singing Lizard: Club Called Awesome

Pete Seeger: Pete DVD/CD set

Kids Music Artists

I’m excited to introduce you to the musicians that keep us moving, laughing, bonding, and sharing our love of music. These are artists who love connecting with kids and families at their events. Some go on concert tours, some teach music and movement classes, some perform at libraries and schools, and all of them enjoy seeing children learn and grow through the power of music.

Diana Panton: website, Facebook

Boxtop Jenkins: Facebook

Hullabaloo: website, YouTube, Facebook

Charity and the JAMband: website, YouTube, Facebook

Eric Herman: website, YouTube, Facebook

Laurie Berkner: website, YouTube, Facebook

Lisa Loeb: website, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest

The Hollow Trees: website, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram

Miss Nina: website, YouTube, Facebook

Paul Winter & Pete Seeger: website, Facebook

Doctor Noize: website, Facebook

The Singing Lizard: website, YouTube, Facebook

Kids Music Giveaway

You can win one of these amazing bundles to add to your home, classroom or public library collection. Just fill out the form below. Giveaway is open May 24, 2016-June 8, 2016. Open to all US residents, ages 18 and over. One entry per individual. Winner will be notified via email on June 9 and must reply with mailing address by June 10 to claim kids music bundle. Good luck!

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Music Video: Bubble Wrap

May 24, 2016 by ajpassey Leave a Comment

We love Eric Herman! My daughter really fell in love with his album Party Animal a few years ago. We just received his latest project, Bubble Wrap, and the first time I played it in the car, my daughter immediately recognized his style and voice. He’s definitely a great addition to your musical collection.

Today he’s released a music video to go with the title song, Bubble Wrap, from his newest album. My boys begged to watch this captivating video again and again. Not only is the song fun and catchy, the video is a perfect visual accompaniment to tell the story of a boy who just can’t stop popping bubble wrap.

You can find his album on Amazon or subscribe to his YouTube channel.

Tomorrow I’m launching a multi-CD giveway and Bubble Wrap will be one of the amazing albums you have a chance of adding to your music collection.

Summer 2016 Road Trip Playlist

May 19, 2016 by ajpassey Leave a Comment

I’m so excited to partner with Sugar Mountain PR to bring you a playlist of songs for summer. This playlist is full of some of our favorite musicians for kids and families. And the very best part, they are available for download for FREE until May 25, 2016.

Meet the Kindie Artists

Frances England – www.francesengland,com
Charity and the JAMband – www.jamjamjam.com
Raffi – Rounder Records/Concord Music Group –www.concordmusicgroup.com/artists/raffi/
Aaron Nigel Smith – www.aaronnigelsmith.com
Alphabet Rockers – www.alphabetrockers.com
Sugar Free Allstars – www.sugarfreeallstars.com
Red Yarn – www.redyarnproductions.com
The Not-Its! – www.wearethenot-its.com
The Whizpops – www.thewhizpops.com
Okee Dokee Brothers – www.okeedokee.org
Brady Rymer and the Little Band that Could – www.bradyrymer.com
123 Andres – www.123andres.com

Download this awesome summer road trip playlist while it’s still free.

Sing a Summer Song for EARTH

May 3, 2016 by ajpassey Leave a Comment

I am so excited to partner with Charity and the JAMband to debut a song from their new album EARTH. Today’s song is Sing a Summer Song. I’ve had the privilege of working with Charity Kahn before when she released an album in 2012 called Family Values. You can read my interview with her here.

What has impressed me so much with Charity and her music is her message of kindness and caring for all living things, including the earth itself. Charity and the JAMband definitely rocks the kindie scene with guitars and drums that get little ones up and moving.

EARTH is a mellower side of Charity and the JAMband, but still with a driving message of the power of love and intentional living. “EARTH is a celebration, like all of our albums,” notes Charity Kahn. “Whenever we record a song, there’s a metaphorical looseness, an organic earthiness that we embody. We hope to convey the feeling of openness, of aliveness…the sense that anything can happen.”

Sing a Summer Song

Today Charity is telling the story of Sing a Summer Song on her blog. Included with the story, Charity shares a free download of Sing a Summer Song. Head on over and add this song to your music library. Charity also includes activity ideas you can use with this song.

CLICK HERE for your free summer song.

If you’re looking for ideas for storytime or circle time, check out 15 Flower Poems for May. This post is a great collection of fingerplays, chants, and songs for flowers. Sing a Summer Song is featured in this post as a great companion song for flower-themed programs.

Connect with Charity and the JAMband

You can keep up with Charity on her blog.

Or you can see the latest news from the JAMband on their website.

You can share your own passion for taking care of the planet with Charity and the JAMband (@jamband) on Twitter using #EveryDayIsEarthDay

15 Flower Poems for May

May 3, 2016 by ajpassey Leave a Comment

Last month it was April showers and now we have moved on to May flowers. In honor of May Day (although I know I’m a few days late) I’ve collected 15 flower poems for you. I’ve tried to vary them so you have flower fingerplays, flower poems, and flower songs. There are also poems about flowers in general as wells as ones about tulips, daffodils and daisies. There is even a great bedtime poem. I’ve included it at the end of the list.

In addition to the flower poems you can teach your little ones and use in storytime programs, I’m also excited to share with you a new album from Charity and the JAMband. This album, Earth, has a great message for kids and families about taking care of the earth and showing kindness to each other.

Flower Poems

Be sure to click on the title of the poem to find the full lyrics. With 15 flower poems you will find something to work with any flower storytime program, or enough to create several programs around this theme.

I have heard that talking to plants encourages their growth. I thought of that nugget when I first heard “Sing a Summer Song” on the album Earth from Charity and the JAMband. The song speaks of singing a song for summer, singing a song for flowers, singing a song for dirt and singing a song for you and me. Music has such power to reach little ones. Music can guide them in their learning. Music can also broaden their understanding. This song would be a great addition to a storytime program. You could play it as a welcome song while little ones gather before storytime starts. Or it could be used as a song to play while little ones played with instruments.

You can read more about the story of “Sing a Summer Song” on Charity’s blog. You can also connect with the band on their website or on Twitter (@jamband). You can also pick up a copy of Earth on Amazon or download it from iTunes.

Caterpillar to Butterfly Songs

April 18, 2016 by ajpassey Leave a Comment

We went to the butterfly house at the zoo this past weekend. Oh my! Such beautiful butterflies. We had fun standing still and watching them flutter around us. We each held out a finger silently hoping a butterfly would land on one of us. Our favorite part of the butterfly house is looking through the window and seeing the caterpillar to butterfly process. All the cocoons of different sizes hung in rows; the newly emerged butterflies trying wings for the first time.

The process of caterpillar to butterfly is a great spring theme for toddlers and preschoolers. Spring brings so many changes to the world around our little ones. Butterflies are just one beautiful example of how spring transforms something plain into something colorful.

I love this list of songs because they all teach the caterpillar to butterfly cycle. Each song captures the beauty of this process in a unique way. These songs are a great way to reinforce the concepts taught in books, poems or activities. They would make a great soundtrack for a crafting session, a butterfly hunt, or free play time. They can also take front stage by letting kids explore instruments while listening.

Caterpillar to Butterfly Songs

Katy Caterpillar by Key Wilde and Mr Clarke on Animal Tales
Butterfly by Laura Doherty on In a Heartbeat
Flutter by Butterfly by Fun O’Clock on In the Nick of Time
Butterfly by Bari Koral on Anna and the Cupcakes
Butterfly Away by the Harmonica Pocket on Sundrops
Wooly Wooly Bear by Laura Doherty on In a Heartbeat

Caterpillar to Butterfly Life Cycle

Butterflies begin as an egg. When the egg hatches, a caterpillar emerges. The caterpillar grows, eating leaves. Then the caterpillar spins itself into a cocoon. Inside the cocoon, the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly. Once the transformation is complete, the butterfly breaks out of the cocoon. At first the butterfly’s wings are still damp. The butterfly cannot fly until the wings have dried off. Once the wings have dried, the caterpillar to butterfly transformation is complete and the butterfly takes to the sky.

Find this and more caterpillar to butterfly coloring pages at Super Coloring.

5 Little Fish Finger Puppet Free Printable

April 14, 2016 by ajpassey 3 Comments

My new favorite fingerplay is 5 Little Fish (Teasing Mr Shark) that I discovered via Pinterest on Developing the Whole Child. I always love ocean-themed programs as there are just so many variations. 5 Little Fish is a variation on one of our all-time favorites 5 Little Monkeys (Teasing Mr. Alligator). As I was trying to get my boys as excited about the little fish as I was, they were just not interested.

Problem solving how I could spark their interest in this fun and engaging poem, I thought of the finger puppets I made of snowmen for a few winter poems. I designed the little fish and then turned to my talented husband to create a shark. I printed off a practice sheet to make sure they were the right size. My boys immediately gave their full attention to the little fish and shark as I cut them out. They could hardly wait for me to finish taping the puppets. They each chose one fish as their own and I was allowed to be the shark.

We spent the next 30 minutes playing with the finger puppets and repeating over and over the poem. Success! We took turns being the fish and or the shark. They loved it so much they brought it back out to show their sisters when they got home from school. These little finger puppets were the ticket to engage them! (This time, at least)

5 Little Fish Finger Puppet Printable

There are two versions of the 5 Little Fish printable, a color version and a black and white version. These versions are combined into one printable which contains the fish, the shark and a reminder card with instructions and the lyrics for the poem. You can also find the lyrics here.

Free Download Color and B&W Versions

5 Little Fish finger puppet printable black and white version

Enjoy your 5 Little Fish (Teasing Mr Shark) finger puppet printable. I hope it sparks the enthusiasm of the little ones in your life.

April Showers Poems and Songs

April 8, 2016 by ajpassey Leave a Comment

“April showers bring May flowers”

This old adage has always had special meaning for me. My mom’s birthday is in April and my birthday is in May. I imagined this phrase was coined just for me that my mom, represented by April showers, brought me, represented by May flowers, into the world. Such is the innocence and simple understanding of a young child.

It is probably also the main reason why I love April showers so much. Rain, storms, thunder and lightning have always filled me with awe and appreciation for nature. I love the sound of rain dripping, dropping and tapping on my windows and roof.

So it’s no surprise that I’ve amassed quite a list of songs and poems about April showers. I’m excited to share this treasured collection with you today. I hope it will help in filling out your storytime program centered on your favorite book about rain. Side note: my all-time favorite book to read aloud about rain is Listen to the Rain by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault.

April Showers Poems

Just click on the title of the poem and you’ll be taken to the page with the full lyrics.

April Showers Songs

Raindrops by The Harmonica Pocket on the album Sundrops

Thunder & Lightning by Recess Monkey on the album Hot Air

Rainy Day Dance Party by Milkshake on the album Got a Minute?

Rain Dance by Rachel Coleman and the TreeSchoolers on the album Plants & Flowers

In Belgian Rain by Hot Peas ‘n Butter on the album Catchin’ Some Peazzz, The Lullabies

5 Spring Fingerplays

April 4, 2016 by ajpassey Leave a Comment

Spring is bursting with new energy. I can feel it, and I can see my little ones are feeling it, too. We all get a little restless during spring. After months of cold winter stillness, spring is a time to get active. These five spring fingerplays will help busy hands connect with spring.

All around our neighborhood we are watching bunnies, squirrels and birds come out of their winter hiding. I picked fingerplays that match and will build on the experiences of little ones. A spring nature walk or scavenger hunt would be a great activity to introduce these spring fingerplays.

5 Spring Fingerplays

As little ones learn these spring fingerplays and songs, they are building emergent literacy skills. Learning rhyming sounds and rhythm from these fingerplays helps build phonological awareness. We can also build vocabulary by using new words within a familiar context; for example, 5 Little Bunnies includes the words “hop” “grass “lawn.” Children develop a deeper understanding of words when they can place them in context and associate them with other words.

Suggestions for Play

Create a pond: Lay a blue blanket down and have little ones jump onto it pretending it is the pond that the speckled frogs jump into.

Make a kite: These lunch sack kites are easy to make for little fingers and use common materials. Check out Lovely Commotion for the full list of materials and her tutorial.

Wooden Spoon Bee Craft: This bee craft is so simple and darling. Find the full tutorial on Easy Peasy and Fun.

6 Albums with Spring Songs for Preschool

March 31, 2016 by ajpassey Leave a Comment

Today I’ve gathered 6 spring songs for preschool from some of my favorite musicians. These musicians are part of the Kindie Music world which focuses on creating quality music with lyrics and melodies that are relatable to little ones and enjoyed by listeners of all ages.

Spring is such a fun time for me because everything seems to come alive again after the stillness of winter. Just as plants turn green, shoots spring up, and birds build nests, preschoolers seem to explode in growth during the spring. The sunshine, rain and warmer weather is good for physical growth as well as all areas of a child’s development. The spring songs for preschool I chose for this list celebrate the sun, the rain, rainbows, and the tender feelings and bursting energy of little ones.

6 Spring Songs for Preschool

Let’s Get Together by Bari Koral found on Anna and the Cupcakes
Sunshine by Vered found on Good Morning My Love
Sundrops by The Harmonica Pocket found on Sundrops
Thunder & Lightning by Recess Monkey found on Hot Air
Rainbow by Milkshake found on Got a Minute?
Bye Bye Song by Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys found on Bubble Ride

Suggested Activities

These spring songs for preschool make a great playlist to accompany a variety of activities to explore spring. Below are just a few possible activities that pair well with this playlist.

Using a flashlight and an old CD, little ones can explore rainbows. Lemon Lime Adventures gives a great tutorial on how to make this activity easy for little ones to create their own rainbow.

A spring scavenger hunt for kids would be a great activity to accompany this playlist of spring songs for preschool. KC Edventures offers a free printable scavenger hunt list.

Featured Albums with Spring Songs for Preschool

Anna and the Cupcakes from Bari Koral and the Family Rock Band

Good Morning My Love from Vered

Sundrops by The Harmonica Pocket

Hot Air by Recess Monkey

Got a Minute? by Milkshake

Bubble Ride by Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys

Kids Music Bundles

Kids Music Artists

Kids Music Giveaway

Meet the Kindie Artists

Sing a Summer Song

Connect with Charity and the JAMband

Flower Poems

Caterpillar to Butterfly Songs

Caterpillar to Butterfly Life Cycle

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5 Little Fish Finger Puppet Printable

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April Showers Poems

April Showers Songs

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5 Spring Fingerplays

Suggestions for Play

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6 Spring Songs for Preschool

Suggested Activities

Featured Albums with Spring Songs for Preschool

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