Quick Share : Christmas Music

image via Amazon

We have quite a few Christmas CDs playing during this season, but this is one of the very favorites: First Christmas Record for Children. It was first released in the early 40's and 50's, and it contains music from such legends as Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney, Gene Autry, and even Captain Kangaroo. Famous names aside, my husband enjoys the nostalgia from this childhood favorite, and my children love the songs and poems. The whole "record" just feels like old-fashioned Christmas.

Listen or buy it at Amazon.

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15 Minutes : Make It : Musical Instruments

image via Martha Stewar Kids magazine 2004

You'd be surprised what kind of great music can be created with things around the house. Making simple homemade instruments can be inexpensive and fun. Teach your children about rhythm and steady beats. Let them explore the music inside of them!


Here are some ideas of instruments that can come from your junk drawers and pantries at home:

Tambourine (pictured above): plated, beans or rice, tape
mini guitar: match box & rubber bands

kazoo: tissue paper, rubber bands , paper towel tube - poke hole near top

drums: any can

banjo: shoe box - cut out hole, rubber bands

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15 Minutes : Play It : Music Time

image source

My little boy really responds to music so I have tried to set aside more time for a "mommy & me" singing time. It's not much longer than 15 minutes but he sure does love the songs and pictures/objects we play with.


For example, for our first singing time one of the songs we sang was "Five Little Speckled Frogs", I let him hold some fake bugs I had while we sang "eating the most delicious bugs" and when the frogs "jumped into the pool" I had him jump onto a blue blanket . I hope to build on ideas, props and activities but for now they have been simple and with things I have around the house.

You may be surprised how well your child responds to music and a little bit of structure.

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