Resources for Songs, Rhymes, and Finger Plays

Online Resources of Song, Rhyme, and Finger Play Collections

–Alina Celeste
Alina’s YouTube channel has an incredible assortment of songs and finger plays.  Many of them are in Spanish as well!  Her cute quirkiness and fun interactions make these entertaining for kids and adults.

–Jbrary
Dana and Lindsey are children’s librarians who have posted a very generous number of videos that might be found at a StoryTime circle.  There are songs, rhymes, finger plays, and more all organized by theme.  They are so darling to watch, and they remind me of some of the enthusiasm I used to have with children before becoming a mom.  =D  Check out their website too for wonderful book recommendations and felt board activities.

–Singing Games for Children
Dany Rosevear has an amazing collection of songs and resources on here, as well as links to her singing them on YouTube!  So sweet and so organized.  I want to sit and have tea with her on a weekly basis!

–Mamalisa
MamaLisa has a beautiful collection of children’s songs from around the world.  Most of the songs have an audio of the song, lyrics in multiple languages, sheet music, and links to multiple YouTube videos of the song.  The blog also has incredible links and information.  If you’re looking a multi-cultural approach to your children’s song collection, you must visit this site.

–Molly Whuppie
Ack! Just found Molly, and I love her so much!

Children’s Songs and Musicians that Aren’t Annoying

In this post I talk about how often I walk into a kids’ shop and hear either completely sappy ‘kid’ tracks that seem to belittle our kids’ tastes or pumping club music that seems to rob our kids of childhood with every bass thump.  Here’s the thing.  There’s PLENTY of kid-geared music in between these two extremes.  I’m just not sure why the shops I’ve visited can’t seem to find it.

So, here’s a(n ongoing) list of some of the songs and musicians who (I think) find the wonderful balance of gearing their music towards children, without trying to “sing down” to them and without trying to make their music into a dance club.  Bonus is that it’s all music we adults can enjoy too.

–Emily Arrow
We found Emily on her YouTube channel where she sings songs based on children’s picture books.  But she also teaches ukulele, writes books, and runs a podcast, among other things.  She’s darling, and I adore her.

–Okee Dokee Brothers
I only recently found the Okee Dokee Brothers.  Joe and Justin sing Nature-themed songs that are so much fun.  Love these guys.

–Minnutes
I can’t find a lot of information on Minnutes, nor can I tell if they’re geared solely towards children’s music, but I’ve heard some of their songs on Spotify and they’re fun and happy.

–Elizabeth Mitchell
I “found” Elizabeth Mitchell when I was pregnant with my first.  I immediately fell in love with her gentle and soulful interpretations of children’s folk songs.
You can also find some music videos on YouTube for some of her songs that always make me yearn to run through meadows and picnic under the stars.

YouTube kid songs:

–Lily on Adventure Sandwich has wonderful songs like: Just the Way You Are, New Friends Make You Feel Special, and Happy Father’s Day

Old Movie Stars Dance to Uptown Funk

Old Movie Stars Dance to Uptown Funk

This makes me smile on a lot of different levels.  Watching a montage of such amazing dancers, the absolutely INCREDIBLE editing and selection, and, frankly, just the idea of dance and music across the ages is inspiring.

The comments say it:

“No one searched for this, but everybody is happy they found it.”
“I could watch this every day and always enjoy it.”
“That is one of the most worthwhile things I’ve ever seen on YouTube.”
“I don’t know how many YouTube videos I’ve watched, but all I can say is…You Won.”

Check it out if you have a moment.

Cups Game

I remember the cup game from waaay back when at camp and school and it was just something kids did (as evidenced by this Full House clip).  I love when people come together and sing, but there’s something extra special about this one because it requires everyone to be fully participating.  Anyway, always makes me smile.  It’s tough to find a video that captures the magic of the moment, but maybe some of these will do…

Groups doing Cups Game

Harvard Drummers Group
If you watch nothing else from this page…  This is crazy Amazing!

Camp  
This one gives a feel for how I remember the cups game.  Just crazy and fun, before all the fancy pop singing.

Irish TV production
Girls singing the “I’m Gonna Miss You” song with the cups game.  They’re all dressed up and it’s a bit show biz, but I still really love seeing all these kids come together for this.

 

I got caught up in the history of the Cups Song

Anna Kendrick Cup Video
A new version on the traditional cup game (although the comments make it seem like this video is a relic). Also a new version of a very old song from the 30s.  It cracks me up that Anna Kendrick had to apologize to camp counselors and parents for this song and game when they both have been around for ages.  Besides, to me, this cup game WAS camp.  And their frustration with her specifically just shows how clueless public is about how many people go into the production of a song and video.  Whatever.  These pop videos usually aren’t my thing, but I do really like this.

1987 “Screen Door” to cup game 

Lulu and the Lampshades

Anna Burden 

Nose Whistles

Although nose flutes have respectable traditions throughout the world, the plastic nose whistles sold as novelty items just gotta make you smile.  I don’t know why these came to mind yesterday as I was telling the kids a bedtime story, but the nose whistle became a central part of the story, and I promised the kids I would show them a video of one today.  And I was truly surprise by what I found.  But then again, not.  The Internet can be awesome like that.  Anyway, hard to watch these without smiling.

“God Only Nose” video  (I mean seriously?!  The title alone.  I told my husband if we weren’t already happily married, I’d marry this guy based solely on this video.)

Mozart’s “Magic Nose Flute”

“Bear Necessities”

“Africa”

 

 

 

 

Which led me on a tangent to all sorts of cool instruments.  YouTube can sometimes get a bit depressing, but, Wow!  There are such talented people out there posting.

Check out this guy performing “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” and “Evenin’ “ with this rockin’ trumpet funnel kazoo, which I first saw here