Kids and Music . . .

We really love music at our place. We are constantly singing, our kids listen to music to go to sleep and we would never travel anywhere in the car without some kid-friendly music playing. Apart from one CD, of songs from kids’ movies, everything we listen to is Christian music. We didn’t necessarily do this deliberately, but in hindsight, I’m glad.

During January we stayed at a caravan park on the Central Coast. They ran a fantastic kids program, one night they had a disco, and on another a talent quest. Call me old-fashioned, but I was completely shocked by the songs children as young as 3 are listening to! And singing along with! Kids were dancing to “Hangover”, which is all about exactly what the title suggests, singing along to “I’m Sexy and I Know It” and one young girl stood up and sang (beautifully) a song all about shooting herself in the head if some guy didn’t love her back. What!?!?!?!

In the letter to the Philippians, Paul writes, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” When Luke and I heard the kinds of songs that these kids were singing and filling their heads with, we were especially thankful to God that our kids heads are full of other things. Ellen, Lewis and Annie were still able to enjoy the talent quest and bust a move at the disco, but they don’t have these song words filling their heads every waking moment. Instead, when our kids choose to sing, they’re singing scripture or amazing, encouraging and uplifting truths about the God whom we serve (unless, of course, they’re singing a made up song, then there’s no guaranteeing what it could be about!)

In an ideal world, one in which I homeschooled because I just couldn’t get enough of my children, as well as teaching the bible to them daily, I’d be teaching them to memorise bible verses. What a gift that would be – to give them access to the Word of God wherever and whenever they desired. However, some nights we’re lucky just to get dinner on the table. One way they can be learning Scripture is through song. By something as easy as background music – good background music – they can be learning and meditating on God, growing in their understanding of who He is and how much He loves them, understanding their sin, learning to respond to his grace.

Mums and Dads, this is really easy. Other people have done all of the hard work for us. Luke and I feel personally indebted to Colin Buchanan for the way he has ministered to our kids as well as ourselves, and now, we are thanking God for the crew at Sovereign Grace Music for the way He is blessing our littlies through them.

So I have been encouraged to list of resources that you may want to have a look at. I’m sure there is other stuff out there; I have just included what we’ve really loved listening to. Please feel free to talk to me about any of this.

In Him Jo Armfield (Feb 2012)    

 

     

 

 

       

 

 

     

For the Littlies … These 2 CD’s by Emu Music are aimed at pre-schoolers: short, catchy songs, easy for actions. They teach fantastic truths about Jesus. The Alphabet Song on J is for Jesus sets a great challenge – even for grown-ups! And if Karen’s voice sounds familiar, that’s because it is … it’s Karen from Playschool!

Colin Buchanan … Admittedly, it took me a long time to come around to Colin, but now I am indebted to him. No one else has taught our kids as many bible verses as he has. From 2 year olds to 10 year olds, they all love him! He’s fun and funny and takes teaching the bible seriously. He doesn’t shy away from teaching the hard bits (“Sin is like a great big crocodile, sin is a dangerous trap!”) and his music is easy to listen to. I often think I should have Colin’s music playing throughout the day even for my own sake, to help me remember, what I need to remember. And his Christmas album … that’s all we have playing in the car and the home throughout December … we love! (although, this past Christmas, we couldn’t get enough of “Born is the King” by Hilllsong Music).

Scripture Rock … While this album isn’t as solid biblically and theologically, it has been one we’ve enjoyed over many years. The music is fun and the kids really get into it. There are also some good memory verse songs to get bible passages into our brains (Prov 3:5-6; Matt 28:19-20; Gen 1:1 etc)  

Primary School … We are really into these at the moment. We made “Awesome God” the theme music for our holiday in January. Put out by Sovereign Grace music in the United States, they are fun to listen to (for kids and adults!), really catchy and sing-able and teach our kids excellent truths about God, if not direct scripture. “Walking with the Wise” is a bunch of songs from the book of Proverbs. “To Be Like Jesus” is based on the Fruit of the Spirit, and “Awesome God” covers all of the big characteristics of God – excellent theology for our young ones to get under their belts!

Cedermont Worship for Kids … This is a collection of great praise and worships songs for the whole family. You will be familiar with many from church e.g. “How Great is Our God”, “Mighty To Save” etc. The fact that they’re all sung by kids seems to keep our kids listening and singing along. I love hearing them sing these songs, and even more, I love hearing them sing them alongside me in church.