Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in nashville, TN

Silly Songs for Little Fools

by Shauna Reynolds

March 31, 2009

Tomorrow is the first day of April -- April Fools' Day! As an introduction to the sort of silliness people like to engage in once a year, why not share some of your favorite silly songs with your preschooler? Here are five that we love to sing at our house.

1. There's a Hole in the Bucket -- The sad and circular saga of Liza, Henry, and a bucket that won't hold water. Your little one will giggle (and you will groan) when the song ends just like it started.
2. Baby Bumblebee -- This song's hand motions add to the silliness of the lyrics.
3. Found a Peanut -- This is another silly classic. Great for long car rides and other situations where kids need a laugh.
4. On Top of Spaghetti -- Hold on to your meatballs and don't ever sneeze. Has any song ever had a greater moral?
5. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly -- My favorite song of this bunch. The ending is a bit morbid, but it's all in good fun.

Singing these songs is more than just an exercise in silliness -- the multiple repetitive verses will help build your child's memory. Which is more than can be said about most April Fools' Day nonsense.

Weekend Preview 3.26.09

by Shauna Reynolds

March 26, 2009

There's another fantastic freebie this weekend. Sunday, March 29th, is a Free Family Day at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts. This particular free day has a medieval twist. The exhibit Medieval Treasures from the Cleveland Museum of Art opened last month, so the day will be peppered with various medieval themed activities. There will be music, dance, and even medieval stage combat lessons from Nashville Children's Theatre. Opportunities for creating visual art will also abound during this special day. Best of all, it's all free. 

The Frist Center for the Visual Arts is open from 1:00 PM until 5:30 PM this Sunday. Have fun, and maybe I'll see you there!

Grown-up Music That Kids Adore

by Shauna Reynolds

February 23, 2009

Rock or pop, country or classical, there's a kiddie artist making music for kids in every genre. And grown-up artists like They Might Be Giants, Barenaked Ladies, and Lisa Loeb have recently recorded best-selling albums for kids. But why give your kids dumbed-down cutesy versions of the real thing? Preschoolers know a good thing when they hear it -- make sure you expose them to the music you love in addition to albums aimed at others their age.

Off to See the Wizard

by Shauna Reynolds

January 09, 2009

My daughter's favorite movie is The Wizard of Oz . She loves pretending to be Dorothy, singing along with the scarecrow, and hiding behind the couch when those super-creepy flying monkeys are on the screen. (In the interest of full disclosure, I've been known to hide with her.) The film, based on L. Frank Baum's classic books, has been a favorite of dreamers of all ages for seventy years.  Read more...

Christmas Sounds of Nashville

by Shauna Reynolds

December 24, 2008

Wow, Christmas Eve is finally here. We've reached the end of our advent calendar and the end of the waiting -- tomorrow is the big day. Make some hot cocoa, build a big fire, and listen to your favorite Christmas albums all day long. My daughter likes to sing Christmas songs throughout the year, so she was especially thrilled when we broke out the Christmas CDs in late November. My family tends  Read more...

Summer Music Playlists: Sounds For Music City

by Meredith Pelham

July 01, 2008

I'll be the first to admit: I'm more likely to pop in an audio book than the funkiest new kid MP3. But there's something about summer which demands a little rhythm, isn't there? Here are some summer music favorites to get you in that Nashville spirit: On the way to the Maryland Farms YMCA's awesome new kid pool: Swimming, Swimming by Adam & The Couch Potatoes . Every kid at  Read more...

5 Best Ways To Enjoy Centennial Park in Nashville

by Meredith Pelham

May 23, 2008

Centennial Park is Nashville's showpiece urban park, originally designed for the 1897 Centennial Exposition. You'll find it on West End Avenue near Vanderbilt. Here are 5 things we enjoy doing with our preschoolers at Centennial Park: Feed the ducks around Wautauga Lake. Buy day-old bread at the bakery thrift store on Charlotte. Enjoy free Big Band dances or Shakespeare At The Park  Read more...