Please Don’t Stop the Music

Somewhere in the world, your former piano teacher is laughing—at you. Way back when, she suffered along as you struggled with scales and butchered Bah Bah Black Sheep. Now that you’re trapped in your car for hours, listening to painfully tedious kids’ tunes, it’s payback time. And payback sounds a lot like a Barney song.

It doesn’t have to be that way when you can pump up the volume with some great music for the entire family. Here are 8 great kids’ CDs that will have the whole family groovin’ to the beat. Even though they’re for young kids, parents love these tunes too, which means no one is going out of their mind on long excursions.

Parents and critics alike rave about Elizabeth Mitchell. Her folksy, whimsical and totally hip style is a welcome change to wheels that go ‘round and farmers named MacDonald. Enjoy her excellent recent release, Sunny Day, or pick up our favourite, You Are My Little Bird. (Where to buy)

We love anyone who is part of a group called Not Ready for Naptime Players, but as a solo artist, Chicago-born children’s musician Justin Roberts has earned respect on his own, with his Grammy nominated album, Jungle Gym and his earlier album, Pop Fly with its ever-so-slightly more male-skewed songs including the catchy title song and ‘Kickboard, Baby, Yeah’ tune off the same album. (Where to buy)

Who’d have thought we’d be turning to Madonna or Bon Jovi to soothe our kids to sleep? Yet here we are, downloading Madge’s “Like a Virgin” or popping in Coldplay’s, “Clocks” to keep them quiet in the car. The Rockabye Baby! Series, featuring Bob Marley, AC/DC, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, U2, and more, is perfect for the hardest-to-get-to-sleep passengers—big and small. (Where to buy)

For more great kids’ music check out our 8 great kids’ CDs you’ll want to know about for the next time you need to get rockin’ and rolling along. Tested by Alison R., Toronto