Thoughts on “Interactive Children’s Programs”

Somebody asked for thoughts/ideas on great interactive children’s programs.  As a performer who plays for any audience that likes the music I play here are some thoughts on Interactive Children’s Programs:

1. I shy away from “entertaining” children.  I also shy away from ‘babysitting” children.  Rather, I ask parents and children to sit together and share song.

2.  I encourage everybody to sing or participate in some way.  Child, parents, care takers, guardians, people of different ethnicities who are not familiar with the songs, people who don’t know English well.

3.  If most people don’t know a song I would like them to sing, I will take the time to teach it.  Especially “This Land is Your Land.”  I believe everybody should know this song.  If you live in the U.S. learn Woody’s original verses.  If you live in Canada, learn the Canadian version.  If your nation doesn’t have a version, write one.  If your nation’s version includes land outside of your internationally recognized borders maybe you should only sing it with people who also live outside of those borders.

4.  I think it’s important to include some “adult” songs.  Not sexually explicit or rage against the establishment, but songs that are about more than animals and good citizenship and things of that nature.  Perhaps “Country Roads” or “Power and the Glory” or Niel Young or Bob Dylan.  I have plenty of originals that fit this.

5.  I think it’s important to reach people who are starting to be too cool to sing in groups.  How do we include teens and tweens and twenty somethings?  Get them involved.  Ask questions from the stage.  If someone from this this group raises their hand hear what they have to say.

– Spook :->