v 4 issue 10: Preschool Musical

This issue is packed with everything musical. Fun items as well as an article that will be sure to get you excited about taking your little one to the Theatre.


Cover by Julie Cruz







1 Get your groove on with Funky Mama. "Moo Juice" is the fantastically fun rock 'n roll creation that keeps the kids movin'. "Freeze Dance", "My Dad Rocks", and "Hot Time in the Old Town" are our personal favorites-but we, basically, just love the whole album!

2 Stir up the musical creativity with the Kids Grand Piano. Musical notes decorate this wooden grand piano and matching seat from Melissa & Doug. Big keys and a color coded songbook make it easy to use and very kid-friendly.

3 Watch and roll! Strawberry Shortcake and her fine friends bring great songs and dance moves to the little screen in Rockaberry Roll The only thing that's missing is that sweet strawberry smell.

4 Universal Music compiles the great songs of the past and future to create CDs kids and parents will love! Even better, the CDs are age graded for worry free selection. Jazz, Motown, 80's greats....you can find them all at ilovethatsong.com

5 Heavy duty organizational skills keep this monkey rockin'. This Metal Mania Wall Hook is cut from 10 gauge solid steel. It's polished and painted to perfection and is sure to stand the test of time. Available at cribrockcouture.com

6 Sing it loud - sing it proud, your a Rock Star! Hubby Buddy knows how to Rock! and they are saying it loud and clear with this warm longsleeve tee. The quality of this fabric makes it not only fun but comfortable too.<

7 This six string beauty from Rock N Sprouts is perfect for preschoolers lookin' to rock out. Colorful, wooden, and just the right size to strum out a tune or two. Rock on kiddies!
Enter code: TTW10 for 10% off your total order!

8 "Makin' Waves" is the new CD from Leonardo. Great beats, guitars, and ukuleles bring the fun lyrics of these songs to life. If you like the beach, swimming, surfing...Leonardo has 15 new songs to keep you satisfied.


This weeks mom tips:
Organizing Tip:
Store your child's outgrown clothes in large plastic bins and affix labels such as "0 to 3 months", "6 to 9 months", "9 to 12 months", and so on. Once your child has grown out of a size, you can easily store the clothes, loan them to a friend, or take them to a consignment shop.


Cleaning Tip:
Jewelry Cleaning
Don't have a jewelry cleaner and not sure how to clean your jewelry? The best thing to clean any of your jewelry whether real or not is simple. Grab a 'soft' bristle toothbrush and your favorite toothpaste and a little water. Brushing your jewelry with toothpaste will leave your jewelry shiny and bright with no worries on harming diamonds or gold. Rinse and wipe with a soft cloth to dry.

Green Tip:
Opening your curtains when the sun is shining will utilize solar heat and daylight, reducing your heating and electricity bills (and help reduce energy needs, thus helping mother earth). Closing the shades at night will help keep heat inside.

Time Saving Tip:
Sign up for a weekly menu sent by email and a grocery list, categorized by aisle, sent to your inbox from a menu planning service like Saving Dinner or Dine Without Whine. If you're short on time, get meals delivered to your home from FamilyChef or Artiko. There also are businesses offering freezer-ready meals you can make or just pick up. Try Entrees Made Easy or Dream Dinners.


Taking Children To The Theatre
Taking children to the theatre is marvelous fun. Their eyes light up with amazement when the lights go down. The actors walk on stage and your child’s imagination ignites.

To experience the joy of taking your children to the theatre there are of course a few strategies for success and mistakes to avoid.

Choosing the right show. Don’t think your 4 year old can sit still through a 4 hour show? You might be surprised. The key is to choose an age appropriate show. The Lion King is a sure winner as the actors sing, dance, and move throughout the crowd. It’s captivating. West Side Story and even Fiddler on the Roof are fine choices for slightly older children. Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland and even the Wizard of OZ are all fun and familiar stories that children can relate to and will enjoy seeing on stage.

Be prepared. The wiggles infect even the oldest of children, and many adults. Expect your child to get antsy. Be ready with quiet snacks in your purse – lifesavers are great because they quiet their little mouths and keep their throats moist to prevent coughing. Make sure everyone uses the bathroom before the show.

Comfortable clothing is a must – yes it’s fun to dress up for the theater but choking neckties and itchy lace are sure to induce a case of the wiggles. If possible, go during a matinee show so your child doesn’t have to struggle with being sleepy.

Talk to your children before the show so they know what to expect. Tell them how long the show is, what it’s about, and the behavior you expect from them and why. For example, if you expect them to not talk during when the actors are on stage let them know it’s because the actors and other people watching the show can hear them and it’s inconsiderate.

Harness your expectations. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Your child may be having a bad day, the show may be uninteresting, or they may be uncomfortable. While it isn’t fun to have to leave a show early, sometimes it’s just not worth making them sit through a show. If you have more than one child, it helps to have more than one adult as one child may be enjoying the show while the other is on the verge of having a breakdown – it happens.

Make it an event. It’s fun to get dressed up for a night, or afternoon, at the theater. Going out to eat before or after is a great way to add an extra special and ‘grown up’ touch to the day. During intermission get up and walk around. Explore the theatre, let them use the bathroom and get snacks.

The more enjoyable and relaxed a trip to the theater is, the more likely they’ll be excited and even eager to go again. Taking your children to the theatre opens them up to a whole new world of imagination, culture, and entertainment.