My 2¢ Worth: Entertainment for Kids

"kids are grossly underestimated..."
- J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter author), 2000

It would be quite arrogant of me to assume that I have enough to say on any given subject to mount this soapbox on any regular basis, presuming to lecture potential readers on personal behavior or whatever. There is one area, however, where I feel I have something to contribute, and this little forum will be the place for my work-in-progress. This may eventually develop fully enough to be published as a magazine article.

OBSERVATIONS OF THE PROBLEM
I have kids of my own, and I spend a lot of time around other kids. It disturbs me greatly that, once they pass the age of Barney and Sesame Street, kids are left with limited musical choices. By default, they enter the world of the Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync, Britney Spears and the Spice Girls (oops...can you say "where are they now?"), where the song lyrics revolve around relationships and a world that young children know very little about. With the increasing acceptance and popularity of crudeness and rebellion in music , kids are walking around mouthing lyrics like "do you really wanna touch it?" and "if you wanna be my lover...".
By the pre-teen years, parents would be hard-pressed to squelch the popularity of such lyrical topics, but for preschool and early elementary ages, it seems inappropriate that we allow this kind of content to flow unfiltered into their developing minds. And, after all, it's what their older sibilings and friends are listning to. So...what options are there?

IS THERE A PRESENT SOLUTION?
The terms "kids music" or "children's music" conjure up images of folk singers and their guitars in front of a crowd of very young children sitting on their parents' laps. This is a wonderful image for those that age (lap-sitters), but it has very little relevance for kids who are learning to think and move for themselves. They want to hear and feel the beat of a good groove...they want to be thought of as cool and sophisticated, whether or not they can really identify with the lyrical content.
Where is the quality music for the this crowd? Why does it seem that so few can come up with anything more creative than rearranging old rock and pop songs for kids? Aren't we just reinforcing the same problems again?
In a similar vein, look at the use of animation for adult humor. Yet, who would argue that the content of The Simpsons, King of the Hill, The PJs, Wonderama and especially South Park are fit for the ears of young children? Animation was once the exclusive domain of children, and will always serve to attract young eyes and ears. Even if one were to argue that these programs air at times when kids ought not be in front of the TV, syndicators who sell the right to rebroadcast them don't share the same scruples. They get tucked in right after school before dinner, when kids are MOST likely to be watching....money rewrites all the rules, doesn't it??

A PROPOSAL
My concern is that we find ways of preserving the innocence of childhood for just a few years, so that our kids are not robbed of their youth.
Kids want something with a groove. Why not give them hip, groove-based, slickly produced, well-composed music that doesn't stray into older themes for content?
I hear a lot of kids music...and a lot of it is fine, creative stuff...but it strikes me that it exists in a vacuum...i.e., it doesn't get much of an audience when pop radio is a viable choice.
But where will this music come from? It's my contention that we need a model for age-appropriate songwriting put forth by competent songwriters. Many of the same writers and performers who are writing quality material for adults also have kids around the house. Some of them already do take the initiative to get involved in kids musical projects of some sort...but I recommend that we start encouraging them to consider it a social responsiblity to spend at least a small portion of their time contributing age-appropriate music for kids. They may not have enough material to do an entire album, but there are other options, including project albums where a number of artists (probably those affiliated with the same record label) would combine their material to produce an entire album. Those who only write, but do not perform, should also begin to see it as their responsibility to contribute. And record labels should see it as a social responsibility to work to develop this market, even if it doesn't come naturally to them, or even if they don't see a quick profit.

WHAT IS 'AGE-APPROPRIATE MATERIAL?
So...if this model were to be embraced, what would these songs look and sound like? This is not an exhaustive treatment of the subject, but here's a start:

No Condescension: Noone likes being talked down to, or talked to in a sing-songy manner which assumes less intellectual capacity on the part of the audience than the performer. As we have seen in bold type recently, even young kids are VERY capable of grasping fairly complex subjects. The problem, of course, is that they generally lack the wisdom to apply the knowledge. And a little knowledge is usually a little dangerous. The point, of course, is this: It should not be obvious to kids that you think you know more than they do.
A Quality Craft: Let's face it. One of the reasons that kids music has a fairly poor reputation is that much of it just isn't that good. The songs are crafted with few standards in mind. It's assumed that kids will buy into anything. But, that's just not true. These kids are much more sophisticated than their younger brothers and sisters. They look for hooky tunes and witty lyrics. Sometimes hip production values (grooves and beats) are necessary as well...this is determined by the nature of the song. All-around quality must be a hallmark if you expect to steal attention away from the boy groups and girl groups with million of marketing dollars behind them. We need to consider 'notching up' the musical sophistication level somewhat.
Peer Pressure Harnessed For Good: If we do a good job of latching on to the 'cool factor' in this music, older siblings will already have listened to this kind of music as the younger ones come along. It will be seen as an appropriate stage of growth and development, not as something being forced down the throats of kids.
Learning Can Actually Be Fun: Kids are not dense. They know when you are trying to teach them something. But, let's face it...a spoonful of sugar DOES help the medicine go down. Translation: Taking the time to make learning fun, to teach in pictures and feelings rather than rote memory can pay big dividends!
Play, Adventure, and Fantasy: These are the elements that make up the more enjoyable parts of being a kid. Why not find innovative ways to embrace them musically? Conversely, Romance, Rebellion and a Party Lifestyle are not generally appropriate topics for kids. Kids do not need to hear "You're all I need, girl" or "Livin' La Vida Loca". They need to feel the joy of life in music...but in healthy ways!

Kids' lives are filled with plenty of complexity and plenty of influences from which we cannot shield them, as much as we may want to. I have begun to see more and more kids artists talk about filling the gap between young children and pre-teens/teens. And, while I didn't begin as a kids artist, I'm trying to invest at least a portion of my time in doing what I can along these lines.
Here is a rundown of the song topics and music styles on songs from my first album of original compositions for kids. The lyrics are available on the web, so you can see more specific examples of what I am trying to attain in terms of an accessible, intellectual approach: TheChuckleberries.com

Tya Tore A Tortilla
An accident leads to a sloppy party in a Mexican restaurant.
(Latin)
Inside These Pages
A quick inspirational guide to the joys of reading.
(Pop)
Water Slide
A little gravity, a lot of water and a boatload of musical fun.
(Surf-Pop)
Bubblehead
A brief ode to shampoo and those who use it.
(One flying Elvis, please.)
Yellowberry Jam
A magic sauce that makes even the most tolerable foods edible.
(Bluegrass/Country)
God Made Hugs For Two
Hugs are just not the same with one, three or four participants.
(Soft Pop)
Got The Power
Remember Mary Tyler Moore? We can ALL light the world up with our smiles!
(Pop Rock)
Galapagos
A wild and wooly place. There must be better places to kick back and relax.
(Island)
Giant Tickle Feather
A devastatingly fun weapon!
(Driving Pop)
The Perfect Food
Which is the world's best food: Peanut Butter or Ice Cream?
(Swing Jazz, Sinatra-style)
God Looks At The Heart
Appearances can be deceiving. We have to look deeper.
(Sweet acoustic pop)

There are many fine songwriters in the world, and it's my very great hope that others will pick up the torch and take these general concepts of mine much farther down the road. I have seen signs lately that other kids songwriters are thinking the same kinds of thoughts. But I think its crucial to keep the standards as high as possible... especially in the area of songwriting. All music styles are fair game, and so are an incredible variety of topics. But kids are not adults..they are not relationship-obsessed like teens and young adults are. Let's recognize that and honor it. I hope that kids artists can band together and fight for the importance of this craft...and can encourage one another to keep with it as the momentum builds. Providing another quality option for kids, in the long run, can only result in a healthier society.