to wonder why pop music is mandatory listening for kids?

[HelenHen]

Fair enough if that's what you actually like but, if you don't like it, why play it for your pre school kids because you think you should?

Kids will like whatever you play to them but surely pop music in general is just completely inappropriate for kids? In most cases the lyrics are disgusting... And don't get me started on the videos... I feel so sorry for young girls!

And... Trust me, I'm not a prude! Lol, I know it doesn't sound like it but I'm really not! I just would not want my daughter singing along to big boy or any of that other shite!

I know people said the same about rock music but it's completely different imo.

[HelenHen]

Oh I know! It's just so sad though! I wanted to have ds (22 months) watch some music videos so he could figure out the whole dancing thing without learning from me (I'm terrible) but they all just have semi naked girls writhing around on beds blah blah blah... Wtf?

[Nomama]

Wha? Huh?

I think I have missed a page of posts, Helen.

Post title: Kids listen cos it is pop.... don't you remember loving [I'll say Middle of the Road cos I am old]

Body of post No idea. Why would anyone do that? Mum used to have a little red radio that played on the kitchen window sill - Concrete and Clay, anyone?

[Glitterfeet]

I don't know anyone that plays pop music to pre school children because they think should.

I mine lots of people who have music radon on in cars etc

[BertieBotts]

I'm a bit confused.

I've never heard that you "should" play pop music for kids. Actually on the contrary, I'm always seeing "kid's music" and horrible tinny versions of nursery rhymes etc in the shops which, no, I never bought for my toddler. He just listened to whatever I liked.

Secondly why are you playing it if you don't like it?

Lastly yes music videos are terrible places to learn about dancing. Just let him dance his own crazy lovely uninibited toddler dance! He doesn't need to watch a video. If you desperately want him to then there are lots of dance programmes on CBeebies - boogie beebies, zingzillas, etc.

[TheScience]

I don't know anyone who plays pop music they don't like to preschoolers.

My DS is almost 4 and I doubt he's ever seen a music video tbh.

[morethanpotatoprints]

My dd refuses to listen to pop music, even though her friends are into 1D and the likes.
She likes Opera, classical, folk, blues, jazz etc. You couldn't pay her to listen to it and she avoids it as much as possible, so not all dc even like pop music.
Play what you like and some of what you don't like and give them some culture.
As long as its varied and not semi clad people with no talent then it's ok.

[WitchWay]

Rock & blues here since DS was a baby - he now likes heavier stuff than I do but I suppose that's to be expected from a 16yo

[TheScience]

I don't think my parents played pop music to me as a preschooler either, and it didn't stop me liking Take That when everyone else did.

[thornrose]

I remember my whole family gathered round the box waiting for Boy George and Culture Club to come on TOTP. My dad thought the end of the world was nigh.

Damn right nothing changes

[Ploppy16]

Hasn't the phrase 'turn that rubbish down' been passed through about 4 generations now? My DC's listen to whatever we play in the car so a mixture of Levelers, Stone Roses and folk music. DS likes his Dubstep stuff and DD knows enough Katy Perry to pass muster in the classroom. Otherwise it's all Disney film songs and What a Beautiful Day..
Nobody makes their children listen to music in order to fit in with the latest fad I hope, that would be daft.

[HelenHen]

Oh ds listens to what I listen to: rock and blues and some pop but not the Cowell kind, radio 6 stuff. I know plenty of moms who claim they don't like pop but play itfor their preschoolers! That's why I'm asking! Maybe they're lying and actually love it but why lie?

[BertieBotts]

Hmm, well, I do like some pop music so DS gets exposure, but he also picked up on some songs through nursery, radio in shops, other kids' houses, TV etc which I wouldn't personally choose to play. So I think they get so much exposure today that it would be a very rare child who only like e.g. Jazz and classical rather than any pop or at least rock or something.

Poor DS will be subjected to youtube parody songs forever from DH

[Ploppy16]

It sounds like they're lying tbh OP, maybe they think they should have grown out of it by now but secretly love a bit of 1D!!

[SafinaSteele]

My kids mostly get heavy metal from me and folk and classical from DH. We have the radio on a lot so they hear all sorts, DD1 HATES pop and will switch it over, DD2 loves a good boogie to anything with a bit of a tune.

[MiniTheMinx]

I suspect some people would judge me for having exposed Dcs to the Dead Kennedys and Rage Against the Machine, whilst I tut because their children are watching Rhianna on MTV. Are the two things comparable? I think not, but I suspect most would say they are.

[ToysRLuv]

Ds 4.7 likes anything you can dance to from Beach Boys to Beastie Boys. Not the latest stuff, though, just our own cd collection (which abruptly stops at 2009 when DS arrived on the scene ) and the music videos viewed on youtube are ones we know to be fairly clean (no writhing, twerking semi naked people and sweary singers/rappers). He likes kids mysic as well, but can take or leave it, so doesn't make us listen to that all the time.

I was raised almost solely listening to classical. God, that was soooooooo boring. Thankfully we got mtv in the very early 90's it was banned, but we watched it when DP were out .

[HelenHen]

Haha sloppy, possibly! Ndn goes on about how we like the same music but I heard spice girls being played for her son lol.

Mini I'd say there's a massive difference:social education vs sexual education! One is inappropriate, the other is excellent parenting

[BeCool]

We don't watch all the tits and arse music videos. But there is lots of great pop music that is suitable for children. Kids love singing along, they love the music too. Music is appealing to humans on many levels. you don't have to watch the videos,

I make playlists on iTunes, burn off cd's for the car. There is lots of age appropriate songs out there

We have Frozen on repeat here ATM. The DD's, 3 & 6, and myself all screech sing along

[ComposHat]

Oh i forsee much opportunity for stealth boasting on this thread.

'My Tarquin enjoys the minimalist works of Philip Glass, he used to enjoy John Cage too but since he turned three he's found Cage facile and unengaging. He does enjoy a bit of free jazz for light relief though.'

Settles down with popcorn.