A musical picnic for curious ears
World music lovers out there are probably familiar with the artistically selected compilations of themed music from Putumayo. Since 2002, they have also been putting together equally beautiful children’s CDs, and I would like to introduce you to a few of them.
“Right now, it’s bedtime somewhere in the world. As you read this, a parent is singing their child to sleep with the lithing melody of a sweet lullaby. (...) From Australia to Zimbabwe, children are lulled to sleep by soothing songs. These lullabies are important expressions of local traditions and culture.”
When you open the cover of the CD ‘Dreamland’, these are the words that welcome you into a world of ancient and modern lullabies, collected from 13 different countries. The songs are not only great helpers at bedtime, they are also beautiful companions for a relaxing evening or as background music for a soothing bath.
This is a common thread for all the Putumayo Kids compilations - what makes them such an amazing treat to the ear, is that they are as attractive to the adult as to the children we bought them for.
And if you listen carefully, they might even make your job as a parent a bit easier! Just take ‘Picnic Playground’ as an example. It starts out with a joyful, funky song called ‘Eat like a rainbow’, and our 2 year old is happily dancing along, repeating the words when we sit down for supper… Suddenly, broccoli, tomato and carrot work perfectly together, and even the aubergine finds its place within the rainbow on the plate! 
The educational aspect of Putumayo Kids’ compilations is well crafted and subtly implemented. It conveys a strong message of peace, love for the earth and connections between people across all borders. In a playful manner, children not only learn about the use of different instruments and singing styles, but are also encouraged to be curious about other parts of the world and how people live in different cultures. Well-known nursery rhymes and every-day sounds are given new life with jazzy vibes on ‘Jazz Playground’, and children are given tools to explore their own musicality.
As our children grow older, their music taste should be challenged beyond the traditional tunes, and these CD’s have become a real favourite in our house!
Joy Anne on May 31, 2010 for