Historically, music has been used to share stories and teach important lessons to younger generations. This still holds true today, as many popular songs contain messages about important values. Take, for example, Bobby Mcferrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” This beloved song contains a timeless piece of advice: don’t sweat the small stuff. Music is a way of communicating these messages in a way that’s entertaining and fun.
Teaching your children important lessons from an early age is an important and sometimes challenging task. Many parents look for fun ways to teach their children new information but might get discouraged with the short attention spans of young minds. That’s why I’m here to suggest using popular songs to discuss teach important lessons to your child.
Here are a few child-friendly songs that incorporate great lessons:
Shake it Off – Taylor Swift
This song is the epitome of catchy, but thankfully it contains a message that you’ll want stuck in your head. “Shake it Off” will teach children to do just that: shake things off. If your child is young, you might find their conflicts revolve around learning to share. If you have a young child, you may find that teasing becomes an issue in his or her life. Regardless of the problem, “Shake it Off” is a great song to teach children how to let go of conflicts.
One Love – Bob Marley
One of the most important things we can teach children is how to live peacefully with others despite any differences they may have. Bob Marley is remembered for his peaceful messages. His enjoyable music is a great way to introduce children to ideas of acceptance.
Born This Way – Lady Gaga
Not only is the acceptance of others an important lesson for children, teaching self-acceptance is equally necessary. Lady Gaga’s song “Born This Way” will help children develop without feeling shame about who they are or what their interests may be. In a world that places too many standards on our children, “Born This Way” is a breath of fresh air.
Give Peace a Chance – John Lennon
This lesser known song by Beatles member John Lennon is a great way to reinforce acceptance or conflict resolution in your child. The song repeats the phrase “Give Peace a Chance” many times throughout the recording, which will make the song easy to sing along to for a young child.
I’d recommend playing these songs to your child and discussing the meaning of the lyrics. For example, if your child got into a disagreement with a friend at school, you could discuss why it’s important to “shake it off” and fix the problem. “Shake it off” could become a token phrase you use with your child when they experience issues that would be better forgotten about. If you think your child may be interested in playing these songs themselves, check out this link regarding the cost of guitar lessons. Music is a great way to get your child engaged and will open up a world of opportunity. Enjoy these tips!
