--CONTENT GOES HERE (static)--
--CONTENT GOES HERE (static)--parent hacks
parenting tips from the real experts: actual parentsWelcome to Parent
Hacks
Submit a hack!
Email your parenting tips to hacks@
parenthacks.com more »
Support Parent Hacks
Are you an
Amazon.com shopper? Every time you shop at Amazon, get
there by clicking this link -- anything you buy will throw some change
into our tip jar, with no extra steps or cost to you. Thank you! more
»
Shop at the Parent Hacks Store
Whether you're outfitting a nursery, buying a gift, or treating
yourself, start here! more »
get free updates
Never miss a hack! Over 20,500 people get their Parent Hacks
delivered. (We'll never spam you or give away your email address.)
privacy policy »
Enter your email address to get Parent Hacks via a daily email
message:
Or subscribe with: Bloglines, My Yahoo, Google, Newsgator
Livejournalers can grab the feed here.
Categories
0-01yrs (infant)
01-03yrs (toddler)
03-05yrs (preschooler)
05-12yrs (kid)
13-18yrs (teen)
18yrs+ (grownup)
admin (Parent Hacks news)
attitude/mindset
bathtime
behavior
fashion/general cuteness
feeding/nursing
fun/toys
gear
getting organized
habitat
health/development
holidays/special occasions
learning
poop, pee, potty, etc.
saving money
sleep (yours and theirs)
things we like
travel/going out
Recent Comments
bill page on Use movie soundtracks to steer kids away from the tube
Susan W. on Creepy, irritating children's books
Jay on Make a pomander or an ornament out of an orange
Tech Mama on Sandy hack: She's a bridge between paper and electronic
calendars
Edmay on More on Edmay's toy drive for Iraqi children
Edmay on SPREAD THE WORD: Send your used stuffed animals and toys to
children in Iraq
Sleep Disorders Guide on Parent Hacks admin: Holiday peace
Kayla on Nonslip shelf liner keeps tablecloth from slipping
Tory on Spreading out the holiday gifts
amy on Salvage wrapping paper scraps and rolls for a fun toddler
diversion
Community
Show us what you're up to! Tag your pertinent blog posts, Flickr
photos, and del.icio.us bookmarks as parenthacks so we can visit you
in your corner of the Web.
Blog posts tagged with "parenthacks"
del.icio.us bookmarks tagged with "parenthacks"
www.flickr.com
More Flickr photos tagged with parenthacks
Tell the world you're a Parenthacker! Grab this link badge for your
site.
Archives
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
Get a snapshot of what other FM parenting bloggers are saying on the
FM Parenting Metaweblog.
» Blogs that link here
Parent Hacks logo by Bryan Bell
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial 2.5 License.Go to: Home | Archives | About | Advertise |
Shop
Use movie soundtracks to steer kids away from the tube
Kirsten's brilliant hack brings to mind all the great movie
soundtracks I used to listen to as a kid. Star Wars is the big one,
but pretty much any John Williams score would do. Remember Close
Encounters of the Third Kind? DO-DO-DO-DO-DOOOOOOO.
I found out long ago that my kids are more likely to play quietly
(esp. in a different room than me) when there's music playing. But
sometimes they really just want to watch that favorite show. That's
where soundtracks come in. My kids will accept a soundtrack instead of
a movie - and then they PLAY instead of WATCH. Awesome. Some of their
favorites are: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Danny Elfman), the
Heffalump movie, and Star Wars. I think some of the TV soundtracks
would drive me crazy, but the movie ones are nice and work well.
What are your family's favorite sountracks?
Posted by Asha Dornfest on November 14, 2007 | Permalink
Save to del.icio.us or StumbleUpon
Comments
We recently dug out Mary Poppins from the cardboard box of forgotten
VHS tapes. My 2.5 year old son loves it. I think that listening to the
soundtrack (mostly in the car) has only fueled his obsession. I don't
mind too much...it's fun to catch him singing "um-diddle-diddle-
diddle, um-diddle-ay" to himself.
Posted by: Tim | Nov 14, 2007 8:04:44 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sndtrk to "O Brother Where Art Thou" is a big hit here. We don't
have the actual CD but we'll put in the movie so the sound comes
through the stereo and then turn the television off.
Posted by: Antares | Nov 14, 2007 8:12:42 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My daughter's obsession is the Spirit soundtrack. Hubby picked it up
on a whim, to help her sleep at night, and now she listens to it
constantly.
Our son listens to a mixture of things, but loves the Scooby Doo
themes, no matter which version :)
Posted by: Sarah | Nov 14, 2007 8:29:32 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My son LOVES the Curious George Soundtrack. He dances and plays along
to it- it's great to watch him, and he even engages his 6 month old
brother with him.
Posted by: Rachel | Nov 14, 2007 8:48:24 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pirates of the Caribbean is a popular sound track at our house.
Posted by: inthefastlane | Nov 14, 2007 9:37:41 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you're of the geek persuasion, Lifehacker just posted a hack on how
to rip the audio from DVDs straight to MP3. So if the soundtrack to
your movie is not available on CD you might be able to work something
up in a pinch by ripping the whole movie and then optionally dyking
out the non music bits.
http://lifehacker.com/software/featured-windows-download/rip-audio-from-a-dvd-to...
Posted by: Duane | Nov 14, 2007 10:22:42 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We like the Jurassic Park soundtrack, though my kids have never seen
it (or any movie other than G rated). Tim reminded me that my son
loves Msry Poppins, maybe we'll put that soundtrack on our Christmas
list!
Posted by: Hands Free Heart | Nov 14, 2007 10:55:17 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over the Hedge. We all love Ben Folds over here.
Posted by: Andrea | Nov 14, 2007 11:23:00 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miyazaki (anime) soundtracks, especially Spirited Away, are a favorite
in our house.
My 7-year-old really likes the Atomic Betty soundtrack. It's very high-
energy pop, so your mileage may vary.
Posted by: oddharmonic | Nov 14, 2007 12:04:40 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As Father of 3 girls, I buy Disney Princess soundtracks and (of
course) High School Musical.
Posted by: Tom Dante | Nov 14, 2007 12:59:21 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep! We do this, too. My kid likes the Backyardigans CD, which has
lots of the songs from the TV show.
Posted by: tiny morsels | Nov 14, 2007 1:46:21 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We listen to the 28 days later soundtrack a lot in the car, although
there's some tracks we skip. No, I have not let my toddler see that
movie ;) He really, really likes the Grandaddy song in the middle of
that album.
Posted by: carmie | Nov 14, 2007 6:19:56 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When the two youngest are starting to get on each others' nerves (and
mine), all I have to do it play the Superman Theme song and they both
start "flying" around the house with one arm out. Instant eraser of
whatever beef one had with the other. Ditto with the Spiderman and
Batman theme.
I like how they don't even need to have seen the movies to enjoy the
soundtracks. Reading books about the superheroes gives them the whole
story (without the violence and overstimulation).
Posted by: suz | Nov 14, 2007 6:55:48 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The soundtrack to Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (the fabulous
DreamWorks movie) gets a lot of play at our house. It is great driving
music as well!
Posted by: Katwoman | Nov 14, 2007 8:42:20 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I just downloaded the Meet the Robinsons' soundtrack from iTunes,
since my 2 1/2 year old had watched the DVD a gazillion times and I
intend on listening to the great songs for a long while.
Posted by: Jeff | Nov 14, 2007 9:30:09 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've found the same goes for the audio CDs of some of my son's
favorite movies. Twice now I've found large, colorful books in the
Borders bargain bin. For $5, I got story books and CDs containing four
of the Pixar movies (Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc., Toy Story, Bugs
Life) and also Disney movies. My three year old son will sit quietly
and listen to the stories and look at the books. Sometimes, he'll even
listen to the stories and act them out. It's a nice change from the
drooling stare at the TV.
Posted by: Student of Life | Nov 15, 2007 5:40:50 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We listen to the Cars soundtrack and the Toy Story 2 soundtrack a lot
- favorite flicks around here - my son even loves the instrumental
parts and can place the scene each bit plays under during the movie.
He definitely is happier playing with some kind of background noise,
so I'm experimenting with some other stuff now - he liked a couple of
odd new age CDs I had (ah, college memories! :) ) and next I want to
try the Fantasia 2000 soundtrack. (He used to watch bits of the movie
when he was smaller, and I love it.) I would bet anything by Danny
Elfman would go over well, too, it's always very theatrical and
quirky. :)
Posted by: tiredMama | Nov 15, 2007 1:04:37 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Harry Potter soundtrack is on perpetual circulation in our house -
even my youngest, before she could read the books, loved it. They
would put on their capes, get out their wands, and play out scenes. It
is one of those things I'll always remember!
Posted by: mar | Nov 15, 2007 8:26:33 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our son loves to listen to soundtracks, and as a bonus, he is learning
to identify "themes" that belong to each character -- the clearest
example of this is the little pieces of Darth Vader's theme that show
up in pieces of the Star Wars music to let you know something bad is
going to happen; Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean have
similar motifs that reappear throughout the tracks. His kindergarten
music teacher is working with them on identifying which instruments
they hear (as a post-"Peter and the Wolf" sort of thing) and now we'll
be in the car and he will spontaneously shout out, "violin! The kraken
is a violin!" Makes me smile every time, and I'm amazed at how much
attention to detail he has developed!
Posted by: Jill | Nov 16, 2007 9:28:14 AM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My daughter is a little too young to show preferance for one
soundtrack over another, but a great classical soundtrack for time in
the car or adults is that of the movie "Gettsyburg." Very
inspirational.
Posted by: Emily Smith | Nov 16, 2007 7:49:46 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My daughter is a little too young to show preferance for one
soundtrack over another, but a great classical soundtrack for time in
the car or adults is that of the movie "Gettysburg." Very
inspirational.
Posted by: Emily Smith | Nov 16, 2007 7:50:01 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
in 70s and 80s i had fun with record movie songs and movie storie book
with recoder ideas on record players:)
star wars record, star wars record and book and michael jackson E.T
book and with record ps book and 33 size records is hearing excakly
same thing right from the theater movie just think simluar to dvd
movie ideas:)
everyone in my family and my friends are amazed icoul say word for
word just like how the movie theater done
they say bill pages a walking movie or walking tv show
or walking tv guide
or walking magic book:)
http://www.tvmagicguide.com
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.magic.secrets/topics
type in
dc secrets in a nut shell
type in
how to gain illusion secrets
ps extra also i cassette recorded tv shw themes and got my friends to
make tv show them songs off of the tv shows on cassete tape then we
played guess that tv show :)
from A team, knight rider, voygers, six million dollar man, to jamie
summers binock woman, kroft super show
the great space coaster
roll the film no no not roll the film i mean rool the film:)
the ba na na splits
the monkeys
danger island
space ghost
you get the idea:)
same bat time same bat channel:)
CBS spiderman live action tv show series
wounder woman tv series too
Posted by: bill page | Dec 27, 2007 10:21:55 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post a comment
Name:
Email Address (optional):
URL of your website or blog (optional):
Remember personal info?
Comments (URLs will autolink if you include the http://):
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/309729/23101676
Trackbacks for Parent Hacks are moderated (spam be gone!). Links
appear here as soon as the Parent Hacks editor approves them.
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Use movie soundtracks
to steer kids away from the tube:
Parenting tips by the bushel can be found in the archives!
Click here to buy a text ad on Parent Hacks!
From the Parent Hacks Store
These are just a few of the lovlies featured in the Parent Hacks
Store. Come on in -- we add new stuff all the time!
Rozanne Gold: Kids Cook 1-2-3
Delicious three-ingredient recipes kids can prepare themselves.
Tina Davis: See and Sew: A sewing book for children
A gorgeous book of simple stitches and projects for kids (and parents)
who want to learn to sew.
Happy to Be Nappy and Other Stories of Me
Entertains while teaching kids to appreciate differences. Here's
Jonathan's review.
Conn and Hal Iggulden: The Dangerous Book for Boys
A field guide for a life of curiosity and adventure. My review.
Animal Hospital (Parents)
Parenthackers with toddlers and preschoolers give this toy a big
thumbs-up. Years of "play value."
Alton Brown: I'm Just Here for the Food: Version 2.0
Parenthackers love Alton Brown. Not just what to cook, but how and
why.
John Gottman, PhD: And Baby Makes Three: The Six-Step Plan for
Preserving Marital Intimacy and Rekindling Romance After Baby Arrives
Says Michael: "The Gottman Institute has studied thousands of families
over extended periods of time in order to find what really works in
marriage and childrearing. I know I sound like an ad for the guy, but
his work is a breath of fresh air in an area filled with chatter and
nonsense."
Freddi Zeiler: A Kid's Guide to Giving
Robyn says: "It has seemed to really get my daughter thinking about
charitable giving and wanting to find ways to volunteer and give back
in the community. Pretty cool stuff."
Lorna J. Sass: Lorna Sass' Short-Cut Vegetarian: Great Taste in No
Time
Ridiculously simple, delicious food.
Marky Sparky Toys Doink-It Darts
A magnetic dart board that actually works. Great for encouraging in-
your-head addition.
Oball
A Parent Hacks reader reminded me just how much we love this ball. Fun
indoors, outdoors, for all ages.
iTouchless Hands-Free Trash Can
This trash can opens when you pass your hand in front of the sensor,
then self-closes. My review.
LeapFrog Word Whammer Fridge Phonics Set
Another winner from Leapfrog. Fun way to learn letters and build
simple words.
CD: Meltdown! (Justin Roberts)
Clever lyrics with sound along the lines of kiddie James Taylor with a
soupçon of Paul Simon.
Baby Bjorn Bib
Comfy despite being made out of soft, molded plastic. Catches all
drips, rinses clean.
David Borgenicht: How to Con Your Kid: Simple Scams for Mealtime,
Bedtime, Bathtime -- Anytime!
This book puts a playful spin on the creative ways in which we get our
kids to see things our way. From the same publisher as The Baby
Owner's Manual, a Parent Hacks favorite.
Robie H. Harris: It's So Amazing: A Book About Eggs, Sperm, Birth,
Babies, and Families
Sex ed (and much more) for kids. Cartoon illustration and friendly
dialogue keep it light but never patronizing.
DVD: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (Hayao Miyazaki)
Nausicaa heads the list of my favorite strong princess characters.
DVD: Portland at Play
Visiting or relocating to our fair City of Roses? Friend and
mamapreneur Robyn Taylor Barbon of Folklore Media produced this award-
winning DVD that shows off a full range of Portland's great indoor and
outdoor family activities.
Sanjay Patel: The Little Book of Hindu Deities: From the Goddess of
Wealth to the Sacred Cow
Pixar animator Patel introduces kids to Ganesha and the Gang. (Thanks
for the heads-up, Patti.)
Lise Eliot: What's Going on in There? : How the Brain and Mind Develop
in the First Five Years of Life
Very popular book with Parent Hacks readers. Here's a snippet.
Sabuda and Reinhart: Encyclopedia Prehistorica Sharks and Other Sea
Monsters: The Definitive Pop-Up
If you've never seen a Sabuda pop-up book, do yourself a favor and get
thee to a bookstore. The illustration and complicated engineering is
unparalleled. Good book for older kids.
Ann Douglas: Sleep Solutions for Your Baby, Toddler and Preschooler:
The Ultimate No-Worry Approach for Each Age and Stage (Mother of All
Solutions)
The best sleep book. Period. My review.
Captain Bogg and Salty: Pegleg Tango
My daughter calls it "yar-har music," I call it awesome. My review of
a recent live show.
Children's EarPlanes
If your kid's ears hurt as the airplane begins its descent, try these
soft earplugs. We've had mixed results -- helped one kid, didn't help
the other -- but I know parents who swear by them.
Roger Price: Super Silly Mad Libs Junior
Giggles while learning grammar. My review.
Nava Atlas: Everyday Traditions: Simple Family Rituals for Connection
and Comfort
Down-to-earth ideas for integrating simple rituals into family life.
My review.
William C. Martin: The Parent's Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for
Modern Parents : A New Interpretation
A soothing reminder to slow down, listen, accept, and simplify.
Audrey Penn: The Kissing Hand
A comforting, gentle story for little ones anxious about spending time
away from home. Ideal for kids first heading off to school, day care,
a field trip, or a sleepover.
Cornelia Funke: The Princess Knight
The perfect counterpoint to all those wimpy princesses. Booklist
Editor's Choice, Books for Youth Awards.
Leapster Multimedia Learning System
Both our kids (3 and almost 7) love this educational handheld game --
despite the allure of the Gameboy DS.
Healthy Care Booster Seat
Better than a highchair -- this doesn't hog the floor space in your
kitchen and it's easy to clean.
Catherine Newman: Waiting for Birdy: A Year of Frantic Tedium,
Neurotic Angst, and the Wild Magic of Growing a Family
"Funny" doesn't even begin to describe this enthralling motherhood
tale. Good thing she has a blog, too.
Lynne Truss: Eats, Shoots & Leaves: Why, Commas Really Do Make a
Difference!
I read the grownup version of this book and adored it. This picture
book gives 4-8 year-olds the opportunity to appreciate a well-placed
comma.
Strollometer
Nifty stroller odometer and speedometer. Here's our post.
Joan Blades, Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner: The Motherhood Manifesto
A well-researched agenda that lays out how we can join together to
advocate for common-sense, family-friendly policies. In conjunction
with
Momsrising.org.
Andrea Buchanan (Editor): It's a Girl: Women Writers on Raising
Daughters
Be sure to read the comments generated by my review -- one of the best
discussions I've been a part of around kids and gender.
Andrea Buchanan (Editor): It's a Boy: Women Writers on Raising Sons
Here's my review.
Andrea Buchanan and Amy Hudock (Editors): Literary Mama: Reading for
the Maternally Inclined
My review.
Lynley Dodd: Hairy Maclary And Zachary Quack
Clever, lyrical rhymes make this book a pleasure to read out loud.
Case Logic Auto "Litter Chute"
Keeps the car free of granola bar wrappers. The real thing doesn't
look like a uterus and fallopian tubes, as this picture does.
Swissmar Borner V-Slicer Plus
Makes perfect sushi carrots. Kids also appreciate thinly-sliced
vegies, which this does flawlessly.
Dr. Seuss: Horton Hears a Who
The first book that changed my world. If an entire civilization could
live on a speck of dust, then...
LeapStart Learning Table
Nice, jazzy music. Great for when babies start standing.
Swimmy... and More Classic Leo Lionni Stories (Scholastic Video
Collection)
Swimmy, "It's Mine!", Frederick the Mouse and other stories, all done
in magical animation that brings the books to life.
Cooshie Booster & Travel Bag
Comfy, lightweight, simple.
Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Animals
With step-by-step instructions consisting of lines and simple shapes,
Ed Emberley shows kids how to draw an amazing array of real and
imagined animals. My review.
Mollie Katzen: Salad People And More Real Recipes: A New Cookbook for
Preschoolers & Up
Followup to the adorable Pretend Soup, this is kid-friendly cooking at
its best.
Christie Mellor: The Three Martini Playdate: A Practical Guide to
Happy Parenting
Three Parent Hacks readers said this was their favorite parenting
book.
Paul Scharff: The Two Kings: A Chess Story, How to Play and a Fold-Out
Chess Set
Chess instruction through clever storytelling and beautiful
illustrations. My review.
Aquadoodle
Draw with water.
William Kotzwinkle: Walter, the Farting Dog
Requested daily when our son was four.
Apple 30 GB Video iPod
You know you want one. For the kids, of course. Here's why.
My Neighbor Totoro (2-Disc Set) (DVD)
The best Miyazaki film for little ones. Gorgeous animation depicting
rural Japanese life. My thoughts on two other favorites, Kiki's
Delivery Service and Nausicaa.
Ellyn Satter: Child of Mine: Feeding With Love and Good Sense
Common sense approach to feeding babies, kids, and teens. Bottom line:
don't make it a power struggle. My review.
Louis, M.D. Borgenicht: The Baby Owner's Manual: Operating
Instructions, Trouble-Shooting Tips, and Advice on First-Year
Maintenance
Parenting tips for geeks. Here's what two Parent Hacks readers say
about the book.
Wendy Mogel: The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to
Raise Self-Reliant Children
Highly recommended. My review.
Ian Falconer: Olivia
We never tire of this pig with an attitude.
Jo Anne Nordling: Taking Charge: Caring Discipline That Works -- At
Home and at School (Third Edition)
Firm but loving, and very common sensical.
Turecki/Tonner: The Difficult Child : Expanded and Revised Edition
Unfortunate title, but the content is excellent, straightforward, and
non-judgemental.
BabyBjorn City Black Carrier
Hands-free parenting.
