Regular ParentDish readers might remember this recent article on music CDs aimed at entertaining children whilst remaining tolerable - even enjoyable - for adults. Teaching children to sing along to the music on the CD can teach rhythm and tempo, along with helping them improve their speech and vocabulary.
Two busy mums have realised the benefits of this activity and created their range of musical products, under the brand of babyboomboom. The range is focused on not only developing a baby's or toddler's grasp of the English language, but also of developing an understanding of a second language.
Twinkle Twinkle...Petite étoile
Babyboomboom offers their product range in a variety of languages including French, Spanish, German, Italian and Polish. The basic concept is that the musical CD plays a well known nursery rhyme in English, such as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and each verse is repeated in the alternative language. The CDs would be a great option for a long car journey, keeping children occupied and helping adults remember a few basics of their GCSE French!
'Band Bags'
The product range also includes a couple of different 'band-bags', which contain a collection of four musical instruments for children to play. The two ranges cover the ages of 6 months+ and 3 years+ and are perfectly shaped for little hands. The cute characters on each instrument are an added bonus. A great idea for the home, though it's probably best to stick to the CD for the long car journeys to visit the grandparents...
'Future Aspirations'
Whilst their range doesn't claim to make your child a multi-linguist genius by the age of 3, it does claim to help young children understand the different sounds of alternative languages. Babyboomboom also suggest it can help encourage children to want to study languages as they grow up, a benefit in an increasingly multicultural environment.