It’s not summer without a great playlist to listen to. Here is a curated list of some of the best, uplifting albums and music to bring joy to kids all summer long.
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Published
It’s not summer without a great playlist to listen to. Here is a curated list of some of the best, uplifting albums and music to bring joy to kids all summer long.
For more product reviews visit nappaawards.com
Published
Summer is finally here! Our friends at NAPPA Awards have all your summer must-haves covered in their annual Summer Fun & Travel Guide filled with amazing products for you and your kids. The guide includes over 90 NAPPA Award-winning products that have been tested and evaluated. It features water toys for fun in the sun, games and puzzles to challenge your mind, books for summer reading, music for a rockin’ playlist and travel gear for comfort on the go.
NAPPA Awards is a family-focused brand with a mission to “showcase the best toys, learning tools, games, books, music, baby, family and home products.” It has been serving families for more than 31 years.
For even more product reviews, check out nappaawards.com
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Jonathan Jonah and Matthew Shapiro, or Jonny and Matty, became best friends at the age of six when they started playing music together. Fast forward years later, after exploring different paths, the two found themselves spending a lot of time exploring music together and navigating parent life in L.A. It became clear to them that writing their own children’s music was the perfect way to combine their musicianship, friendship and fatherhood. They created The BeatBuds, a family-friendly music project that has grown into a fully functioning mobile and virtual international music operation, including school performances, birthday parties, charity events and, most recently, a brand-new animated preschool series on Nickelodeon “The BeatBuds, Let’s Jam!”
We got the opportunity to talk to Jonny and Matty about music, parenting and growing up in L.A.
Where in L.A. did you both grow up?
Jonny: We both grew up in L.A. We met in elementary school at the age of 6 years old at a school right in the heart of the city. L.A. has always been our home.
What is it like to raise your own kids in L.A.?
Matty: To this day I don’t see myself living anywhere else and naturally I feel the same way about where I’m raising my kiddos. L.A.’s diversity, proximity and weather is unmatched and why my wife and I chose to raise our kids just a few blocks from where we grew up. And of course, it feels great to be able to actually show them on a daily basis where we went to school, parks we played at, legendary venues that Jonny and I rocked out at, houses I’ve lived at, not to mention the incredible landmarks we have right here in our great city. L.A. just feels right.
How did you both first get involved with music?
Jonny: I started playing guitar around the age of 6, idolizing artists like Elvis Presley. My family was very musical. Both my Dad and sister played classical piano by ear, and you should hear my Mom sing “Amazing Grace.” Matty gravitated to the drums around the age of 12 and also came from a musical family. His father was a great guitar player with an awesome guitar collection and great taste in music. Almost immediately after Matty got his first drum kit, I grabbed my guitar and amp and we set up in the basement and jammed “Knocking On Heaven’s Door” for about 5 hours straight! Our poor parents and neighbors! Hahaha. And that was the start of our musical journey together, playing in bands, touring the country and later internationally as well, honing our skills and building our bond as best ‘buds.’ But even earlier than that, there’s probably evidence on a VHS tape in a dusty box in my garage where you can see video footage of Matty and me in our second grade talent show, playing air-guitar on tennis rackets and running around like maniacs to a Huey Lewis song. Our love for playing music together goes back almost as far as the beginning of our friendship.
What is the best way to introduce young kids to music?
Matty: Full immersion into the music experience at an early age is by far the best way. If they can hear it, see it, and feel it in their entire body, they quickly realize its power and become an immediate music lover. In The BeatBuds, our main goal is to introduce kids to the joys of music through fun songs and a memorable early age music experience that provides them a creative outlet that can last a lifetime. It certainly has for us.
What is the most memorable moment you’ve had performing for young audiences in L.A.? Any surprises or funny moments?
Jonny: We do these large scale concerts called “The BeatBASH” with a full band of up to seven other musicians so that we can perform the BeatBuds songs the way they’re produced and sound on our albums with a ton of instrumentation. 1,500 kids and families in a venue, all rocking out with us, followed by a giant carnival outside in the parking lot after the show. It’s just the best feeling to see so many smiles from kids and their parents as the entire family enjoys the experience together. As for funny moments, Matty and I think we’re the funniest guys in the world, so everything is funny!! But that might be a biased opinion. I do recall performing our song “The Froggy Hop” at the Palladium in L.A. to a sold-out house, when suddenly, our special guest “Frankie The Frog” (aka: our third best friend from childhood, Amir) jumped and hopped so enthusiastically that his froggy head fell off. Then when he put it back on, it was backwards! That was definitely a laugh out loud moment for us on stage where the three of us could barely contain our laughter and get through the rest of the song.
What’s your favorite way to spend a weekend in L.A. with your family?
Matty: Well, amongst all the birthday parties, classes, and events we do on the weekends, I have to be super creative to fit in family time, but I’d say a quick lunch pickup from our favorite sandwich shop, Toni’s Deli of North Hollywood, before we head over to the L.A. Zoo for some animal appreciation is a great start. We like to follow that up with a scenic hike in Fryman Canyon to work up a strong appetite for some of L.A.’s most rockin’ Mediterranean food from Pita Kitchen. If we can get all that done, amongst a visit with extended family, a trip to the home improvement store and a couple dog walks, it’s been a fun-filled weekend!
What do you do for fun around the city?
Jonny: My family does a lot of play dates right now at family and friend’s homes with the kids. We have a 3-year-old so our fun is really all about his fun. We take lots of afternoon trips to hiking trails and parks, we hit the beach whenever we can, we love the pony rides at Griffith Park and the train (when it comes back), we swim every single day, ice cream adventures to McConnell’s and Pink Berry (heavy on the toppings), and my wife and I have just recently begun getting back into dinners together every now and then.
All 10 episodes of “The BeatBuds, Let’s Jam!” are available on the Nick Jr. YouTube channels and Nick Jr. On Demand.
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While every day is a great day to show your love and appreciation for your kids, Valentine’s Day gives all of us a wonderful opportunity to express our feelings — and nothing says love more than kindness. With the help of our friends at NAPPA Awards, we are celebrating kindness and positivity all year long by showcasing books, music and other great products that will bring joy and connection to your family and remind us that we need to be kind to ourselves, to each other, to our community and to our world.
Let’s start with all the moms who always put everyone else first. We know this past year has not been easy, parenting through a pandemic, that’s why we love KindNotes. These beautiful jars of 31 handcrafted messages, enclosed in mini decorative envelopes, combine the charm of handwritten notes with positive affirmations perfect for a little pick-me up. Comes in a variety of designs and themes and can be customized. Starting at $34.95, kindnotes.com
And we think every mom deserves some quiet time to reflect and recharge. MamaZen Mindful Parenting App provides the perfect space to relieve stress, fatigue and anxiety using a combination of meditation, hypnotherapy and mindfulness . The 150 brief audio sessions (5-15 min) cover common topics among moms. 30-day free trial, then $14.99/month, mamazen.com
We know you’re going to love these recent NAPPA Award winners as much as we do. Music is such a wonderful source of well-being and the messages of kindness in these songs are universal and great for all ages.
Cheery, charming and energetic songs celebrate the simple joys of life, while also delivering positive messages of empowerment, courage and strength. Packed with lyrical wisdom centering on creating meaningful relationships and experiences. $9.99, staceypeasley.com
A heartfelt tribute album featuring classic songs performed by award winning artists. Highlights include the spirited Latin rhythms on Jaci Velasquez’s playful take of “You Can Never Go Down The Drain,” Jon Secada’s Spanish interpretation of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” and actress/singer Rita Wilson, whose husband Tom Hanks wonderfully portrayed Fred Rogers in the movie, provides a tender rendition of “Sometimes People Are Good.” $10.95, thankyoumisterrogers.com
Featuring Nashville-based songwriter/multi-instrumentalist, a Brooklyn-based, fiddle-playing child psychiatrist and an array of acclaimed Americana performers in a captivating and upbeat debut album filled with songs and skits touching on a variety of topics—making new friends, coping with failure, learning a new language, dealing with emotions and bullying. Invites listeners to think deeply on feelings and emotions that come with growing up, while focusing on resilience. $14.98, folkways.si.edu
Find a cozy nook and start reading together. Beautiful illustrations and words will inspire you to be in awe of nature and all the creatures around us. There is so much to be thankful for if we just take a look around and really notice.
The lyrical wordplay encourages children to explore their surroundings and notice the subtle sensations within their bodies, all while helping them develop their daily mindfulness practice. Written and illustrated by women of color and featuring diverse characters. $12, ages birth-4, bounlesblooms.com
Celebrates the community we share through nature and the diverse animals and plants that call the river home. Includes beautiful illustrations, a wide array of information, ideas on how to protect our waterways and space to draw and describe river animals and scenes. $15, ages 2-8, years, beautifulworldbooks.com
A curated collection of children’s stories celebrating the timeless power of kindness to make the world a gentler, safer and even more loving place by author and highly-respected folklorist, Margaret Read MacDonald. $16.95, ages 6-10, augusthouse.com
A 120-page picture book for young readers to discover the world, embrace its diversity and go on adventures near and far, all from the comfort of their home. Featuring 30 stories with buddies from different countries, followed by a 2-page activity snapshot on each culture. $35, ages 4-9, worldwidebuddies.com
To teach our kids about their big feelings is a true gift. Sit together, talk and use these creative and colorful cards to enhance your child’s social emotional learning.
A colorful card deck featuring 48 simple yoga and mindfulness practices to help kids work through big emotions on and off the mat. Eight color-coded categories include anger, worry, excitement, sadness, joy, jealousy, shame and peace. Includes a practice booklet. $19.95, ages 5+, Shambhala.com
Easy-to-follow guided exercises blending mindfulness meditation and empowering affirmations to build emotional intelligence and encourage kids to tap into the present moment and their unique strengths. Includes mindful tips booklet. $30, ages 2+, boundlessblooms.world
It is through play that kids learn about life. Give them a world filled with imagination, kindness, love and generosity.
Join Poppy and Pawley on their journey filled with friendship, kindness, and lots of fun as they spread kindness through Sharewood Forest. $34.99, ages 3+, plushible.com
A group of huggable BFFs living that sweet caring life. Perfect for unlimited bear hugs and ready for you to take on your adventures of sharing and caring. Comes with a collectible Care Coin to spark on conversation and action on everyday acts of kindness. $14.99, ages 4+, Walmart.com
Enter a magical world filled with friendship and sharing. Each friend comes with an adorable outfit, pajama set and reusable packaging that unfolds into a unique playscape, where kindness grows as large as the mighty oak and spreads like wildflowers. $34.99, ages 2-4, sharewoodfriends.com
For more product reviews visit nappaawards.com
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