Kids songs. Any parent will tell you how incredibly frustrating it can be to have to listen to the same song over and over again to keep the kids from getting crazy…and then continuing to hear that song in their heads for the rest of eternity as they walk down the grocery aisle humming to themselves, knowing this addictive and annoying song hasn’t been heard in weeks.

Thankfully, not all kids music is created equal. In fact, Down By the River is a CD full of songs you might actually want to listen to yourself. The songs are all about teaching values to your kids, and actually open up a platform to let you talk to your kids and help them learn.

Watch this short little video with the artist & creator Vickie, to get a great understanding of the people behind this CD:

We really love the track “Down By the River.” Mackenzie was dancing around and hopping all over the house while I played it. Unfortunately she’s still obsessed with watching herself in the camera which is a bit complicated if she won’t stand in front of it — but trust me, it was FABULOUS! “The Little Girl Song” is also quite cute. And I think “I Have A Voice” is a nice song — but Mack is really just partial to “Down by the River.” I think the animal noises really grab her. 😉 The whole CD has a slightly country feel to it, without really being country.

There are lesson plans and coloring pages for all of the songs on the CD, which really make it ideal for teachers and homeschoolers. Each topic that is discussed in the songs is more closely analyzed in these work along lessons, with ideas for kids preschool age to 1st graders, as well as slightly older elementary school kids. Each lesson not only helps the kids to understand the subject of the song better and what it’s teaching, but also creates a fun way for parents and teachers to interact with their kids through the music.

I actually just learned today that a second CD is already in the works! Check out the Down By the River FB page to catch a glimpse of the singers in action!

If you want to hear the some of the songs from Down By the River, download printable coloring pages and explore the lesson plans , hop over to KidsValues.com now for a free sneak peak.

And from now until December 1st, Children’s Values Schoolhouse is offering an exclusive 25% discount for all NOH readers! Just enter the code DBTR25 when you check out to save on every item they offer.

This would be a great gift for anyone you know with kids as well as teachers.

Down By the River CD kids

 The Giveaway

I’m excited to have the opportunity to not only get to tell you about this fun collection of music, but I also get to give some of it away! The winner of this giveaway will receive a $35 gift certificate to use on any of the products in the Down By the River shop — which means you can choose from story books, lesson materials, CDs or digital music, or even just the instrumental tracks.

down by the river kids cd

How to Enter

Main entry (required)

Open to residents worldwide! You must answer this first before you complete any other entries.

***What is your all time favorite kids song? Or one that you just can never shake?***

Additional Entries (12 extra total)

(each of these will count as one extra entry — please be sure to leave an extra comment for each one that you complete)

  • “Like” or share this giveaway on Facebook (you must first “like” NOH on Facebook)
  • “Like” Down By the River on Facebook (leave them a little love while you’re there)
  • Subscribe to (and confirm your subscription to) the Kids Values newsletter (upper right corner of all site pages)
  • Subscribe to (and confirm your subscription to) one or both of the NOH newsletters (right side of blog)
  • Follow me on Twitter
  • Follow NOH on Google follow (right side of blog — please leave your username on GFC in your comment)
  • Retweet this giveaway (please use @tiffany_mue in your tweet) – You can retweet this daily until the contest ends, but please remember to leave a comment each day for your extra tweet. For example: Love this CD for #kids ! Hoping I win a copy of Down By the River via @tiffany_mueh http://ow.ly/7soah #giveaway #music 11/20 

If you already follow, “like”, subscribe, etc. you can still count these as extra entries…you do not need to subscribe again or refollow. Just leave your comment for each entry below.

If you have questions about any of this, please just drop me an email (tiffany at noordinaryhomestead.com) or leave a comment below.

**Why so many ways to enter? By growing the following of NOH, you are helping me to let other companies know you are out there reading and participating. Acknowledging your presence helps me to secure more partnerships for the future so you have even more chances to win incredible prizes!

The contest will be open until midnight EST, Sunday, November 20th, 2011. 

Winner Selection

One winner will be chosen via the WordPress plug And the Winner Is… .

The winner will be contacted via email and have 48 hours to respond. If I do not receive a reply, another winner will be drawn. The winner will be announced on NOH after confirmation.

Note: Opinions of this product expressed in this post are my own. I received a free copy of  CD to listen to and review, but have not been compensated in any other way. The product being given away has also been provided at the cost of Children’s Values Schoolhouse.