Politically Correct "WINTER" music- HELP!

[TenThousandVolts]

I need music for a "winter" party for 4-5 year olds. It is in a public school- I need suggestions for non-denominational Winter songs- or I would feel ok using "Christmas" songs as long as I add songs to represent thew witer holidays of other religions. So suggestions for any of these types of songs would be great. Please help!

 

[Mom2micayla]

Frosty the snowman
Winter Wonderland

I'm sure there are loads more but those are the first 2 that come to mind.

 

[harleyquinn]

Jingle Bells

 

[hinodis]

Wow, that is really sad. I am glad we have Christmas in our school. My son's coach prays with the team every day before practice. I did not realize schools were like that. That being said, how about all instumental music? That way there would be no offensive lyrics. Maybe the CD from rudoulph?

Merry Christmas

 

[englishteacha]

Most of the "Christmas" songs we hear on the radio aren't really about the religious aspects of Christmas. Frosty, Winter Wonderland, Sleigh Ride, Jingle Bells, Rudolph, Home for the Holidays. There are also some great instrumentals out there, too.

 

[drcmk]

This is not that hard at all. We do it for our school parties every year. I am proud that our school parties can be so inclusive and make all of the children feel welcome.

We include music from the Nutcracker Suite and winter themed songs like "Let it Snow," "Walking in a Winter Wonderland." One year we did a fiesta and played Mexican music (Mexican hat dance) instead of winter music. We also include year round party songs like the Chicken Dance, Hokey Pokey, Bunny Hop, Hopkinson

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Wow, that is really sad.

Merry Christmas

Actually- I expect it to be a very happy occasion and I want to be sure no child feels left out. I guess it is just all in how you look at it.

Thanks for all the suggestions everybody!

 

[ceecee]

DD has several kids CDs (Mickey!) and they are all kid songs that don't touch on religion. Several years ago, DD's class let someone come in and explain the jewish holiday (gave each kid a toy dreidel) to the class, I joking said to DD "can I come in and talk about baby jesus?" She asked the teacher!!! She said no religion in school! We couldn't even have Santa hats! Things have been less stringent now, I think we had a parent complain and there were several kids that were not allowed to attend holiday partys, they have since moved on to middle school. Sometimes I think it's going overboard, like the kids will even notice the music at a party.

 

[Matt'sMom]

Our favorite is...

the soundtrack CD for "A Charlie Brown Christmas" by the Vince Guaraldi Trio.

It is mostly instrumentals, and very festive without being too over the top. I could listen to this music for hours. And all the kids I know (preschool through preteen) seem to love it as well. Playing time is 40:23.

 

[HayGan]

Here is the song list from my kids holiday program. They touched on virtually all of the winter holidays.

A Holiday to Remember - John Jacobson
A Marshmallow World - Sigman and DeRose
Jingle Bells - James Pierpont
One More Candle - Emerson and Jacobson
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Sears and Willis
Mister Santa - Pat Ballard
Hip Hop Reindeer - Teresa Jennings
The Christmas Sock Rock - Jacobson and Huff
All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth - Don Gaardner
Este Es La Navidad - Mike Wilson
Happy Kwanza - Peggy Calloway
Believe - Ballard and Silvestri

My favorites were Hip Hop Reindeer and The Christmas Sock Rock. They were so cute! I think they did a great job trying to include everyone's beliefs and traditions in the program.

 

[livndisney]

Wow, that is really sad. I am glad we have Christmas in our school. My son's coach prays with the team every day before practice. I did not realize schools were like that. That being said, how about all instumental music? That way there would be no offensive lyrics. Maybe the CD from rudoulph?

Merry Christmas

I agree. I worked at a school a few years ago where we we not allowed to do ANYTHING Christmas. No tree, santa NOTHING. Yet some of the other religions parents were allowed to come in to talk about their holidays and make holiday food.

Merry Christmas!

 

[Cindy B]

Winter themed music

Frosty
Jingle Bells
Winter Wonderland
Sleigh Ride
Jingle Bell Rock
Marshmellow World
Here Comes Suzy Snowflake

These are a few our our favorite things
Snoopy and Red Baron song

Any Nutcracker music--that way, you can expose the students to classical music as well.


We can't have Santa or anything like that either. All paper products need to be snowman or snowflake.

I don't mind hearing about other religions though. I think its great to expose others to different cultures.

 

[boyohboyx3]

I love hearing about everyone's religious beliefs. I sang dreidel songs in elementary school and still remember them! Not to mention my voice teacher whi is Jewish takes all her students Christmas caroling every year!!! She loves Christmas songs! I think it's fine to sing any Holiday songs.

 

[dzorn]

I did just buy a Mickey Christmas cd at target. Kenny G also has a Christmas Cd. All instrumental so no lyrics, some of the songs are religous but since no lyrics you would never know it.

Denise in MI

 

[Imzadi]

Mannheim Steamroller has his assortment of Christmas tunes.

http://shop.mannheimsteamroller.com/

Turn the sound up on your speakers.

 

[Cindy B]

Let it Snow
Baby Its cold outside

 

[littleshamrock]

Let it Snow
Baby Its cold outside

I don't feel that "Baby It's Cold Outside" is an appropriate song for 4-5 year olds. If you listen to the lyrics, the guy is pressuring a girl to stay with him (after she says no a few times), she's says "Say, what's in this drink?", and so on....

Actually, I'm not picking on your post...it's just that I work at TCP, and we have at least 5 different versions of this song on our holiday CD. We call it the "sexual-harrassment" song.....

 

[littleshamrock]

I just also wanted to add that I feel that it is NOT sad to make every child feel like they can celebrate this time of year. Just because the majority of people celebrate Christmas doesn't mean that the few that don't should be left out. I think it's great that the OP asked for help. Winter-y songs can bring out the "Christmas" (or whatever) in any of us....

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

I think it's wonderful of you for trying to include everyone. I'm an elementary school music teacher, and I try to include everyone, rather then exclude anyone. We celebrate with hanukkah, christmas, and kwanzaa songs. this year we focused on the story of the nutcracker and used the new york city ballet's dvd performance...the students loved it!

 

[Cindy B]

I don't feel that "Baby It's Cold Outside" is an appropriate song for 4-5 year olds. If you listen to the lyrics, the guy is pressuring a girl to stay with him (after she says no a few times), she's says "Say, what's in this drink?", and so on....

Actually, I'm not picking on your post...it's just that I work at TCP, and we have at least 5 different versions of this song on our holiday CD. We call it the "sexual-harrassment" song.....

I guess you're right.

I just happened to hear a portion of it today on the way home and I don't remember the drink part.

I suggested the Nutcracker earlier. That would be a good choice.