Music You Won't Hate

I might make several thousand parenting mistakes a day, but one area I think I've done OK in is guiding my children's musical tastes.

Some of it has been motivated by the preservation of my own sanity. Sure, we've done a little "I love you; you love me" singing (Barney knows a catchy melody when he hears one in his big, purple head). And Kate has her share of Disney/Hannah Montana/Jonas Brothers CDs in her collection. But her lullaby CD of choice? Bob Marley's B is for Bob album. Her go-to dance tune? "Twist and Shout" from the Beatles. The song runs to when her little brother is bugging her? "Brain Stew" from Green Day.

And Jack, I'm proud to say, appears to be equally evolved. He loves "Robot Parade" from They Might Be Giants, and, surprisingly, a somewhat sedate little ditty from a band called Wilco called "White Light."

Of course, a lot of our "grownup" music has a PG rating (four-letter words can't always be avoided). But like so many other parents, our quest is to find music that strikes a note with the entire family.

That's how husband Steve stumbled onto a podcast/blog/radio show called Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child. Midwest-based dad Bill Childs has created a kid-safe music haven that is packed with great tunes, running commentary from him and his adorable daughter Ella, interviews with musicians and a range of mini-interviews from kid callers (Kate made it on the show last year, which thrilled her to no end).

Steve downloads the podcast and often plays it during the commute to school, which helps him avoid the not-so-kid-friendly L.A. morning radio and starts everyone's day off right.

So check it out, and help your music-loving kid tune in and turn onto some fresh, independent musicians. Believe me, Barney will become a distant memory before you know it.