Kids and parents different on the style of music they like. In this episode of The Lab, the dads ask if there is cool music that children and parents can tolerate. Daddy Brad travels to the ABC Toy Expo and finds a CD from Putumayo that may do the trick. These CDs are musical compilations that feature songs from many well known artists and musicians. Children's music that everyone can agree on, and a great soundtrack for families. DadLabs ep. 74 The Lab.

DADDY CLAY: To be young and male in America is to live life with a soundtrack.

DADDY BRAD: Music is a key part of just about any young American male’s life.

DADDY CLAY: And you are young as long as you can roll those windows down and crank the tunes.

DADDY BRAD: So how the hell did you end up in a minivan with a Barney CD dribbling from the speakers?

DADDY CLAY: I’m Daddy Clay.

DADDY BRAD: And I’m Daddy Brad. And today we’re in the DadLab talking about music and kids.

DADDY CLAY: The soundtrack that accompanies most guys lives takes its first hit when you get married. Suddenly her Shania Twain CDs are mixed in with your Van Halen. That’s okay. You can handle the change in rotation, because you handle the playlist most of the time.

DADDY BRAD: Then kids come along, and if you’re not careful, before you know it your sonic world is turned upside-down. Our feeling here at the DadLabs is that you need to set ground rules for music right away.

DADDY CLAY: I’ll admit right off that I am not a fan of kids music. I appreciate that little kids sometimes struggle to hit the high notes in (XYZ) so they need something that can sing along with. My rule is that kids music comes out of kids players, like this one, and dad’s music comes out of dad’s players and that includes the one in the car!

DADDY BRAD: One note on kiddy players while they are relatively cheap (this unit costs XYZ), they go through batteries like poop through a goose.

DADDY CLAY: And most have eject buttons that kids love to press, so I try to put the player out of reach when the child is listening.

DADDY BRAD: Now in out house, we do listen to a bit more kids music. What I really love is when one of my favorite artists comes out with kids album.

DADDY CLAY: Now we think we may have discovered just about the perfect compromise while at the ABC kids Expo in Las Vegas.

DADDY BRAD: Daddy Troy, roll that Vegas tape.

DADDY BRAD: Do you listen to kids music with your kids? Can you suffer through purple dinosaurs over and over? The folks at Putumayo music have solved that. These are great CDs with wonderful cool artists and it’s music that your kids will like as well. We’re here with Mona. Want to tell us about these CDs?

MONA: Our CDs focus on introducing families to music from all around the world. They are compilation based with a mix of well known and unknown artists all on one CD.

DADDY BRAD: This one is New Orleans Playground with a bunch of great people –Clifton Chenier, The Meters, Kermit Ruffins. I hear that some of this goes to help –

MONA: Yes, it benefits the Louisiana Children’s Museum so one percent of the proceeds from every single children’s album goes to a charity.

DADDY BRAD: Thanks.

DADDY CLAY: Now my oldest is only eight, but he already has his iPod shuffle filled with a style of music that I’m not crazy about, but I don’t say anything.

DADDY BRAD: That would seal the deal.

DADDY CLAY: Because I remember that I couldn’t stand my Dad’s Willie Nelson, but now, I really have a soft spot for it.

DADDY BRAD: So it’s important to give the kids music they find accessible so they feel comfortable with it, but it’s really important that you fill the house with the music you love.

DADDY CLAY: Maybe they’ll some back to it some day. The soundtrack of their childhood.

DADDY BRAD: So the next time you’re in the minivan...crank it up, baby!