Talking to Kids in Difficult Times: Children's CD and Activity Book Are Excellent Tools

19 March 2003

How do we talk to our children about a war? How do we encourage them to talk to us? How do we keep our younger children from being exposed to the violent images and descriptions of violence on television and radio? These are the hot topics that major media is discussing daily with experts.

Rounder Records and Redleaf Press have two very accessible tools to help parents, teachers and children in this process. Changing Channels is a GRAMMY nominated collection of songs that help to nurture media-smart kids. It's a musical tool-bag of fun, witty, emotional and (above all) very singable songs, enjoyable for child, parent and teacher. Its accompanying book on Redleaf Press offers a series of hands on lesson plans for teachers and parents to offer fuller understanding of the topics covered.

Songs include:

"Talk to Me"- A mother and a young child affirm that they can always talk to each other about difficult things, scary things, and any time they need help

"Turn It Off, Change the Channel, Leave the Room"- Not an anti-television anthem, but a tool for very young children when something they didn't intend to watch-a news flash, a wrong channel, or any images they don't feel good about. Very young children should not be exposed to the ongoing pictures of war in progress.

Changing Channels is one tool that provides concrete direction around these situations:
-How can we work with children to use words instead of fists and weapons?
-How can we help children differentiate between real heroes and heroines and TV superheroes who solve problems violently with toy weapons?

While having fun, kids, parents and teachers delve into important topics of creative conflict resolution, anger management, critical viewing and communication skills with songs like: "Use a Word" and "Count to Ten and Try Again".

Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer have garnered an astonishing 25 national awards – including 6 GRAMMY Award nominations – for their last six recordings alone. Their ability to help kids, parents and teachers communicate through music has been the centerpiece of their work.

• The Today Show had Cathy & Marcy perform songs from Changing Channels live with an audience of children
• Peggy Charren of "Action for Children's Television" loved Changing Channels and invited Cathy & Marcy to sing some of the songs at the National Press Club for the Annenberg Center's Children's Television Conference
• Changing Channels was nominated for a GRAMMY Award for "Best Recorded Music for Children"
• Changing Channels received the Early Childhood News Directors Choice Award
• The album and artists were featured on NPR's Public Interest