About the Preschool CD

Songs for the Coolest Kids is a 15-track CD by husband-and-wife kiddie entertainers Princess Katie and Racer Steve (Kathleen O'Sullivan and Steve Borne). This musical tribute to children incorporates several genres of music -- from country to rock 'n' roll -- and really gets your children moving and dancing. The couple also performs a few comical skits throughout as well. The themes of many of songs are every day lessons that may not always be learned in the classroom, and your preschooler can use them as they grow up and make new friends. It is energetic and exciting, and overall, children and adults will enjoy this CD.

From the Reviewer

When I put this CD on, I got an "expert" in the field of music and dancing to help me out with my review -- my 5-year-old preschooler. By following her leads -- and at times my almost 2-year-old's as well -- I discovered that Songs for the Coolest Kids is really a great CD. It is energetic, fun and a great way to learn some life lessons such as being honest (Tell the Truth), sharing emotions with others (Tell Them how you Feel) and helping others to be kind (Kings and Princesses).

I love the fact that at times this music reminds me of the rock 'n' roll music I grew up with -- the B-52s come to mind -- and that some of the lyrics are directed to the parents/adults listening: "Here is John, a prince of peace. He taught us to imagine that love is all we need." (Kings and Princesses). In this same song, besides the musician and activist John Lennon, Princess Katie also speaks about civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and Princess Diana of Wales, and how they led nonviolent lives and showed kindness to others. What a great lesson to teach preschoolers in today's world when television and print news, music and movies are inundated with violence and other messages.

Learning Some Life Lessons

Teaching a child to open up about his/her feelings to another is something that isn't necessarily taught alongside of the ABCs and 123s. But on Songs for the Coolest Kids, this lesson (Tell Them How You Feel) is shared along with many others. Trying is Winning shows children that winners come in all shapes and sizes and that simply just trying is important too. Children can also learn that Worrying is Boring and keeping items that belong to someone else (It's Not Mine) is wrong too.

Ear-catching

One thing is for sure, your child will not be bored listening to the CD. Put Songs for the Coolest Kids in your car and even the short skits will keep your preschooler entertained for an entire trip. The sing-song rhyme of the songs and skits will even stay on your mind long after you get back home. "I feel happy... I feel sad..." (Tell Them How

Helpful Tips for Parents

• Outdoor activities should be a daily priority year-round. Research consistently links outdoor time to better attention, mood, and sleep in preschoolers.

• Narrate what your child is doing during activities: "You're sorting the red blocks from the blue ones." This vocabulary exposure accelerates language development.

• The clean-up is part of the activity. Involve children in restoring the space — it develops responsibility and makes future activities easier to launch.

• Photograph your child's activity setups and creations — the photo record becomes a source of pride and helps children revisit and extend earlier play ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a preschooler's activity session last?

Most preschoolers engage most deeply in 20–40 minute activity windows. Shorter sessions don't allow for the warming-up and deepening that makes activities richest; longer ones risk overtiredness. Watch the child's engagement rather than the clock — the right time to end is when engagement is still high, before it drops.

Related reading: See also our obstacle course ideas and our painting ideas for more ideas on this topic.

🎓 Skills Your Child Will Develop

• 📐 Spatial Reasoning — Thinking about how objects relate in space — fitting shapes together, building structures, filling containers — develops the spatial intelligence that predicts success in mathematics and STEM fields.
• 🔁 Cause & Effect Thinking — Noticing that one action produces a predictable result — mixing colors, toppling a tower, adding water to powder — is the earliest form of scientific and logical thinking.
• 🖐️ Fine Motor Skills — Manipulating small objects, tools, and materials during hands-on activities builds the hand strength and finger dexterity children need for writing and self-care.
• 🎨 Creativity & Imagination — Open-ended activities that let children direct their own play grow creative thinking, original problem solving, and the confidence to express personal ideas.

Songs for the Coolest Kids

Songs by Princess Katie and Racer Steve

From the Preschool CD

From Tell Them how you Feel: "You gotta tell somebody how you feel today; And you're gonna feel better, you could write them a letter."