I have a seven year old god-son and I want to contribute with many ways to his upbringing. So I thought "Fantasy Music", little fairytales, knights, elves and fights over stong ideals. After all he is my little prince. But I am a bit afraid that I might rush into things or that he will find the music boring. Some of you have kids, how did you try to introduce fantasy music to them? Did you make any tricks? Do you have any suggestions(tracks) for smooth introduction? Or is it too early for such an action?? (please don't tell me it's too late.....) Please make a note that my biggest problem right now is his ten year old sister with the "Hannah Montana" syndrome...

Haha yes, I have a feeling that soundtracks and fantasy music can seem dull and extremely boring to kids. I didn't much like to listen to it when I was young, but it started with everything John Williams in my teens as I loved Star Wars, Indiana Jones etc. Then moved on to Ennio Morricone and onwards towards more classical soundtracks. Perhaps if you start with fantasy related movies where children and young adults are the main game? Shrek, Dazzled and then Harry Potter (which has great music by many of the masters). Then add Stardust by Ilan Eshkeri and then on to Lord of the Rings. I think the movies will have to be the main focus before the music can be an interest of its own. I think you can start early with forming their musical taste My first tape was a mixed tape with The Who, Creedence, Elvis and others I got from my dad. Everyone else was listening to either synth and rock You will have take into consideration not to just force him to like "weird" music, since kids want to listen to what their friends listen to. Not very many liked what I listened to and kids can be mean to each other for no particular reason Just my two cents, I don't have any kids but I can remember my own childhood pretty well

Posted by Elrond Perhaps if you start with fantasy related movies where children and young adults are the main game?I think you can start early with forming their musical taste

My thoughts exactly!! There are a lot of movies apropriate for his age with good soundtracks. As far as his musical taste is conserned I will try my best with something that will draw his attention for a start. Apart from these actions I have something else in may mind that just might work. But it needs some time to prepare it... My teacher in secondary school called it "Theatrical Play"

I actually believe that fantasy stories of knights and kings, dragons and wizards, elves and dwarves, are always loved by kiddos. I think with their imagination they escape in a lot more colourful world. Especially boys , due to the fact that the fantasy worlds are a whole lot more adventurous than real life. Well, at least I would prefer to slay smaug, than catch a drug dealer

Posted by QeiynnWell, at least I would prefer to slay smaug, than catch a drug dealer

Yes it definately is more shivalrous. Thanks, I really got my hopes up now, you know just a bit. If you don't mind me asking when was your first contact with fantasy and how it occured?

I remember quite clearly my biggeset influence. It was my uncle. When I was about 9 years old he came to pick me up from my martial arts lessons. Then we went to his house and he told me he had a new and really geat computer game. It was the first \"Heroes of might and magic\"!!! We started playing and we couldn\'t stop. From that moment on I was spending every weekend at his house. A few months later he introduced me the a fantasy board game, HeroQuest. And then everything new that was coming was fitting right in. Lots of movies, books, video games, and music. Particularly music, since I was into metal music, bands with fantasy influences became my favourites, such as blind guardian and rhapsody for start And then.. I started making my own music. And now I am lost in my own world

Updated 31 October 2011 (12:50)

Ohhh.... Tha's so beautifull. I don't know if I will manage to influence him that much though.... Right now I am aiming into drawing his attention and we go one step at a time along with RR!! I am soooo excited!!!

People seem to reproduce what they experience as children a lot in their later life, me being a prime example. I'm going to see Scorpions in 3 weeks but I've listened to them from the age of 6! I think the idea to introduce the "idea" of fantasy first through films (and books, don't forget books! They don't have music but will get them interested in the fantastic worlds that music can live in) and the like is much better since appreciating music is a much deeper process and takes many years to develop.

Films are great but don't forget to read to him as well. With RR in the background of course. Read, read, read all the exciting books for his age. Occasionally stop and both of you comment on what has happened or maybe what the music playing reminds you of in the story before continuing reading. One day he may love to read as much as he loves music, imagination and the emotions locked within that can be released. Music goes along with any adventure, sets the mood, in film and in stories heard from books read and will fire up the imagination. I think you will see a wonderful return on the time you spend with him.

Thanks everybody for the help!!! I still haven't seen him since my first post though, so that I would try some suggestions..... Distance is an issue...

As a kid, The Neverending Story, Grimms Fairy Tales, and Jim Henson's The Storyteller were a huge influence, not forgetting of course the Dungeons and Dragons cartoons! Board games like Haunted House and HeroQuest also got me into the genre. Book wise, beside the Brothers Grimm, I'd recommend The Hobbit, Any of the Narnia chronicles, Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea, and the brilliant Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner. My family took me to visit woods, castles, and mystical places like stone circles and burial mounds so I grew up with tales of faeries, ghosts, myths, and legends. Loved any sort of mythology! Toy wise, look out for the fantasy ranges of Lego and Playmobile, these are great for imaginative play. Scheich also do a gorgeous range of fantasy themed toys. I would say both are suitable for girls and boys. Like Elrond said, kids tend to like punchier music. When I was a smidge I was bopping around to Queen, Led Zep, and ELO!

Updated 9 November 2011 (12:57)

Yesterday I babysitted for the neighbours!! Normally I wouldn't be so happy about it, but I saw it as a great opportunity to try a few thinks I had in my mind. So today I can proudly say that yesterday a five year old girl went into a world full of fairies (good thing she liked Tinkerbell) and draw fairy wings and even danced to fairy music.... Did you get that? "Fairy music"!!... I didn't try fantasy for the start though... It was traditional Irish music.... But it was a good start anyway!

Haha, trying on "disrupt" others' children first is a great idea I want my own to get into it myself one day. Someone has to take over this station one day Irish and celtic folk music is halfway to fantasy soundtrack heaven, so it's a great start! One of my best friends has actually started to "roleplay" with his kid daughter instead of telling the same old bedtime stories over and over again. He found this out when he was annoyed that she wanted to change the story when he was telling it. So he then found out that they were close to fantasy roleplaying, and went from there His daughter three and seems to be into it, though the storylines are probably simple and on the fun side. She doesn't know it but she's halfway into Dungeons and Dragons already

Posted by ElrondIrish and celtic folk music is halfway to fantasy soundtrack heaven, so it's a great start!

I know!! I thought it would make a smooth start and it worked! You should she her, she was having such great time that she didn't want to leave my apartment.

Posted by ElrondOne of my best friends has actually started to "roleplay" with his kid daughter instead of telling the same old bedtime stories over and over again. He found this out when he was annoyed that she wanted to change the story when he was telling it. So he then found out that they were close to fantasy roleplaying, and went from there His daughter three and seems to be into it, though the storylines are probably simple and on the fun side. She doesn't know it but she's halfway into Dungeons and Dragons already

That's cool! You know what they say... "Like father, like son.."

I just finished printing some coloring pages with dragons and knights and castles for my god-son. I am making a box full of little fantasy presents for him. I will also put fairytales a cd with classic rock tracks( on which i am working now), a cd with some traditioanal Irish music and propably a dragon figure I spoted in a bookstore nearby.... i will also try the same thing for his sister in a more girly manner.....

Haha, that will surely work great!

My little son loves fantasy music. He likes dragons, monsters and knights. So it was'nt difficult to inspire him for fantasy music. Good child.

Posted by DaimonionMy little son loves fantasy music. He likes dragons, monsters and knights. So it was'nt difficult to inspire him for fantasy music. Good child.

That's so cool! My problem is that I don't get to see him as often as I want.... Oh well we fight with the weapons we are given so I shouldn't be negative.

Just got this advent calendar for little one. Starting her early! She also now enjoys listening to Two Steps from Hell, Howard Shore, Jesper Kyd, Immediate Music, and Future World Music. We're getting there!

I like the fact that this thread turned into a "Fantasy and kids" section! I just found some coloring pages for my godson's sister. It's fairies( whatelse?). I liked the fact that they can be cut and turned into a bookmark. I might print some for me as well... http://selinafenech.com/about/free-for-fans/