You’ve probably heard of "Indie Rock," but how about "Kindie Rock"? It’s a lot more popular than you might imagine. The most popular new trend involves creating rock music for kids – it "melds the sensibility of the singer-songwriter with themes aimed at kids under 10," according to Salon.com. Unlike the more "bubble gum" pop music you hear on radio channels designed for kids, Kindie Rock aims to combine classic, cool rock music with lyrics aimed towards being a kid. Think of it as family friendly rock music that everyone can enjoy.

So what, exactly, is the Kindie Rock Movement?

It all started with Dan Zanes, the singer for the alternative 80s and 90s band Del Fuegos. When Dan couldn’t find anything on the radio that was appropriate for his young daughter to listen to, he set out to make some on his own. The Kindie Rock movement was born.

The most important element to Kindie Rock is that it’s not the "cutesy," kind of watered-down pop music that so many companies throw together. Like the name suggest, it’s real rock music for kids. And some of the most popular bands of today have hopped on the bandwagon, including They Might Be Giants, The Shins and Weezer. Newer bands on the scene include Recess Monkey and Secret Agent 23 Skiddoo, Laurie Berkner and Gustafer Yellowgold.

But here’s what’s really cool: you can hear this family friendly rock music almost anywhere.

Kindie Rock bands tour all over the country, and put out CDs and DVDs. If you’re unsure about whether or not buying rock music for kids is a good idea, you can take a free "test drive" by watching an episode or two of the Nick Jr. show "Yo Gabba Gabba," which is dedicated to showcasing some of the most popular – and fun! – family friendly rock music out there. There are also some really terrific podcasts available for free download from iTunes (as well as other places), including Zooglobble, Kindiecast, Goonie Bird Kids and Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl. They’re all wonderful resources for parents looking to explore the Kindie Rock movement a little more thoroughly before letting their kids listen to the music.

Family Friendly Rock Music

The best part of Kindie Rock has to be its adaptability. Studies have long shown the correlation between music and more advanced child development. Studying music – whether as a musician or as a music lover – leads to better concentration levels, better hand-eye coordination, and better self-esteem in children. But for years, it was believed that an introduction to classical music was the best (if not the only) route to take. Studying and playing rock music (for kids, tweens and adults) is just as beneficial – and in the interest of honesty, probably a whole lot more fun for more young learners. The surge in popularity for Kindie Rock has introduced scores of younger children to musical study, thus increasing the amount of kids who will become life-long music lovers.

Thankfully, the Kindie Rock phenomenon isn’t proving to be a flash-in-the-pan kind of thing. This style of rock music for kids is popular with people of all ages, which helps to keep it alive. And with more and more music instructors offering classes that encourage children to "rock out," it’s a pretty safe bet that Kindie Rock will be around for a long, long time.