Spotify has launched an updated version of the Kids category to include playlists focused on vocabulary and language development. The playlists are associated with different activities including playtime, bath time and car journeys.
Included in the playlists are voice prompts that encourage parents to interact with their children whilst enjoying music together. The prompts ask questions such as ‘What should be our next song?’ or may make suggestions about songs that are relevant to their chosen playlist. The voice overs are narrated by a number of celebrities such as Sarah Michelle Gellar, Wiz Khalifa, Fantasia, Tyler Perry, Frankie J, Diego Torres, Juanes, Laurie Berkner, Ashley William and Busy Philipps.
Spotify has redesigned the category in order to boost brain and language development in young children following research conducted by Too Small to Fail, a collaborative project by The Clinton Foundation and The Opportunity Institute, along with Vroom. Vroom, an initiative of the Bezos Family Foundation, provided Spotify with the brain-building tips and activities that are integrated into the playlists.
The company has highlighted the importance of music in a child’s development. Singing with children from birth onwards can help to promote early brain and language function especially among ages 0-3.
Spotify will also be working with several other organisations such as Univision, Save the Music Foundation, Fatherly and The Bump to add more themed playlists to the collection.
This movement has followed several other re-vamps that Spotify has made over the past month in order to appeal to a wider audience base.
The company has also launched its first series original videos in the Videos and Podcasts tab of the app. The animated shorts are the first of 12 mini-series that will explore different genres and innovations in music. Spotify has also added a gaming section this month, featuring soundtracks and game scores.
The new Kids and Family section is available now at Spotify.com/sing.
