Ep. 58 - Back to School - What a day! With Fred Penner

Sep 2, 2020

Back to school planning this year is different with questions around how schools are opening up  and the effects on parents jobs and the economy as a whole.  The school supply list is a bit different. You might find yourself downloading apps instead of shopping for backpacks and pencils.

For me this reinforces the idea that you need a PLAN B and a positive attitude.  You have to plan for the unknown and with virtual school, you might want to make sure your kids don’t learn more than what you bargained. As children become more connected online now is great time to teach young kids the basics of digital citizenships and the importance of a positive digital footprint.

This podcast is guaranteed to make you feel great.  Some messages in life are timeless. You are kind, you are smart you are important. We’re all kids at heart and sometimes I think back to those messages that I got as a child so that I can make and help others make smart, safe and thoughtful decisions.  

Today  we a have a very special guest who has impacted generations.

• For almost 50 years our guest today has been a motivational speaker for children
• Is a Member of the Order of Canada for "using music and song to entertain and educate his young audience"
• Has a bachelor’s degree in economics and psychology
• Dubbed “Mr. Multi-Media” by Billboard Magazine 
• In addition to having countless live show’s He is the first children’s entertainer to headline at the Los Angeles Amphitheater,
• He is a four time recipient of the Parents’ Choice Award
• He is a two-time Juno winner 
• One of his albums, Happy Feet was named Best Children’s Album of the Year by the U.S.A’s Entertainment Weekly
• The guy who crawled magically out of that hollow log for 12 seasons and more than 900 episodes in the hit CBC TV show Fred Penner’s Place which also ran for four years on the Nickelodeon’s Nick Jr and because of that the still receives fan mail to this day from some of the 55 million American viewers he had when the show ran

Joining us today,  acclaimed family entertainer, singer/songwriter, composer, actor, writer, author, TV host Fred Penner!

00:00 - 03:20

Barb’s introduction

03:21- 03:55

Meet Fred Penner

03:56 - 06:37

How do you start a conversation with a child via screen?

06:38 - 09:59

How do you start a conversation with a child about Covid?

10:00 - 15:42

Kids can sit and watch a tv show or a youtube video for 30 minutes but teachers can't keep their attention for 15 minutes, what’s the difference?

15:43 - 22:32

How do you come up with the ideas for your songs? How do you captivate your audience?

22:33 - 24:58

What is the most important thing you’ve ever learned?

24:59 - 28:40

Barb and Fred chat about Fred’s influence

28:41 - 29:52

Barb’s Extro