1. A song that tells a story, preferably with a happy ending. Kids want to know ways to cope with the world, not ways to be another victim.

2. Songs that deal with things they can understand. When I was a child, I was much more pleased with "Mockingbird Hill" "Ah, lovely meadows" and "The Ash Grove" than in the songs of love and unrequited love that were on the radio. Birds and trees made a lot more sense. (Still do, basically.)

3. Variety in music - move from major to minor, fast to slow, lyrical to stompy.

4. Be sure to include choruses so they can sing along.