the song that comes to mind ofr me is john McCutchoen's
KIndergarteedn song...which says every thing i need to
know i learned in kindergaen, basically. The little poem
hanging on the kindergarten wall:
Of all you learn remember this the best
don't hurt each other and clean up your mess
take a nap every day, wash before you eat,
hold hands, stick together,
look before you cross the street
and remember the seed in the little paper cup
first the roots grow down then the plant grows up

Kind of sums it up, don't it?!

of how about woody guthri'e "gonna take a ride in the car, car"
for the vacation part?

or
Greg Brown's '64 Dodge

I seem to recall a song called "my father's hands"
maybe it is by Dolly Parton??

sounds like a great project...and a great present...
is it a surprise?