WE LOVE MUSIC: Children learn to sing songs at a kindergarten in Wenxiang County in central China's Henan Province on November 29, 2012 (CFP)

"Do you remember those nursery songs you sang during childhood?" The question swept the Internet in the summer vacation. With it, a list of popular nursery songs, well-known to people born in the 1970s and 80s, came to light.

However, while indulging in sweet childhood memories, these young parents were struck by the fact that such old songs have remained the only choice for their own children.

Due to the lack of new and creative music for children, many youngsters are mostly fond of pop songs, which too often contain adult content. This has caused concern among music and education circles.

Songs for now

It is natural for children to love music. Along their path of growing up, music not only embodies happy memories, but is also an "essential nutrient" for life. Today, in such an open and diversified world, local children have access to various types of music. However, music that is suitable for their age group is quite rare.

In April 2013, China's New Generation of Voice, a music program featuring children under 14 from Aniworld TV, China's first animation-centered satellite television channel, conducted a video survey on what kids are singing today. It collected clips of children singing their favorite songs from more than 10 cities.

Surprisingly, the survey showed the most popular were songs by Phoenix Legend, a folk and hip-hop music duo, and by Xu Song, a popular Web singer. About 100 children even gathered in a group and sang the theme song of The Swordsman, a martial arts TV series.

The children sang all styles of currently hot pop songs. Their devoted, vivid performances made adults burst into laughter. Mirth soon turned into worry as parents realized that no children had chosen nursery songs suited to their age.

"Many primary-school students love singing adult songs such as Trading Love and High Song," said Chen Gang, chief director of the program.

"The children sang very enthusiastically. But where are their own songs?" he asked, pointing out that when his group was choosing among the videos, options were limited.

"The children should find their voice and sing their hearts out. But most importantly, they should sing nursery songs," said Shan He, music director of the program. "But it's alarming that their singing makes you feel they are no longer children."

The same predicament also struck the Chinese Music Awards. While deciding on the year's best nursery song album for 2013, the selection committee found it could hardly come up with five such albums to choose from.

Urgent situation

The awkward situation where young children sing the same old nursery songs as their parents once did results from the stagnation in music creation. Due to the shortage of creative songwriters, it is hard to produce meaningful and rhythmic children's songs.

Against this backdrop, adult music quickly gains kids' attention, fast eroding their innocent world.

Meanwhile, the music education today forces children to focus on theories and vocal training, both of which are boring for kids.

"When learning music becomes a task or even a burden, it can never be fun," said Hu Haiquan, one half of Chinese pop duo Yu Quan.

Years ago, the duo planned to engage in singing and creating nursery songs, but little came of it.